Building in Four Dimensions! - Google SketchUp Workshop: Modeling, Visualizing, and Illustrating - page 115

visual reports. The technique employed here makes creating and editing our
report extremely easy, even for beginners.
The presentation can be put together simply by processing all the images
using PowerPoint's Photo Album functions. As an alternative, the functions of
xD Virtual Builder can also be used to this end. This way, it is easy to combine a
timescale, colored captions, different views, etc.
Conclusion
As already stated, The Dimension-Studio has had many years of experience
with 4D models. At the beginning, we made use of classic CAD and GIS
software—and sometimes we still have to. But SketchUp has opened up a
world of innumerable possibilities.
SketchUp has a simple, approachable interface. The visuals that it produces
are comprehensible and clear, even for beginners. Because it is a simplified
solution, SketchUp's toolset can sometimes be a little restrictive. But as a
communication tool, it is (for the moment) unbeatable!
The combination of the Light version and the more powerful Classic version
offers multiple possibilities for usage and communication. While the Classic
version can be used daily by the project leaders in combination with their
other usual project management software, the xD model can be easily shared
with other participants via the Light version.
In the near future (the end of 2009), we also hope to have a 4D tool available
for Google Earth and for the more usual channels of web publishing.
Resources
Software
Google SketchUp or Google SketchUp Pro.
xD Virtual Builder Classic - Around $3,500, excluding sales tax.
Available at http://www.dstudio.be.
Microsoft Project - Around $800, excluding sales tax.
Applications for SketchUp
xD Virtual Builder Light - Around $79, excluding sales tax. Available at
http://www.dstudio.be.