Barriers factors of metaverse adoption in construction industry in Hong Kong

Abstract

The rapid advancement of metaverse technology has created new possibilities for the construction industry, enabling immersive and collaborative virtual environments for a variety of social, economic, transactional, and operational purposes. However, several significant barriers hinder the widespread adoption of metaverse in the local construction industry. Despite the importance of identifying these barriers, there have been scarcity of studies on this topic. This research study aims to fill this gap by delving into the barriers factor that hinder the metaverse adoption and exploring potential solutions to these challenges. To achieve the aim, this study takes a comprehensive approach. A literature analysis identified 22 barriers, which were then followed by a questionnaire survey of 70 professionals in the construction industry, and interviews with three experts from an AEC consultant, a digital firm, and AEC developers. Through a comprehensive analysis using mean score ranking and factor analysis techniques, the study revealed five key barriers: 1) lack of understanding and awareness of metaverse, 2) inadequate policy planning and incentive policies, 3) purchasing cost of equipment, 4) training cost and time, and 5) physical and psychological health of users. It also revealed the four underlying groups of barriers, namely, technology-related, human-related, cost-related, and governance-related barriers. Notably, there was a general agreement among interviewees that the most critical barrier is “purchase cost of equipment”. To overcome these barriers, recommendations are made to provide support for SMEs and all stakeholders in the construction industry. To support SMEs, two recommendations are made to: 1) expand funding allocation and ceiling of existing fund scheme, and 2) expand scope of information of existing SME’s information platform. To support all stakeholders, four recommendations are made to: 1) advance availability of metaverse’s open source license, 2) professional trainings, exhibitions, and cross-stakeholder conferences, 3) research and development initiatives, and 4) set out technical guidelines and standards. This study provides valuable insights for industry stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers by shedding light on these barriers, underlying factors and recommendations. It is anticipated to foster willingness in metaverse adoption and driving its implementation within the construction sector in the long term.