Preserving History Through Play: The Porthcawl Digital Twin

When the beloved Porthcawl Fair closed its doors, a piece of local history was lost, but not entirely. Thanks to the ingenuity of an Esports student, the iconic Go-Kart track has been digitally preserved and given a second life as an interactive gaming experience.

The Project: Before the site was completely dismantled, I took a comprehensive 3D scan of the physical Go-Kart track. Using arrival.space, an Esports student then imported this digital twin into a virtual environment and "vibe coded" a fully drivable digital kart. To gamify the experience, a coin-collection mechanic was integrated, turning a static 3D scan into a nostalgic, interactive race against the clock.

Looking to the Future: This project is just the starting line. It serves as a successful proof-of-concept for how immersive technologies can capture and gamify real-world locations. Next year, we are expanding this initiative. Our students will be taking 3D scanning equipment on the road to map out various college sites and actual racetracks, building a library of digital twins that can be explored, raced, and experienced by anyone, anywhere. Have a go at this link: https://arrival.space/79440952_2436