# From Google Earth Studio to Hologram: A Pipeline for Architectural Visualization
## 1 Introduction  
Visualizing three-dimensional (3D) structures has been a key pursuit in scientific imaging and visual arts. Various techniques, from stereoscopic photography to holography, have been used to capture and reproduce the depth and spatiality of real-world scenes. In recent years, the demand for high-resolution 3D representations of architectural landmarks and urban environments has grown significantly, driven by applications in urban planning, education, digital heritage preservation, and immersive display technologies [1]. Among the available tools, Google Earth Studio ([[https://www.google.com/earth/studio/](https://www.google.com/earth/studio/)]([https://www.google.com/earth/studio/](https://www.google.com/earth/studio/)), accessed on 1 May 2025) [2] has emerged as a novel web-based platform capable of generating cinematic animations using satellite-derived and photogrammetrically reconstructed 3D city data [3, 4, 5]. Despite being primarily developed for educational and media use, this resource has proven suitable for scientific visualization when paired with proper attribution and processing [6, 7, 8]. To date, Google Earth Studio remains one of the only platforms that provides automated, browser-based accessto high-resolution satellite imagery with pre-defined camera path control for generating animated visual content. While other tools, such as ArcGIS CityEngine ([[https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-cityengine/overview](https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-cityengine/overview)]([https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-cityengine/overview](https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-cityengine/overview)), accessed on 1 May 2025) or CesiumJS ([[https://cesium.com/platform/cesiumjs/](https://cesium.com/platform/cesiumjs/)]([https://cesium.com/platform/cesiumjs/](https://cesium.com/platform/cesiumjs/)), accessed on 1 May 2025) [9], offer 3D geospatial visualization, they require advanced datasets and user expertise, making them less accessible for rapid, image-based workflows. The ease of use, global coverage, and visual coherence of Earth Studio make it a particularly suitable choice for preliminary architectural holography applications. Google Earth Studio provides comprehensive 3D visualization of global geospatial data ranging from large cityscapes to individual structures. This enables users to navigate through virtual cameras using industry-standard animation tools to capture videos and images. When optimized, the 3D city data of Earth Studio can produce cinematic and highly photorealistic animations [10; 11; 12]. Designed to support creators in producing media for urban and architectural contexts, Earth Studio is a vast 3D data resource coupled with robust animation tools. In this study, Earth Studio was primarily used to gather image data for hologram production. Sharing the same 3D imagery source as Google Earth [13; 14; 15], Earth Studio is one of the world's largest geoinagery repositories and provides a highly photorealistic digital model of the planet [16; 17; 18; 19]. The primary technique Google employs to generate 3D data is photogrammetry, which uses aerial images captured by specialized aircrafts and satellites. Recent investigations have extended the utility of Google Earth Studio beyond its initial application in media production, exploring its broader potential in fields such as digital heritage preservation and augmented reality prototyping. This shift is largely attributed to Earth Studio's ability to generate visually compelling and spatially coherent 3D renderings of urban environments. These capabilities position the platform as a practical and cost-effective solution for acquiring preliminary 3D data, especially in scenarios where traditional surveying techniques are constrained or altogether inaccessible [20; 21; 22].