Startup founder builds digital world to showcase Chennai history
Vinay Chandrasekaran is developing The Madras Project to allow users to interact with the city's documented history through code and 3D environments.
Vinay Chandrasekaran, founder of the US-based startup Layerpath, is building a digital environment called The Madras Project to showcase the history of Chennai. According to The New Indian Express, the project aims to allow people to learn about and interact with the city through verified historical data.
The initiative began after Chandrasekaran noticed unverified AI-generated content about the city on social media. He conducted research into the city's origins and the debate regarding its founding date, later using code to create a 20-second history video featuring a kolam in September.
Chandrasekaran also developed a browser game, Madras Rush, which uses researched data to explore historical milestones. These include the arrival of Francis Day and Andrew Cogan in Madrasapatnam in 1640 and the opening of Madras Central station in 1873.
To ensure accuracy, Chandrasekaran verified facts collected via AI using books, newspaper clippings, and government portals. He stated that he chose to use code rather than AI image models because code is grounded in evidence and offers better flexibility.
The developer is currently converting 2D code into 3D environments using Blender to recreate historical settings, such as fishermen's settlements and British homes. He has collected and generated 130 GB of data over two months.
Chandrasekaran intends to open source the initiative so others can create similar projects for their own cities, temples, churches, and mosques. The game Madras Rush is available at https://madras.v40.in/.