December 15, 2009 – Google recently announced the Google Model Your Town Competition (http://sketchup.google.com/competitions/modelyourtown/index.html).  The contest challenges everyone to showcase their community by creating 3D models of buildings to enhance the virtual experience for Google Earth visitors. 

The City of Nanaimo has a long history of providing GIS Information to the public.  In 2008, Time Magazine online recognized Nanaimo’s hard work dubbing us the “Capital of Google Earth” after Google Chief Technologist Michael Jones cited Nanaimo as “the most active city in the world when it comes to supplying geographic data to Google Earth… Their citizens have more information about their city than the people of San Francisco.” (Vancouver Sun, July 27, 2007)

The City of Nanaimo is putting together a team of six, comprised of local community group members, photographers, or anyone with community pride!  If you’re interested in participating please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . The team will have to swing into action early in 2010.

The software used to create Google 3D buildings is free to download from Google, called SketchUp.  This software allows you to build 3D structures and ‘map’ photographic images onto the faces of those structures. Team members will help take photos of buildings in Nanaimo and get some training on how to use Google SketchUp.

Mayor John Ruttan said “Well, I think that Nanaimo, as the Capital of Google Earth, should rise to this challenge and get our entire downtown area built - especially some of our historic buildings and neighbourhoods - so the whole world can come and visit. I believe we’re up to the challenge.”

The contest is open to any individual or teams of up to six people, to provide a set of 3D buildings that says something about the character and history of Nanaimo. Entries are accepted until March 1^st, 2010. We encourage everyone to get involved and help to literally put Nanaimo on the map.

To get inspired and see some of the 3D buildings Nanaimo already has in Google Earth, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/nanaimomodels.