Qualitative knowledge graph for the evaluation of metaverse(s): is the metaverse hype or a promising new field for architects?

Awan, Abeeha; Prokop, Šimon; Vele, Jiří; Dounas, Theodor; Lombardi, Davide; Agkathidis, Asterios; Kurilla, Lukáš

Abstract

With the advancement of augmented and virtual reality technologies both in scale as well as accessibility, the Metaverse (Stephenson, 1992, Hughes, 2022) has emerged as a new digital space with potential for the application of architectural creativity and design.With blockchain integration, the concept of the Metaverse shows promise in creating a "decentralised" space for design and creativity with rewards for its participants. As a platform that incorporates these technological components, does the Metaverse have utility for architectural design? Is there something truly novel in what the Metaverse brings to architectural computing, and architectural design? The paper constructs a qualitative knowledge graph that can be used for the evaluation of various kinds of Metaverses in and for architectural design. We use Design Science Research methods to develop the knowledge graph and its evaluative capacity, stemming from our experience with two Metaverses, Decentraland and Cryptovoxels. The paper concludes with a discussion of knowledge and practice gaps that are evident, framing the opportunities that architects might have in the future in terms of developing Metaverse(s).

Citation

AWAN, A., PROKOP, S., VELE, J., DOUNAS, T., LOMBARDI, D., AGKATHIDIS, A. and KURILLA, L. 2023. Qualitative knowledge graph for the evaluation of metaverse(s): is the metaverse hype or a promising new field for architects? Architecture and planning journal [online], 28(3): proceedings of the 10th International conference of the Arab Society for Computation in Architecture, Art and Design 2022 (ASCAAD 2022): hybrid spaces of the metaverse: architecture in the age of the metaverse: opportunities and potentials, 12-14 October 2022, [virtual event], article 23. Available from: https://doi.org/10.54729/2789-8547.1218

• Journal Article Type: Conference Paper
• Conference Name: 10th International conference of the Arab Society for Computation in Architecture, Art and Design 2022 (ASCAAD 2022): hybrid spaces of the metaverse: architecture in the age of the metaverse: opportunities and potentials
• Conference Location: [virtual event]
• Acceptance Date: Sep 3, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Mar 31, 2023
• Publication Date: Mar 31, 2023
• Deposit Date: Jun 27, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 27, 2023
• Journal: Architecture and planning journal
• Print ISSN: 2079-4096
• Electronic ISSN: 2789-8547
• Publisher: Beirut Arab University
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 3
• Article Number: 23
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.54729/2789-8547.1218
• Keywords: Metaverse; Virtual reality; Digital space; Augmented reality; Blockchain
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1997705