There's a growing community of people who have taken it upon themselves to model the whole world in 3D. Some are using Google SketchUp, some are using Google Building Maker, and some are using both together. There's a also a growing community of people who are using Google Map Maker to author and edit rich, 2D maps.

We decided to host a mini-conference that will bring 2D and 3D geo-content creators together for the first time: The 2010 Google Mapper/Modeler Summit is scheduled to take place on March 22 and 23 in Zurich, Switzerland. We're keeping the attendance small (fewer than a hundred people) to encourage conversations and dialog. In the same vein, the format for the event will be "unconference" -- specific session topics will be decided at the Summit, by the attendees themselves.

We have places left for geo-modelers: If you're an experienced geo-modeler who would like to attend, please fill out this form to request an invitation. Since spots are limited and there's no charge for participating, we ask that you provide the following two pieces of information on the form:

• Collection of models: A link to a 3D Warehouse collection that contains geo-models you've built and contributed
• Brief statement: A short paragraph (3 or 4 sentences) that outlines what you hope to gain by attending the conference. Please also mention any special knowledge or skills you might be able to contribute.

Questions? Please use the Comments feature of this blog post, and we'll provide whatever answers we can.

Posted by Aidan Chopra, Product Evangelist