I previously wrote about a couple of websites that allow you to create STL models of Earth’s surface: Terrain2STL and TouchTerrain. I recently discovered another website that allows you to create 3D models of both terrain and streets: Map2Model.
While Terrain2STL and TouchTerrain focus on generating 3D models of terrain, Map2Model is focused on generating 3D models of “typical” map features such as roads, buildings, water, and other features.
Start by searching for an address or a named location, then zoom in/out and center the map where you’d like to generate your 3D model. Choose a shape for your model: rectangle, square, circle, etc. Then position and size your shape on the map and press the “3D Preview” button to view, zoom, and rotate your 3D model. If happy with your model, export it in either 3MF or STL format.
For roads, water, grass, buildings, sand, and piers, there are settings that allow you to modify colors, model height, and other options which are useful if exporting in 3MF (but will not be represented in STL files because those file represent only geometry data). There are experimental features such as adding topography (similar to the terrain-focused 3D modeling websites) which in my experience with a few locations works pretty well.
Resultant models can be used for personal use, but for commercial use you’ll need to obtain a commercial license. Many thanks to Smoggy3D for developing such a nifty application!
