Commerical Real Estate blog reported today that CoStar Group (the largest data provider for real estate) and Google are in talks about integrating building information with Google's Earth mapping service. The deal is Google's initial foray into the realm of commercial real estate.
Google Earth "puts a planet's worth of imagery and other geographic information right on your desktop." The software is free. There is also a more robust version of the software that is available for a yearly charge. As Google states:
Google Earth allows architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms to gain a new perspective on their projects. From site location feasibility studies, to land use impact analysis AEC firms rely on a plethora of geospatial data in planning and marketing projects. Google Earth provides the most efficient way to distribute that data to your project decision makers.
What is interesting is that many developers and land use professionals are beginning to use Google Earth in their projects. Because many Ohio counties have GIS (Geographic Information Systems) data programs available to the public, Google Earth's mapping program can be very useful because it permits you to integrate GIS data into its maps.
The Real Estate & Construction Practice Group at BDB often uses advanced GIS data for presentations for large commercial development projects as well as for zoning and land use hearings and trial. The CoStar and Google venture may provide even greater details for orthophotograhic and topographic displays for all different types of applications.
You can read about it in more detail here.