iPlan: Mapping the Future
Created by Epistemic Analytics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and deployed by Mass Audubon, this National Science Foundation-funded project can lend a new perspective to science, civics, and many other lessons.
iPlan is a free online game that allows learners to construct, investigate, and solve simulated urban and regional planning problems. Suitable for use on smartphones, tablets, Chromebooks, and laptops, iPlan allows learners to explore the impacts of land-use decisions in their own local contexts. The system uses geospatial data, ecological and economic models, and optimization routines to transform any location in the contiguous United States into an interactive land-use planning simulation. Players construct rezoning plans that address socioeconomic and environmental issues, and their plans are evaluated by virtual stakeholders who advocate for different community priorities. iPlan thus provides a flexible platform for exploring complex land-use issues nationwide.
If you are interested in using iPlan with students or as part of your education and outreach activities, let us know how we can help! Also, you may want to read our quick start guide or check out sample lesson plans and other teaching resources.