The Metaverse and the Near Future of the Construction Industry

The term "metaverse," which has recently become a frequent topic across various media, is a coined word combining "meta" (meaning beyond) and "universe." Originally appearing in 1990s science fiction novels, it refers to a virtual world created within a digital three-dimensional space parallel to the real world. At the time, it was an imaginative world deemed impossible to implement, but with the rapid advancement of modern technology, it is quickly taking on a sense of reality.

Even in the construction industry, efforts are underway to improve productivity by creating digital twins that convert site conditions into real-time data and reproduce them in digital 3D spaces. These are being utilized for newcomer training and simulating efficient construction plans.

Additionally, due to the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which made going out difficult, services have emerged that recreate commercial facilities and exhibition spaces in digital spaces, allowing businesses to attract visitors, conduct customer service and business negotiations, and guide them through to contracts and purchases.

Currently, most developments are focused on building VR (Virtual Reality) environments tailored to specific sites or facilities, and utilizing AR (Augmented Reality) to display digital characters and other elements in real-world spaces. However, this is just the beginning. The metaverse is rooted in the concept of creating an entirely separate world, holding the potential to generate entirely new digital cities in virtual space where people can work, play, shop, and travel. In the near future, the role expected of the construction industry may undergo a dramatic transformation.

*The photos shown are for illustrative purposes only.
*All content and cases are based on Japan.