It's Google Maps, But Not As We Know It

Blocky Earth is a fabulous WebGL experiment using the Google Maps API to show a 3d representation of the Earth.

To view the map you will probably need to use the Chrome browser as Blocky Earth uses canvas and WebGL to render locations representing terrain and elevation with cubic blocks. The map includes a search option so you can choose to view any location on the Earth.

The map also has options to zoom in and out, rotate the map and to view it in full-screen mode.

Nokia Maps WebGL

This blog is almost exclusively about Google Maps, so other mapping platforms have to release something very special to get a mention here. I think we can say that Nokia Maps in WebGL is something very special indeed.

Last week Google released Google Maps in WebGL (if you haven't seen the future of Google Maps yet then open up Chrome 14+ or Firefox 8+ and click the "Want to try something new?" link in the left-hand sidebar).

Nokia has now released their own WebGL map. You will need the latest version of the Chrome browser to view the map. The map features 3D terrains and buildings with full zoom, pan, and tilt - with no plug-ins. All-in-all this has to be one of the most impressive uses of WebGL yet.

I wonder how long we will have to wait for the Google Earth WebGL version?

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Google Maps, HTML5 & WebGL Demos

Click to Release features a number of very cool experiments using HTML5 (which means that you should probably use the Chrome browser to view these demos).


Urban Arteries uses the Google Maps API, three.js and what I can only guess is black magic to create a 3D view of the city around you using just the major road arteries around your location.

The app automatically detects your location but you can also use any address or use the quick links provided to see some of the major cities.


WebGL Google Street Viewer lets you explore Google Maps Street Views around the world without Flash.


I couldn't get the WebGL Weather Globe to run on my steam driven laptop but I think it uses the recently added weather data on Google Maps and places it on the Google Data Arts Team WebGL Globe. The screenshot looks cool anyway.

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Google Maps in WebGL

I've been thinking for a while that in the long term Google Maps on the desktop will move to become more like the experience of using Google Maps on Android phones. I think the first move towards that experience has now been taken with Google Maps in WebGL.

Google have rebuilt Google Maps using WebGL. In the Google Maps WebGL version you can zoom into and out of Street View imagery (check out the cool transition as you zoom in and out of Street View). Another impressive new feature is the really smooth transitions in the 45° aerial view rotations.

This new iteration of Google Maps also makes great use of 3D buildings. If you pan the map around you can see the perspective of the 3D buildings change to reflect your current map view. The shadows of the buildings also change throughout the day and through the year to reflect the real-time position of the sun.



For the best effect of all find some 45° aerial view imagery and zoom into Street View from aerial view.

To try the new Google Maps with WebGL you will need to visit Google Maps in Chrome 14+ or Firefox 8+ (the Dev Channel release of Firefox). You should then see a "Want to try something new?" link in the left-hand sidebar.

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