Fascination google earth - use in urban and landscape design

Virtual 3D-City-and Architecture models, Virtual Globe systems like NASA World Wind and Google Earth as well as new attempts of immersive technologies become more important, not only among experts in spatial planning, but also many private users are interested in these new tools. These developments cause powerful impacts in the general social, cultural and everyday life. Given the dynamic development of Google Earth, the discussion about the representation and the use of geodata for a wide user group - beyond the planning disciplines - reaches new heights. According to expert's opinion, Google Earth with its computer language KML (Keyhole Markup Language) becomes a 3D-GIS-Standard [Rush in 2006]. By the easy and quick representation of three-dimensional (city) structures and single buildings, Google Earth will significantly influence all groups of society. User groups which have not been acquainted with geodata or highly specified and complex GIS-Systems [Dworschak in 2006], discover that working with this data by using Google Earth is great fun. They recognize, that with the help of generally understandable and easily recognizable visualisation of these data, mediation of knowledge becomes very easy. In addition, it is acknowledged that geodata has great potential to add value, in disciplines such as the academics, the financial sector or personal use.