A powerful, easy-to-use 3d drawing software developed in Ireland has been made part of the Google Suite of products.

SketchUp integrates with Google Earth, allowing users to upload photo models of existing buildings into Google Earth's 3d building layer.

It also allows users to avail of 3d Warehouse, an online depository of free 3d models that are instantly downloadable into a drawing.

SketchUp is being used by professionals in the building industry, is free (The Pro Version costs €381), powerful enough able to handle large model sizes and the easiest-to-learn 3d software on the market, according to its developers.

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SketchUp can model quickly, and translates the 3d model into 2d construction information, using LayOut (LayOut comes with SketchUp Pro).

"The construction industry worldwide is moving towards the intelligent 3d building model, which is essentially where a building is constructed in 3d on the computer before it goes to site," said a company spokesman.

"This has huge potential for saving both client and builder time and money as well as improving decision making.

"In the near future it will no longer be good enough to simply hand over a set of 2D drawings to a client or a builder. What they will want to see is a complete virtual 3D realisation of their project and its implications."

For more information visit: www.viewsion.ie or go directly to Google's site: http://sketchup.google.com

Ask for Alan: +353.87.0516077 or Paul on: +353.87.6049599.

(PR/BMcC)