Google Earth project brings national acclaim
McMinnville is the first community in Tennessee to model its historic downtown district in 3D on Google Earth, and the city has received national recognition for the achievement.
Main Street McMinnville spearheaded the effort to create the rendering of McMinnville’s historic downtown district on the Internet. Google Earth donated SketchUp Pro and Google Earth Pro software and provided training to volunteers as the project got under way in November.
The remainder of the project was funded through a Main Street Innovation Grant awarded by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development in 2007 to Main Street McMinnville.
Among the uses, people can find a parcel of land in McMinnville, build a 3D model, and show exactly what a person will see walking down the street.
‘It’s a way to show that you did your homework, you understand the dynamics of making a business successful in a small town,’ said Main Street McMinnville director Chris Wilson. ‘It takes you up a notch. With a tool like SketchUp, it’s something anyone can do.’
A newly released case study shows Google Earth has potential to help small communities across the country as an economic development tool.
‘McMinnville’s creative approach to economic development is innovative, exciting and we’re pleased to play a role in helping make that happen,’ said Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber. ‘Their creative use of Google Earth should be an example to all communities pursuing growth in Tennessee. Sometimes the most effective solutions aren’t the most obvious.’
According to Bruce Polderman, business product manager for Google, virtual models of cities and towns encourage economic development, promote tourism, and support urban planning efforts by enabling everyone to ‘visit’ these locations on the Internet.
Wilson echoed that sentiment.
‘Since we started building the model of our downtown I’ve had phone calls and e-mails from people interested in using it, everyone from local contractors to tourist companies,’ said Wilson. ‘I get the sense people have been waiting for this.’
To view the McMinnville case study, go to www.google.com on your browser and type in ‘cities in 3D.’ Then click on ‘Google Cities in 3D Program.’ On the Web site, click on ‘Success stories’ on the left side of the page.