Putting Newtown On The Google Map: Workshop Saturday

Scot Wilson will return to C.H. Booth Library on Saturday, June 25, to lead a class on using Google’s SketchUp software.

Mr Wilson was the team leader last year of The Connecticut 3D Modelers, who took part in a competition that challenged residents around the world to create 3D models of their hometown using SketchUp software. While he and his team were not the winners of the competition, Newtown now has at least three locations that have been accepted for Google Earth’s 3D layer.

By visiting Google Earth, and making sure the 3D Building Layer is checked (lower left-hand column), visitors can view exterior views of The Matthew Curtiss House at 44 Main Street, the Main Street flagpole, and even the exterior of Mr Wilson’s home at 12-A Joan Drive.

Mr Wilson will lead a tutorial on using SketchUp this weekend. The class will run from 2 to 4 pm on Saturday, and he is hoping it will lead to opportunities to form more teams and model additional buildings during the upcoming summer months. His target this summer is to model many of the buildings on Main Street between Church Hill Road and Mile Hill South.

Those planning to participate on Saturday will need to have a Google account set up so that they can submit their model to the 3D warehouse before going live in Google Earth.

In addition, Google SketchUp, Google Earth, and Google Picasa or (preferably) Adobe Photoshop will need to have been installed on each student’s computer. Google software is free of charge.

Additional tools include a tape measure or measure wheel, a ruler (for component documenting), a digital camera; any Computer, PC or Mac; a property field card, which can be downloaded at (maps.newtown-ct.gov), and digital images of all sides of a building being imported to the computer.

Terrain maps and site/house plans are optional but helpful.

“I will have two computers to demo building a model ... and I will be projecting the procedure on the screen,” Mr Wilson said of Saturday afternoon’s workshop. “For those that have laptops, they should bring them for hands-on training. The main thrust for this Saturday is to put together teams because everyone may not have all the equipment we use.”

Those interested in attending Saturday’s tutorial are urged by Mr Wilson to visit www.be3d.info, where information including Google rules for creating models, along with tips and tricks, is available. Mr Wilson also suggests visiting the Facebook page dedicated to 3D modeling (YourWorldIn3D) for additional ideas and guidance if interested prior to the workshop.

C.H. Booth Library is at 25 Main Street; telephone 203-426-4533.