Metaverse for AEC: A SWOT Analysis
Ahmad Hadavi, Sepehr Alizadehsalehi · 2024
The metaverse concept as a science fiction concept has been around for a few decades, but new computing technologies have made it a reality in 2021 with Microsoft Mesh for Teams for Hololens, Meta Horizon Worlds and Workrooms for Oculus Quest, Nvidia Omniverse, HTC Viveverse, and many other apps for any type of head-mounted devices. While analysts estimate a market size as high as $13 trillion by 2030, there are challenges ahead. Despite growing interest in the metaverse across various industries, there is currently a lack of literature and research on the topic in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. The objective of this paper is to present the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of this new mode of communication based on published articles in other industries. This study highlights the challenges for future efforts involving the implementation of metaverse in the AEC industry.