Smart Cities Through the Metaverse: A Geospatial Framework for Urban Sustainability

In a groundbreaking study conducted by researchers Keramatollah Ziari and Ehsan Dorostkar from the Department of Human Geography and Planning at the University of Tehran, the role of metaverse technologies in urban planning is reimagined through a novel conceptual framework. Published in Sustainable Futures, the research tackles the urgent need to rethink conventional city planning tools in an era of rapid urbanization, climate uncertainty, and increasing infrastructure complexity. By integrating geospatial technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), and immersive virtual environments, the authors propose a powerful system that allows urban planners to model, simulate, and optimize urban spaces in real time. Their geospatial-metaverse framework combines the power of digital twins with participatory simulations and AI-driven predictive modeling to create more sustainable and resilient cities.

Reimagining Urban Planning through the Metaverse

The study opens by highlighting the growing inadequacy of traditional planning models in addressing the complex needs of modern cities. As urban landscapes evolve at an unprecedented pace, planners face daunting challenges such as resource mismanagement, disaster risk, and environmental degradation. The authors argue that the metaverse, a digital ecosystem enriched with VR, AR, AI, and blockchain, offers a next-generation solution. It enables the creation of digital twins, or virtual replicas of urban spaces, which can be used for scenario testing, policy experimentation, and stakeholder engagement. These simulations provide a safe and controlled environment in which city officials can analyze the potential outcomes of various decisions before implementation. This ability to visualize and interact with urban environments in immersive detail makes the metaverse a uniquely potent tool for sustainable planning.

A Holistic Framework for Smart and Resilient Cities

Ziari and Dorostkar introduce a tripartite conceptual framework designed to embed geospatial data into the metaverse for comprehensive urban simulation. The three components, virtual urban representation, spatial analytics, and stakeholder engagement, work together to create a feedback-rich decision-making environment. The system draws on diverse data sources, including remote sensing, GIS, IoT sensors, and user behavior within the virtual world. Unlike static GIS tools or siloed digital twin applications, this integrated platform allows for real-time policy testing, adaptive land use modeling, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. According to the authors, this holistic approach improves urban crisis response by 37% compared to conventional or fragmented systems. AI algorithms process and analyze data to simulate how different urban policies will play out over time, enabling evidence-based governance rooted in spatial intelligence.

Empowering Participation and Policy Testing

One of the most transformative aspects of the metaverse framework is its capacity to elevate citizen participation in planning processes. In cities like Helsinki, more than 18,000 residents were able to engage in zoning decisions using metaverse tools and blockchain-based NFT voting. Similarly, in Jakarta, virtual simulations helped reduce flood evacuation times by 34%, showcasing the effectiveness of immersive planning for disaster resilience. These applications underscore how the metaverse democratizes access to urban decision-making, giving communities a real voice in shaping their environments. Users can explore proposed developments through VR, provide instant feedback, and influence final decisions, bridging the long-standing gap between planners and the public.

In terms of analytics, AI-supported predictive tools within the metaverse can forecast trends like housing demand, mobility patterns, and infrastructure stress points. A cited model achieved over 92% accuracy in predicting population movement by merging IoT sensor data with metaverse user behaviors. However, the authors also highlight emerging challenges, including data privacy concerns and potential biases in AI models. In particular, training datasets often overlook marginalized communities, prompting the need for federated learning approaches to ensure fairer outcomes. Digital literacy remains another concern, as shown by findings that citizens over age 55 were 42% less likely to engage with VR-based planning than younger participants. Similarly, low-income groups often require simplified interfaces to navigate AR environments effectively.

Real-World Impact and Future Potential

The metaverse is not merely a conceptual tool; its real-world applications are already reshaping urban planning practices. The framework offers advantages across a spectrum of use cases, from infrastructure design and traffic flow modeling to emergency preparedness and sustainability audits. Urban policy, too, stands to benefit, with AI-enhanced simulations enabling forward-looking decisions based on robust data rather than reactive planning. Importantly, the framework also encourages a co-evolutionary approach to planning, where cities are not static entities but dynamic systems capable of adapting to environmental and socio-economic changes.

To harness the full potential of this digital transformation, the authors emphasize the need for interdisciplinary collaboration. Urban planners, geospatial analysts, software developers, and policymakers must work in tandem to design metaverse platforms that are inclusive, scalable, and ethically governed. Investment in digital infrastructure, regulatory frameworks for virtual spaces, and public outreach for digital literacy are all critical to realizing this vision.

A Roadmap Toward Smarter Urban Futures

Ziari and Dorostkar’s study offers a timely and forward-thinking blueprint for embedding the metaverse into the future of urban planning. Their geospatial-metaverse framework not only bridges existing technological gaps but also pushes the boundaries of what participatory, data-driven, and resilient urban design can look like. While limitations exist, such as the need for empirical testing and the risk of digital exclusion, the research lays a solid foundation for cities aiming to become smarter, greener, and more inclusive. By addressing both the technical and human dimensions of virtual planning, this study makes a compelling case for why the metaverse may be the most promising frontier in the evolution of sustainable urban development.