Google SketchUp was first invented by @LastSoftware at 2003. Almost 9 years ago @Last created a free plug-in that allows SketchUp to capture data from ArcGIS (e.g. a building footprint) and open it in SketchUp. Once in SketchUp, the rest of the building can be created and the results saved back to an ESRI 3D data format (multipatch). What makes SketchUp so special and important to our work is that this is the only software package that actually creates multipatch features. So, as one might imagine, the anxiety level had become a bit elevated out of fear that SketchUp might be removed from the market place. After all, Microsoft purchased GeoTango and promptly took its software offerings off the market. That software was also used to facilitate 3D feature development.
It was the initial fears were shared by people in the architectural and landscape architectural communities who had come to see SketchUp as a very productive and affordable tool for their work. Having attended the first (and last?) SketchUp user group meeting last fall and being one of only three GIS types in attendance, it was the first-hand the affection these other disciplines have for SketchUp. It was now beginning to envision the army of SketchUp users we could assemble to march on Google Headquarters to demand the return of SketchUp. How dare they take it away!
It was realized that Google was, in fact, just like all the rest of us SketchUp lovers and locking the technology away was not the goal. Such action would stop user input, and cease the production of 3D features that is sure Google would ultimately like to see on the Google Earth landscape. Besides, SketchUp was selling very well and was producing a nice positive cash flow. So why turn it off? That was not going to happen.
