Ways of Leveraging the Metaverse to Optimise Sustainability in Construction

The present fourth industrial revolution (4IR) era has seen the multidisciplinary proliferation and optimisation of numerous digital technologies and innovations. These technologies, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, and the Metaverse, have proven highly beneficial as they enhance productivity and efficiency. In the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, it has also been established that the adoption and integration of these technologies hold significant potential to advance the sustainability agenda of the sector. To this end, this study explores the avenues for leveraging the Metaverse, a unique virtual shared space that harnesses the convergence of physical and digital entities to promote sustainable construction. The quantitative research method was adopted for the study. Registered and active construction professionals in the South African AEC sector were sampled using a structured questionnaire survey. The study employed descriptive and exploratory factor analysis to analyse the collected data. Findings from the survey revealed twenty potential factors that can facilitate the adoption and utilisation of the Metaverse to optimise sustainability in the AEC sector. By employing a concerted and multidisciplinary approach and effort by relevant stakeholders in the AEC sector, the capabilities of the Metaverse will be fully maximised to transform the sector into a safe, productive, resource-efficient, and sustainable one.