This week we are going to look at a specific example of "augmented reality", in particular the use of Google Earth as the basis of a virtual earth. I'm going to assume that you've used Google Earth before. If you haven't, start it up and try to find our building. When you get to the UNCA campus turn on the 3-D Buildings option to see some 3-D models made by UNCA students in the distance past.
If you start up Sketchup and search through the 3D Warehouse, you should be able to download models of some of the UNCA campus buildings.
Google supports a file format called KML that allow Google Earth and many other programs to display customized information on top of maps.
Here are UNCA, several students, faculty, and staff have worked with KML. The 3-D models were created by Egg as part of a NEMAC internship. NEMAC has also created KML maps for the Eastern Forest Environmental Thread Assessment Center. Mark McClure has written Mathematica programs and Javascript pages that use KML. There is a also a great list of KML references on the ATMS 373 blog.
In addition there are lots of KML maps showing race routes and Frisbee courses through the UNCA campus.
A couple of years ago, an earlier incarnation of this class placed some "dream" houses on Google maps. Here is an example of the instructor.
The first thing you need is a dream house. This is something you do in SketchUp. For inspiration, you can looks at some dream houses created a couple of years ago.
Then you need to generate a KMZ file for your house. This isn't easy, but there are a bunch of tutorial available on the net.
Finally, you need to place the KMZ file for your house on the internet.