diff --git a/examples/example02.py b/examples/example02.py
index 64ff761..1336dc9 100644
--- a/examples/example02.py
+++ b/examples/example02.py
@@ -3,20 +3,7 @@
 """
 import pysocialforce as pysf
 
-obstacle01 = pysf.Obstacle(
-    [(10, 10), (15,10), (15, 15), (10, 15)])
-obstacle02 = pysf.Obstacle(
-    [(20, 10), (25,10), (25, 15), (20, 15)])
-
-route01 = pysf.GlobalRoute(
-    [(0, 0), (10, 10), (20, 10), (30, 0)])
-crowded_zone01 = ((10, 10), (20, 10), (20, 20))
-
-map_def = pysf.MapDefinition(
-    obstacles=[obstacle01, obstacle02],
-    routes=[route01],
-    crowded_zones=[crowded_zone01])
-
+map_def = pysf.load_map("./maps/default_map.json")
 simulator = pysf.Simulator_v2(map_def)
 
 for step in range(10):
diff --git a/examples/example03.py b/examples/example03.py
index a76cb86..9965c2e 100644
--- a/examples/example03.py
+++ b/examples/example03.py
@@ -4,20 +4,7 @@
 import pysocialforce as pysf
 import numpy as np
 
-obstacle01 = pysf.Obstacle(
-    [(10, 10), (15,10), (15, 15), (10, 15)])
-obstacle02 = pysf.Obstacle(
-    [(20, 10), (25,10), (25, 15), (20, 15)])
-
-route01 = pysf.GlobalRoute(
-    [(0, 0), (10, 10), (20, 10), (30, 0)])
-crowded_zone01 = ((10, 10), (20, 10), (20, 20))
-
-map_def = pysf.MapDefinition(
-    obstacles=[obstacle01, obstacle02],
-    routes=[route01],
-    crowded_zones=[crowded_zone01])
-
+map_def = pysf.load_map("./maps/default_map.json")
 simulator = pysf.Simulator_v2(map_def)
 sim_view = pysf.SimulationView(obstacles=map_def.obstacles, scaling=10)
 sim_view.show()
diff --git a/maps/default_map.json b/maps/default_map.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..583c060
--- /dev/null
+++ b/maps/default_map.json
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+{
+    "version": "1.0",
+    "name": "default_map",
+    "bounds": {
+        "x_margin": [-100, 100],
+        "y_margin": [-200, 200]
+    },
+    "ped_routes": [
+        {
+            "name": "route_1",
+            "waypoints": [
+                [0, 0],
+                [0, 100],
+                [100, 100],
+                [100, 0],
+                [0, 0]
+            ],
+            "reversible": "true"
+        }
+    ],
+    "crowded_zones": [
+        {
+            "name": "zone_1",
+            "zone_rect": [
+                [40, -40],
+                [40, -20],
+                [60, -20]
+            ]
+        }
+    ],
+    "obstacles": [
+        {
+            "name": "obstacle_1",
+            "vertices": [
+                [20, 20],
+                [20, 40],
+                [40, 40],
+                [40, 20]
+            ]
+        }
+    ]
+}
diff --git a/pysocialforce/__init__.py b/pysocialforce/__init__.py
index 328e324..5b95a6a 100644
--- a/pysocialforce/__init__.py
+++ b/pysocialforce/__init__.py
@@ -15,3 +15,4 @@
 from .map_config import \
     Circle, Line2D, Rect, Zone, Vec2D, \
     GlobalRoute, Obstacle, MapDefinition
+from .map_loader import load_map
diff --git a/pysocialforce/map_loader.py b/pysocialforce/map_loader.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..63ca174
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pysocialforce/map_loader.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import json
+from pysocialforce.map_config import \
+    MapDefinition, GlobalRoute, Obstacle
+
+
+def load_map(file_path: str) -> MapDefinition:
+    """Load map data from the given file path."""
+
+    with open(file_path, 'r') as file:
+        map_json = json.load(file)
+
+    obstacles = [Obstacle(o["vertices"]) for o in map_json['obstacles']]
+    routes = [GlobalRoute(r['waypoints']) for r in map_json['ped_routes']]
+    routes += [GlobalRoute(list(reversed(r['waypoints'])))
+               for r in map_json['ped_routes'] if r["reversible"]]
+    crowded_zones = [tuple(z["zone_rect"]) for z in map_json['crowded_zones']]
+
+    return MapDefinition(obstacles, routes, crowded_zones)