In under a week, the metaverse development team Avatrian has built in Second Life a scale replica of Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottobad , Pakistan, drawing data from Google Earth and other sources. "We've seen pictures on TV and online but it does not really give you a good sense of the place unless you're actually there," as Avatrian's Chenin Anabuki put it, after giving me a sneak preview a couple days ago. The whole spread has improved since my visit, and become pretty photorealistic -- see below:

Photo by Avatrian -- see more here on their Flickr stream

A temporary installation, Avatarian intends to shoot machinima on the site, and simulate the SEAL raid that ended bin Laden’s life. Another reason to document it: There’s rumors the Pakistani government may raze the original compound, making it all the more incumbent to create a working simulation for posterity and public access. (There’s a Counterstrike version of the compound, which looks pretty impressive, but since it requires a retail copy of the game and the ability to run a modified level, is even less broadly accessible than this SL version.)

One hint before you visit: Because the simulation is done to scale, make sure your avatar is adjusted to a normal height (SL avatars often clock in around 6’7-7’2), or you’ll end up plowing into ceilings. Then again, standing at 6’4”, bin Laden probably had that problem to contend with too. Among other things.

[Click here to visit Abbottobad in Second Life]

Update, 11:20PM: Bumped up.