Mapbox Japan and Shibaura Institute of Technology Collaborate on 'Cross-cultural Engineering Project 2023' to Boost Inbound Tourism in Nasu Town

Tokyo, Japan - December 13, 2023 - Mapbox Japan G.K., a leading digital map development platform provider, has partnered with Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) to conduct the 'Cross-cultural Engineering Project 2023' (CEP). This initiative involves 83 students from seven countries working together to create digital map services aimed at promoting inbound tourism in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture.

Project overview:

From December 13 to 22, 2023, students from Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, and China will form multidisciplinary teams to tackle real-world challenges. The focus is on developing digital map services that enhance tourism in Nasu Town, utilizing Mapbox's platform to create intuitive and informative maps.​

Workshop details:

• Dates: December 17 (Sunday) to December 19 (Tuesday), 2023​
• Locations:
  
  • Shibaura Institute of Technology Omiya Campus, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture​
  • Hotel Sunvalley Nasu Annex, Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture​
• Activities:
  
  • Visits to local businesses and organizations for interviews and data collection​
  • Development of digital map services tailored to promote inbound tourism​
  • Presentation of proposals to local stakeholders​

The Mapbox platform enables users to create customized digital maps with ease, displaying various data in formats like heatmaps and graphs. By supporting this workshop, Mapbox Japan aims to contribute to the students' development of problem-solving skills based on system thinking and to promote the utility of digital map services.

About CEP

The Cross-cultural Engineering Project is a problem-solving initiative where multinational, multidisciplinary teams propose solutions to challenges faced by businesses and communities. Students apply system thinking, methodologies, and management skills to address real-world issues, aiming to enhance their comprehensive problem-solving abilities. Since 2017, SIT has collaborated with Nasu Town on various projects, including addressing secondary transportation issues for tourists.