6GBridge-EMETA, Enabling Metaverse

Metaverse is a virtual world or environment consisting of computer-generated spaces and objects. It is not merely a single unified virtual space but rather a collection of interconnected virtual worlds where users can create avatars, communicate with others, participate in various activities, and create or share digital content. Metaverse can be described as a digital collective space that connects people from different parts of the world.

Recently, the popularity of the Metaverse concept has grown, and it is believed to offer significant new business opportunities, especially for the ICT industry. The integration of Metaverse with various technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and extended reality (XR) has become more common. Several technology companies and gaming industry players have started exploring and developing projects and platforms related to the Metaverse, viewing it as a potential future online environment that could extend from social interactions to commerce, education, and entertainment.

Metaverse seamlessly integrates physical and virtual spaces, allowing control of physical space resources from the virtual space, utilization of virtual space resources from the physical space, and sharing common experiences across both spaces.

The general objective of the EMETA (Enabling Metaverse) project is to increase understanding of the ICT requirements for Metaverse implementation. It aims to develop telecommunications, computing, multi-user real-time digital twin, and virtual/augmented/extended reality (AR/VR/XR) and blockchain technologies and solutions based on the evolution of 5G and 5G Advanced technologies for the implementation of key features of the Metaverse. Additionally, the project implements test environments and demos related to the functionality of a smart building. These implementations demonstrate the control of smart building resources and spaces and user collaboration through virtual and physical spaces.

1. The project begins by defining the key features and use cases of the Metaverse.
2. Based on this, the ICT requirements of Metaverse implementation are mapped, and the system structure, including key components and their interconnections, is defined.
3. The work then focuses on researching and developing the technologies and modules required by the main features and use cases of the Metaverse.
4. Finally, demos related to use cases are integrated into test environments.

The project’s implementation approach is iterative. Oulu University of Applied Sciences (Oamk) specifically focuses on utilizing drones in digital twin modeling and developing Digital Twin technologies such as blockchain/NFT, VR, AR, and XR.

The project is funded by Business Finland.

The project is led by VTT, and Oulu University and Oulu University of Applied Sciences are participating in the implementation.