The City of Launceston has developed new maps — featuring a trio of the city’s most popular locations — that can be uploaded into the popular video game Minecraft.
In 2021, the council published a city map as a data visualization tool for students, which can be imported into the education version of the globally popular Minecraft video game.
The 2021 map was based on a 2016 LiDAR scan of central Launceston, but came with some limitations.
While the map scale was accurate, it was a uniform gray color, and some anomalies captured in the scan were recreated as physical elements in the game.
City of Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said the council had undertaken a new LiDAR scan.
Launceston in 2022 and consequently it made sense to update its Minecraft map.
“Council usually uses LiDAR scans as part of its work to assess planning applications across the city, but alongside this serious work there can be some more fun application elements,” said Mayor Garwood.
“We used some new technology in our 2022 survey, which meant it was an easy process to create some new Minecraft maps based on the most recent data.
“We created three maps, including Riverbend Park, City Park and Cataract Gorge First Basin.
“The biggest difference with the new maps is that they represent the current colors of the features we see in Launceston.
“So for example, the big yellow sky walk in Riverbend Park is a big yellow sky walk in the new Minecraft map, the green grass in City Park is green in the Minecraft map, and the stone barbecue shelters
On the first basin there are colored stones in play.
“But make sure that when you’re playing the game, you don’t get distracted by colors and familiar places – because there are zombies.”
City of Launceston Smart Cities Project Officer Cameron Smith said the council tested the map with students during National Science Week at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery in August.
“During National Science Week we had about 800 students come, and we had maps running on four PCs and three iPads,” Mr Smith said.
“Students were encouraged to show their favorite parts of the parks and show their big ideas by making them into a game.
“We are aware that a number of schools in Tasmania have downloaded these maps and used them in the classroom, including St Thomas More Catholic School. St Thomas More has introduced Minecraft.
Education builds creative problem-solving skills and systems thinking, as an effective learning tool.
“These maps are a good example of how Launceston’s data can be visualized in diverse and engaging ways.
“When it comes to local government it’s often difficult for kids to engage, but they respond well to games and visualization tools that allow them to consider their world from a new perspective.
“We know there are kids who are using these maps at the moment and others who will download them as a result of hearing about them.
“We’d love to see how people are using the maps. We’ve set up a dedicated email address, (email protected) — so if you create something cool with one of our maps we’d love to see it.”
The new Minecraft maps, along with installation instructions, can be downloaded here.
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