Maps are very useful, but the view they show of the world can fall, well, flat. Engineers draw their ideas, then build 3D models of their sketches. This allows them to see what their designs will look like in real life.

You've mapped out your neighborhood, so why not bring that 2D world off the paper? Follow the step-by-step instructions below to build a 3D model of your community.

Step 1: Choose Your Area: Decide whether you'd like to build a whole city block or just the front of one block. Then use your tablets to view your neighborhood on the Google Maps App and choose an area of two blocks by two blocks.

Step 2: Map Out Your Model: Use grid paper to draw in the streets, building lots, parks, and other features you will include in your model.

Step 3: Consider the Scale: You want structures in your neighborhood to be proportional to those in real life. Decide the appropriate size of the houses, trees, and other structures in your neighborhood. Select dimensions for those items and write them into a scale chart on a piece of paper.

Drafting Session: Planning takes time, but it's worth it to make sure your model comes out the way you want it to. Now that you've recorded all the details of your model, you're ready to create the foundation. Cut a piece of cardboard to the size you'd like to have for your model. Then use your model sketch as a guide to draw in the streets, buildings, and other structures you will include in your model.

Building Session: To build your neighborhood, cut pieces of cardboard and tape or glue them together to shape the buildings' walls and roofs. Think about structures like bridges or water towers. How can you build your city out of the materials at hand? Add finishing touches to make your 3D model more realistic. For example, show grass or parks by coloring these areas green or by covering them with a piece of green construction paper.