Mapping the BolderBOULDER in 3D

[Cross-posted from the Google Lat Long Blog]

The BolderBOULDER is one of the United States’ biggest 10K road races. Last year, more than 54,000 people participated, including several members of the SketchUp team and plenty of other Googlers from the Boulder office—after all, it’s right in our backyard.

Back in January, a group of us met with the race’s organizers to figure out ways that our geo-technology might play a role in this great local tradition. Our team ended up putting together a couple of nifty 3D maps that should help everyone (runners and spectators) get their bearings ahead of race day on May 30th:

The 3D Course Map lets you preview the race route in Google Earth.

We used the Google Earth API to embed an interactive course map on BolderBOULDER’s website. With the Google Earth plugin installed, you will be able to see hundreds of 3D models of the buildings along the course, as well as special race day structures we modeled just for the event. Be sure to click “Run the Race” (in the upper-left corner of the screen) to take a guided tour of the course.

The Transportation Map provides information about getting to the race.

To help folks get to and from the race, we used the Google Maps API to embed a map with information about public transportation options, road closures and parking.

Whether you’re planning to join us in Boulder or just perusing the course from afar, feel free to explore the maps we built. No running shoes required, and no one’s keeping time.

Posted by Kay Chen, Geo Program Manager