Remote Virtual Inspection of Infrastructure in the Metaverse

To assess the condition of infrastructure such as bridges, highways, and pipelines, trained inspectors typically perform visual inspections with site visits. However, this conventional method can interrupt the regular functioning of the infrastructure as well as be time-consuming, laborious, expensive, and dangerous. To address these problems, this study proposes an immersive metaverse-based infrastructure remote virtual inspection platform. Based on a 3D digital twin model created through digital photogrammetry, this study generates an immersive metaverse to support collaborations between stakeholders for remote inspections. In addition, this study synchronizes a virtual reality (VR) headset with an unmanned aerial vehicle to remotely inspect infrastructure conditions at the target location using augmented real-time images mapped onto the digital twin model. The conducted experiments provided evidence that users equipped with VR headsets were able to see the 3D digital twin model of the infrastructure as if they were physically present on the sites. Within the metaverse space, users could easily navigate to specific areas and conduct inspection tasks by viewing both the digital twin model and real-time images through the proposed platform. The outcomes of this study hold the potential to enhance the efficiency and safety of infrastructure inspection.