Metaverse Applications in Construction Research: Are We There Yet?

Despite the significant potential of extended reality (XR) technologies in construction research, achieving a collaborative virtual environment that allows real-time engagements among various geographically remote stakeholders is a challenge. Building upon XR technologies, metaverse technology was introduced recently in construction research as a possible solution to address this issue, as it allows multiple users to engage and communicate in virtual environments. Being introduced recently, the applications of the metaverse in construction research (ConVerse) remain immature, vague, and unexplored. Seasoned researchers interested in the ConVerse research still need a reference guide to better understand the potential of the metaverse and its current applications. As such, this paper introduces a comprehensive review of the ConVerse applications, highlighting the research themes and assessing the exploitation level of the metaverse technology based on a set of six defined criteria. It also explores the current deficiencies of the ConVerse applications and the needed measures to achieve a higher level of maturity. The results showed that the Design Review applications contribute most to the ConVerse literature, followed by Activities Planning and Safety applications. It was also revealed that no article in the ConVerse literature had considered the whole six criteria of the metaverse, while 76.2% overlooked at least two criteria, and only 23.8% missed only one criterion. Subsequently, the paper highlights four main future directions to leverage the use of metaverse technology in the ConVerse research. This paper serves as a helpful guide for ConVerse researchers and provides them with a sound foundation for future research.