Rodes Metaverse

The Alcoy City Council is developing the innovative project Metaverse Rodes Alcoy, which represents an investment of €149,741.35, of which 70% (€104,379.50) is subsidized by the Valencian Innovation Agency.

As part of the city's strategy, we find the Rodes Urban Technology Park. The Rodes project has recovered an industrial space of more than 11,000 m² to transform it into a development project for our economy. The goal is not only to attract technology-based companies but also to create the necessary synergies for the digital transformation of our economic framework.

Rodes is also open to the public to meet social and cultural needs. For this reason, it will include public gardens, an auditorium, a concert hall, and other multipurpose spaces. The Rodes project aims to create a dynamic space based on the original structure of the Rodes Hermanos Foundry.

In this context, the Metaverse Rodes Alcoy project is proposed. A metaverse is a virtual universe composed of multiple interconnected digital worlds. We will connect using a series of devices that will make us feel as if we are truly inside this universe while interacting with all its elements.

Through Metaverse Rodes Alcoy and its interconnection with the real world and the physical IoT (Internet of Things) world, the Alcoy City Council will promote an emerging technology with great future potential to the agents of the Valencian Innovation System. And not only emerging technology but also the multiple associated services, both existing and future. The services will not be limited to the agents of the Valencian Innovation System but will also serve to bring, transfer knowledge, promote, and disseminate this technology and its services to local businesses, citizens, and tourists.

It is important to highlight that this entire project will be framed within the Rodes Urban Technology Park and its innovative spirit and commitment to the growth of the industrial sector.

Metaverse Rodes Alcoy also aims to reduce the digital and social divide caused in many cases by limited access to technology for certain sectors of society.

This Metaverse represents a 3D modeling and virtual representation of the Rodes Technology Park and can be visited in two ways: first, using virtual reality equipment such as goggles and controllers; and second, through a conventional computer. Metaverse Rodes offers a variety of services aimed at different sectors, including industry, the general public, and the City Council itself. To provide these services, it relies on artificial intelligence and virtual reality technologies.

It is a space where different users can register and connect, regardless of their location in the world, allowing them to explore a virtual representation of the park's facilities, as well as see and communicate with other users connected at the same time.

For the industry sector, different companies can establish their virtual headquarters within Metaverse Rodes, allowing any citizen or other companies interested in their activities to interact with them for information. Companies with a virtual headquarters have the option of deploying a small chatbot capable of engaging in conversations with visitors and providing basic information that has been previously programmed. If the chatbot cannot respond, a company employee can always connect to the Metaverse and interact with interested users. This, in addition to the option for companies to set up physical offices in the Rodes Technology Park, will allow them to interact both virtually within the Metaverse and in person at the Technology Park.

Furthermore, some services are intended for the general public. Firstly, for the elderly, allowing them to interact with others virtually from home as a way to alleviate feelings of unwanted loneliness. Secondly, activities will be designed to introduce Alcoy residents and nearby urban communities to technologies that will play a significant role in humanity's future development, such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

Finally, the Metaverse is also connected to the physical world through smart devices (IoT). These devices are distributed throughout the Technology Park, making it a network of smart buildings. This will enable the Metaverse to reflect real-world information such as temperature, humidity levels in each space and outdoors, electricity or water consumption, or even pinpoint the location of potential malfunctions. A technician will be able to see precisely where pipes or cables run within the building using the Metaverse, identifying the exact location of a problem before conducting repairs. This allows for a faster and more efficient response instead of blindly opening walls in search of the issue. Consequently, the City Council will be able to manage the building more efficiently, avoiding resource wastage, which could result in cost savings for the administration and the citizens of Alcoy.

How to access

Access to the Metaverse is available through this link to the webpage https://centrerodes.meta4bim.com, where users must create an account and register. Once registration is complete, user manuals provide detailed instructions on how to access the Metaverse. Additionally, users can manage reservations to set a date and time for access or schedule an appointment with one of the companies established in the Rodes Urban Technology Park and its Metaverse.

There are three access modes to the Metaverse:

1. Desktop version: Requires downloading and installing an executable file for Windows.
2. Web version: No download is needed. The user will receive a link to access when the scheduled date and time arrive.
3. Virtual reality version: Requires downloading the executable file on a computer and running it using VR goggles

All detailed information on access and usage of the Metaverse can be found at the previously mentioned link.