A meticulous investigation into the application of metaverse in construction industry: a systematic literature review

Purpose The construction industry is increasingly exploring the metaverse as a transformative digital paradigm to enhance collaboration, efficiency and project delivery. However, the current body of knowledge remains fragmented, lacking a comprehensive synthesis of adoption barriers, research trends and implementation pathways. This study aims to systematically investigate (1) the evolution and trends of metaverse-related research in construction, (2) key barriers to its adoption and (3) strategic pathways for its effective implementation. By integrating these dimensions, the study seeks to provide a holistic understanding of the metaverse ecosystem within the construction industry. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA protocol to identify relevant studies from the Scopus database. A total of 34 records were selected through rigorous screening and snowballing. Scientometric analysis was employed to examine publication trends, collaboration networks and research hotspots. A novel hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework, combining evaluation based on distance from average solution (EDAS) and criteria importance through intercriteria correlation (CRITIC), was developed to assess the quality and impact of the selected studies. Furthermore, barriers were extracted and analysed, and a conceptual framework for metaverse adoption was proposed. Findings The findings reveal a rapidly growing research interest in metaverse applications in construction, particularly after 2020. Key adoption barriers are categorised into political, economic, social, technological and cultural dimensions, with major challenges including high initial costs, lack of standardisation, regulatory uncertainty, technological immaturity and resistance to change. Interoperability issues, immature business models and limited awareness emerged as the most interconnected barriers. The proposed framework outlines a structured pathway from stakeholder awareness to industry-wide adoption, emphasising policy support, infrastructure development and technological integration. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by integrating scientometric analysis, barrier identification, quality assessment and framework development within a unified analytical approach. Unlike prior studies that focus on isolated aspects, this research provides a comprehensive and systematic evaluation of metaverse adoption in construction. The findings offer actionable insights for policymakers, industry practitioners and researchers to facilitate strategic decision-making and accelerate digital transformation in the construction sector.