The TSB Technology Foundation Berlin and Münster based con terra GmbH cooperated in a Minecraft project with the goal to compile a map of Berlin-Mitte. By employing appropriate bridge technology, official spatial data can be incorporated effectively into complex new applications. The interesting aspect of this digital map in a gaming environment is that it has been automatically created by transforming Berlins open data 3D building model (CityGML) and data to a Minecraft dataset. To do this, spatial data experts from con terra simply designed a FME process. FME is a technology that allows data transformation and modification of 350 different data formats, both spatial and non-spatial. The official data is provided by Berlin Partner for Business and Technology and the Senate Department of Urban Development and the Environment in Berlin through the Berlin Open Data Portal.
Thomas Woge is a consultant and project manager in con terra’s »Spatial ETL Project Services« team. He studied urban planning, geography and holds a diploma degree in cartography of the University of Applied Sciences Berlin. Working for virtualcitySYSTEMS and TerraImaging before, he is experienced in the fields of airborne LiDAR mapping and digital 3D city modeling. At con terra, he is responsible for complex ETL projects, mainly based on FME and Esri technology for both private and public sector.