A graduate student named Ryan Hardesty Lewis at Cornell Tech in New York has come up with a fascinating technique called Voxel Earth. This innovative approach transforms Google Maps’ 3D tiles into voxelized versions of the Earth that can be exported to Minecraft or a browser. The process involves decomposing the 3D tiles into voxels, assigning colors and textures based on the original photogrammetry data, and then mapping these voxels to Minecraft blocks using a machine learning algorithm.
What sets Voxel Earth apart is its ability to preserve environmental context and functionality within the game. For example, water blocks representing a river or ocean are not just simple blue voxels; they are replaced with water blocks in the Minecraft representation based on factors like elevation and extent. This attention to detail makes the voxelized Earth more recognizable and immersive.
Lewis believes that educators could use this technique to create dynamic lessons in subjects like geography, environmental science, and urban planning. Additionally, gamers can have fun exploring real-world locations in Minecraft using this technology. Lewis will be presenting a paper on Voxel Earth at the upcoming SIGGRAPH conference, a gathering of computer graphics enthusiasts.
The potential applications of Voxel Earth are vast, ranging from educational tools to recreational gaming experiences. By combining advanced technology with creative thinking, Lewis has opened up new possibilities for using voxelization techniques in various fields. If you’re interested in learning more about Voxel Earth, you can read a detailed interview with Lewis on the SIGGRAPH website or visit voxelearth.org for more information and gifs of the project in action.
If you’re lucky enough to attend the SIGGRAPH conference, you’ll have the opportunity to see Voxelizing Google Earth firsthand and even interact with it. This groundbreaking project is just one example of the exciting innovations that emerge from the world of computer graphics. Stay tuned for more updates on Voxel Earth and other cutting-edge developments in the industry.
