diff --git a/src/micropolisj/engine/MapScanner.java b/src/micropolisj/engine/MapScanner.java
index 5ff4da0..6e4a6f5 100644
--- a/src/micropolisj/engine/MapScanner.java
+++ b/src/micropolisj/engine/MapScanner.java
@@ -481,6 +481,52 @@ class MapScanner
 		return newPower;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Place a 3x3 zone on to the map, centered on the current location.
+	 * Note: nothing is done if part of this zone is off the edge
+	 * of the map or is being flooded or radioactive.
+	 *
+	 * @param base The "zone" tile value for this zone.
+	 * @return true iff the zone was actually placed.
+	 */
+	boolean zonePlopNew(int base)
+	{
+		assert isZoneCenter(base);
+
+		TileSpec.BuildingInfo bi = Tiles.get(base).getBuildingInfo();
+		assert bi != null;
+		if (bi == null)
+			return false;
+
+		for (int y = ypos-1; y < ypos-1+bi.height; y++)
+		{
+			for (int x = xpos-1; x < xpos-1+bi.width; x++)
+			{
+				if (!city.testBounds(x, y)) {
+					return false;
+				}
+				if (isIndestructible2(city.getTile(x,y))) {
+					// radioactive, on fire, or flooded
+					return false;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		assert bi.members.length == bi.width * bi.height;
+		int i = 0;
+		for (int y = ypos-1; y < ypos-1+bi.height; y++)
+		{
+			for (int x = xpos-1; x < xpos-1+bi.width; x++)
+			{
+				city.setTile(x, y, (char)(bi.members[i] | (x == xpos && y == ypos ? BULLBIT : 0)));
+				i++;
+			}
+		}
+
+		setZonePower();
+		return true;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Place a 3x3 zone on to the map, centered on the current location.
 	 * Note: nothing is done if part of this zone is off the edge
diff --git a/src/micropolisj/engine/TileSpec.java b/src/micropolisj/engine/TileSpec.java
index d41cf4c..09647e8 100644
--- a/src/micropolisj/engine/TileSpec.java
+++ b/src/micropolisj/engine/TileSpec.java
@@ -40,6 +40,38 @@ public class TileSpec
 		return (v != null && v.equals("true"));
 	}
 
+	public static class BuildingInfo
+	{
+		int width;
+		int height;
+		short [] members;
+	}
+
+	public BuildingInfo getBuildingInfo()
+	{
+		String tmp = getAttribute("compound");
+		if (tmp == null) { return null; }
+
+		BuildingInfo bi = new BuildingInfo();
+
+		String [] parts = tmp.split(",");
+		String [] p2 = parts[0].split("x");
+
+		bi.width = Integer.parseInt(p2[0]);
+		bi.height = Integer.parseInt(p2[1]);
+		short startTile = Short.parseShort(parts[1]);
+
+		bi.members = new short[bi.width*bi.height];
+		for (int row = 0; row < bi.height; row++) {
+			for (int col = 0; col < bi.width; col++) {
+				bi.members[row*bi.width+col] = startTile;
+				startTile++;
+			}
+		}
+
+		return bi;
+	}
+
 	public String [] getImages()
 	{
 		return images.toArray(new String[0]);