The Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Expressway Company (hereafter HSBE), has released a Minecraft world featuring a replica of Japan’s Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, which it is in charge of operating and maintaining. Currently standing as the second longest suspension bridge in the world, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge was recreated in the game using approximately 530,000 blocks. The world is being distributed for Bedrock as “educational material for learning about bridge infrastructure management in a fun way.”
In addition to the full-scale recreation of the bridge, which helps you get a feel for its actual size and structure, the Minecraft map also features inspection equipment and depicts the surrounding cityscape. By completing assignments within the world, players can experience the process of bridge inspection. I actually had the opportunity to visit the world and inspect the bridge myself.
Loading into the world, I found myself in front of what appeared to be an HSBE-owned facility. Inside, there was a reception desk, and after approaching it, I was asked if I wanted to try out inspecting bridges. The four “stages” available were bridge girder, main tower, inspection walkway and deck, and it seemed like you could check out the stages in your preferred order.
The first stage I chose was the deck stage. In it, players can experience tasks such as photographing abnormalities in the bridge’s expansion joints, and picking up trash from the road. Since it’s one of the largest suspension bridges in the world, workers can also use vehicles to conduct their inspection.
Next, I went on to the inspection walkway stage. Using the interior maintenance vehicles, I inspected the area beneath the deck, checking for signs of deterioration and taking photos of them. In the main tower stage, I rode a magnetic wheel gondola up and down the sides of the tower, taking care of rusted areas.
Finally, in the girder stage I got to operate the exterior girder maintenance vehicles. If I came across any abnormalities, I had to take photos of them and report them. Going through all these different tasks made me truly appreciate the work of the inspectors who do this on a daily basis, as well as the importance of infrastructure maintenance.
On a related note, last year, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)recreated the “Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel,” the world’s largest underground flood control facility, in Minecraft. Much like the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge recreation, the world was used as part of an educational program about the facility.
You can download Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Expressway Company’s Akashi Kaikyo Bridge map for free here.
