I was asked to design a summer project for two high school students in Inuvik, NWT. The project needed to introduce geomatics concepts in a way that was accessible to students who may have had little prior technical experience. This initiative was part of a broader effort to engage community members with the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility and to build local capacity in geomatics.
I developed a project for the summer students to use specialized software to convert real-world location data into a playable Minecraft world. It introduced them to the field of geomatics and sparked interest among community members.
Coverage of this project can be found in these public sources:
- read the project's associated blog
- read a Simply Science article
Disclaimer: This project was undertaken as part of my role at Natural Resources Canada. Views expressed here are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada.
To help meet the broader goal of getting local community members excited about geomatics, I began by researching the target age group, as well as the history and culture of Inuvik. I aimed to incorporate as many aspects of geomatics as possible—cartography, online mapping, and satellite data—but my most important goal was to meet the students where they were, by building the project around something fun and accessible.
To prepare, I took initiative in filling in my own knowledge gaps: I completed sensitivity training for Indigenous engagement, enrolled in training for the software being used (FME and ArcGIS Online), and connected with mentors who were already using Minecraft as a teaching tool.
I spent the summer in Inuvik working alongside the two summer students, teaching them basic geomatics concepts. Based on their interests, I introduced fieldwork sessions using handheld GPS receivers. I also encouraged them to explore 3D modeling with SketchUp and create a replica of the satellite antennas.
As with any new approach, we encountered some challenges along the way—but the key was to keep learning, experimenting, and asking for help when we needed it.
Coverage of this project can be found in these public sources:
- read the project's associated blog
- read a Simply Science article
Disclaimer: This project was undertaken as part of my role at Natural Resources Canada. Views expressed here are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada.
