One of my projects this week has been to work closely with the Google Maps API. I can’t go into to much else detail though I am really happy with the results… however this is not the point of this post.

In showing my colleagues what we (me and the NY team) have been accomplishing, my attention was drawn to other developments in mapping services around Sweden. Services which make Google Maps look like Simcity 2000.

Check out Stockholm brought to you by Eniro. Here’s my apartment (second house north in the pink), and this is where I work. The links I have provided are in “Helicopter” mode. Helicopter mode comes in 4 angles (N/S/E/W) and gives you a sort of 3D view of the city. Great for a new citizen like me as it helps me get a good idea of perspective. I highly recommend using the navigation panel at the bottom left of the screen and zooming out as far as you can to get a good view of Stockholm.

Hitta.se provides a map of Stockholm also, however it uses technology which apparently can map the dimensions of buildings (height and width) and then automatically generate a 3D model of the city using satellite imagery. Definitely worth a look (just make sure you click “Stockholm” at the top of the map”.

These 2 examples make my hard work seem like a game of Connect 4.

Here’s to the future!