Invigorating AEC education using Minecraft:
A case of LiDAR surveying and virtual learning
11 Jul 2023
Session EDU2, EC3+W78 2023
Heraklion, Crete, Greece

Isabelle CHAN
Jiajia WANG
Fan (Frank) XUE Zhe CHEN
Dept. of Real Estate and Construction
University of Hong Kong

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1. Background - subject
 City evolves, e.g.,
 New underground dev.
 Slowly aging buildings

 Surveying is always demanded

(Sources: Authors 2019, 2022)

 Surveying tools evolve, too
 Theodolite (1787)

(Sources: info.gov.hk)

 Laser scanner (1993)
 Color laser (2018)

 Complex data and operations
 To teach
(Sources: Authors 2018)

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1. Background - challenges
 Online/mixed teaching mode is necessary
 Social unrest in Hong Kong (2019)
 Covid-19 impacts (2020-22)

 Video conferencing software is good, yet we …
 Experiential learning (e.g., surveying)
 Interactive, creative 3D contents
o Hard on a shared video conf. screen

 Motivating and collaborating students as groups

 Generation Z students
 born in 1997~2015
 Internet native

 Not favor traditional lecturing

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2 Opportunity
 Minecraft Education Edition (MCEE)
 Programmable education sandbox platform for 3D worlds
o A world’s top popular game (180M monthly active players)
o Multi-user interaction (LAN/Internet server)
o Familiar by Gen-Z

o With Python/Scratch coding interfaces

 Free for all HKU staff/student accounts

 Available for laptop (Mac, Win), iPad, phones

 Example cases
 UC Berkeley’s 2020 virtual graduation ceremony (a)
 UPenn’s virtual student event in 2020 (b)
(source: ABC News 2020; BI 2020)
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3 Research design
 Pedagogical theory
 Experiential learning
 Dewey and Kolb’s (1984) cycle model

 Focus in this paper
 Interactive learning and co-design with groupmates
o In a shared virtual world, not a shared screen

 Objectives

 To try MCEE’s delivering of 3D T&L contents

o E.g., gamified urban model to Gen Z students

 To promote group co-design and co-creation with a

shared virtual environment in MCEE

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4 Case 1: Mobile LiDAR surveying
 Case area
 S.Y.S. Steps
 Next to our Dept.

 3D surveying
 In group
 With operation tips

and guides

 Device: a mobile laser
scanner
 Paracosm PX-80
 3 sets
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4 Case 1: As-built modeling with MC
 3D measurements
 WDH, slope

 Modeling
 Python code for regular parts
o Automatic (1-click)

 Student’s detailing/design

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4 Case 1: Feedback from RECO7613
 Top entries in students’ SFTL
 “Requires my active

participation”

 “Stimulated me to be creative”

 Every student enjoyed
interactive T&L with friends
 A creative scene: Setting fire

on fire gathering points

 Student B: “There are even

more benefits compared with
traditional education, such as
digital liberty, social skills and
online security.”

(Sources: RECO7613 21/22)

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5 Case 2: Underground facility
 MTR West Island
Line
 under Main

Building, HKU

 Many do not realize

 MC model
 Under campus
 With transparent

sections

 (Note: distance to

ground reduced by
~40m)
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5 Virtual HKU campus above the metro line
 Coverage

 Details
 Exteriors
 MTR West Island Line

 Limits
 20 players in one world

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6 Summary
 Summary
 Minecraft (MCEE) is programmable media for smart city T&L
o Helping educators on 3D interactive T&L contents

1 As-built 3D modeling
2 Underground facilities

o Enriching students’ group learning experiences

 Minecraft model is friendly to co-design and co-create
o Promoting learners-interaction and teamwork

 Future work

 Extension to other complex 3D surveying T&L
o E.g., concrete subsurface scanning

 Extension MCEE’s measurement APIs to sustainability T&L
o Materials, quantity, and CO2 estimation

(Sources: Authors 2022)

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Acknowledgement
 Funding support
 Small Equipment Grant (60%, No. 207051055) + Stanley Ho

Alumni Challenge (SHAC)

o Mobile Color LiDAR Scanners

 HKU Teaching Development Grant (A/C No.: 101002041)
o

Multi-user Internet Narrative Environment of HKU
(MineHKU) for smart city courses and virtual campus events

 Minecraft models and Python codes
 Free for HKUers

 Available for research purpose on request

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Unleashing Gen-Z students’
potential with new T&L!
Q&A
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