The Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Expressway Company (HSBE) has recently launched a Minecraft world that includes a detailed replica of Japan’s Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, which the company oversees. As the second longest suspension bridge globally, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge has been meticulously recreated in the game using roughly 530,000 blocks. This virtual world is being made available for Bedrock Edition as an “educational tool to learn about bridge infrastructure management in an engaging manner.”
Alongside the full-scale bridge replica, which helps players grasp its actual size and design, the Minecraft map also showcases inspection tools and depicts the surrounding urban landscape. By completing tasks within this world, players can simulate the process of bridge inspections. I had the chance to explore this world and personally conduct a bridge inspection.
Upon entering the world, I found myself outside what appeared to be an HSBE facility. Inside, there was a reception desk, and upon approaching it, I was asked if I wanted to try inspecting bridges. The four “tasks” available were bridge girder, main tower, inspection walkway, and deck, and it seemed possible to tackle them in any order preferred.
The first task I selected was the deck stage. Here, players can engage in activities such as photographing irregularities in the bridge’s expansion joints and picking up litter from the roadway. Given that it’s one of the world’s largest suspension bridges, workers can also use vehicles to carry out their inspections.
Next, I moved on to the inspection walkway stage. Using the interior maintenance vehicles, I examined the area beneath the deck, looking for signs of wear and taking photos of them. In the main tower stage, I rode a magnetic wheel gondola up and down the tower’s sides, addressing rusted sections.
Finally, in the girder stage, I operated the exterior girder maintenance vehicles. Whenever I spotted any irregularities, I had to photograph them and report the findings. Completing all these tasks gave me a deep appreciation for the inspectors who perform this work daily, as well as the significance of infrastructure upkeep.
It’s worth noting that last year, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)created a virtual version of the “Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel,” the world’s largest underground flood control facility, in Minecraft. Similar to the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge project, this world was utilized as part of an educational initiative about the facility.
You can download the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Expressway Company’s Akashi Kaikyo Bridge map for free here.
Mido