We're excited to share a suite of resources to help you easily build 3D immersive experiences. Since introducing Photorealistic 3D Tiles last year, we've listened closely to your feedback. You told us you wanted more guidance on how to apply this technology to your specific use cases. You also wanted more examples of how different Google Maps Platform APIs can work together to solve a problem. Our new 3D solutions guides do just that. The solution guides include:

• Easily Deployable Apps: Pre-built sample applications available as either Node.js apps or Docker containers that simplify the deployment process and help you start building 3D storytelling or area exploration experiences. Try them out from our hosted environment or download the code to jumpstart your project. 

• Hosted Demo: A live demonstration of the solution in action.

• Getting Started Guide: Step-by-step instructions to assist you in quickly getting up and running.

• Customization Guide: In-depth documentation on tailoring the solution to meet your specific requirements.

• Source Code on GitHub: Access to the open-source codebase for complete transparency and customization.

These resources make it easier than ever to combine Photorealistic 3D Tiles with Places API and transform how users interact with geospatial data. They’re designed to enable you to get started quickly and without specialized knowledge in technologies such as 3D rendering, tiles, or renderers like Cesium.js. 

Meanwhile, the hosted applications offer immediate access to start building. The open-source nature of the source code allows you to customize it extensively to meet the specific requirements of your use case. And you have the flexibility to download the code from GitHub for further customization whenever you'd like. 

Create interactive experiences with 3D Area Explorer
The 3D Area Explorer solution allows you to create immersive, interactive experiences using Google Maps Platform Photorealistic 3D Tiles and the Places API. The end result is an experience that lets your end users explore neighborhoods and areas in 3D with a high degree of visual detail and identify points of interest.

With 3D Area Explorer, you can help your users travel and discover amazing locations. It's great for:

• Tourism: Dive deep into stunning landmarks and tourist attractions, allowing potential visitors to explore as if they were actually there.
  

• Enhancing area exploration: Users can explore neighborhoods virtually with a high degree of visual detail, gaining insights into local features and landmarks.

Take your narratives to the next level with 3D Storytelling
The 3D Storytelling solution bridges storytelling and mapping, enabling creators to craft immersive and interactive narratives using Photorealistic 3D Tiles.

The solution helps you quickly build a creative canvas with an interactive 3D backdrop to tell any location-based story–whether you’re narrating current events, mapping out scientific information, or sharing cultural history. You can also customize the visual aesthetics and incorporate additional functionalities, like the developers of the recently launched Women Techmakers Story Map did. 

The solution helps you create captivating visual experiences that are ideal for:

• News and Events: Enhance journalistic reporting with realistic representations of event locations for heightened viewer immersion.

• Travel Journals: Chronicle a traveler’s journeys in a visually stunning way. By incorporating geo-tagged chapters, users can create an interactive travelog that not only shares experiences but also provides a spatial perspective of their adventures.

• Documentaries: Enhance historical storytelling with vivid and accurate re-creations of settings and events.

Are you ready to revolutionize your projects with cutting-edge 3D experiences? Explore the 3D storytelling and area exploration experiences to discover the possibilities.