1. Introduction

2. Methodological Approach

3. Industrial Metaverse Architecture, Roadmap and Core Technologies Overview

4. Use Cases and Deployment

• Industrial design and engineering: The Metaverse is a meta-design space, where Metaverse designers create various interconnected design spaces, each of which creates a unique experience [38]. The macro and micro levels of real-world design are both improved by metaverse design. At the macro level, designing in the metaverse may entail working together in real-time inside a virtual representation of the inside of large-scale items like airplanes. At the micro level parts might be tested, changed, and iterated in a matter of seconds as opposed to investing money and effort in constructing or printing a 3D model or prototype. Practically, design engineers can construct detailed industrial designs owing to the metaverse. To view the product in a real-world environment, interact with it, and alter the design, they employ virtual reality. This method allows you to innovate more quickly and cost-effectively because it saves time and lowers the cost of physical prototypes. In addition, the metaverse offers designers and engineers fresh viewpoints and inspiration, enabling them to produce more original and useful creations. Industrial metaverse apps can speed up design and engineering processes and help you launch better goods more quickly.
• Supply chain management and logistics: The supply chain’s transparency and insight into how goods are produced, stored, distributed, and sold will expand thanks to the metaverse. Additionally, the metaverse encourages collaboration up and down the supply chain, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the entire chain [39]. Examples of industrial metaverse use cases include VeChain and TradeLens. They demonstrate how supply chain processes can be streamlined and optimized using this technology. The TradeLens technology automates and digitizes supply chain activities, minimizing paper-based documentation and manual processes, using smart contracts and digital signatures. VeChain simulates every stage of the supply chain, from raw materials to finished goods, using blockchain technology and the metaverse. Blockchain technology is used to track each transaction and movement.
• Manufacturing operations and maintenance: Industrial big data, operational data management, artificial intelligence, robotic process automation and autonomous systems, digital twins, and cloud computing are just a few of the cutting-edge technologies that make up the industrial metaverse. In the manufacturing industry, the metaverse enhances efficiency through product design, production, and maintenance. The metaverse improves productivity in the industrial sector through product design, production, and maintenance.
  • In product design: Product design is the process of making physical or digital products. The metaverse enables designers to have the full autonomy to create products that never existed previously. For instance, fashion companies like Nike and Balenciaga have created items that, even if they were available to consumers, they might not necessarily choose to wear in real life, but which helps them create or define their virtual personas on this platform. Given the nearly endless amount of innovation, designers have never-before-seen chances to push the limits of design [40].
  • Improve the manufacturing and production process: Metaverse simulations provide the capability to test several factory scenarios and gain insights from scaling up or reducing production. A provision of optimization opportunities within the facilities through these simulations without affecting the manufacturing that is already taking place. Practically, in a smart factory, operators can use Microsoft Dynamics 365 Guides for real-time instructions overlaid on equipment, while IoT sensors collect data on machine performance, quality metrics, and inventory levels. This renders it possible for operators to quickly spot and fix problems, optimize production settings, and enhance the general effectiveness and quality of manufacturing.
  • Improve quality control: IoT sensors are deployed for the collection of data in manufacturing processes. This facilitates the collection of real-time data from the various equipment and machinery. Subsequently, analyzing data from its manufacturing processes and identifying defects or issues that need to be addressed [41]. Manufacturing companies can streamline processes and boost efficiency by using metaverse applications and technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). For example, Dynamics 365 Guides and Remote Assist, can be leveraged for 3D drawing in a real-world environment. Moreover, front-line workers wearing HoloLens can also annotate their physical space with digital ink, creating an interactive and immersive experience. In the automotive manufacturing industry, BMW workers wear headsets that overlay digital information onto real-world objects. This allows them to visually inspect and identify defects in the components in real-time, reducing the risk of defective products reaching the assembly line or being shipped to customers.
• Better warehouse and logistics management: AR can be leveraged to streamline logistics and warehousing procedures by utilizing metaverse technology. A case in point is that of DHL, a global logistics company that is using augmented reality (AR) headsets to provide their workers with real-time information, such as order details, inventory locations, and picking instructions, overlaid onto their field of vision. This allows their workers to work hands-free and efficiently navigate the warehouse, reducing errors and improving order accuracy.
• Training: The adoption of "immersive training environments," more often known as the Industrial Metaverse, is necessary to train workers, both seasoned and novice ones, in Industry 5.0 working settings and from the Operator 5.0 point of view. The need for more efficient and effective practical training (either local or remote) is what drives the market demand for these types of advanced cyber-physical training environments. This is so that workers, both experienced and novice, can safely experience and learn from their operational mistakes and poor decisions. Even though mistakes can be the best teachers in some industrial situations, it may not be practical or safe to use them as a learning tool. The significant costs, hazards, and time-consuming activities that traditional physical or virtual training settings entail for businesses can thus be reduced with the use of contemporary industrial Metaverse-based training environments. However, to provide "safe" immersive industrial environments where employees can experiment with novel and creative methods of doing things, even using trial-and-error techniques, which may result in process improvements. A better user experience is one of the most significant advantages of using "Metaverse-based solutions" while educating employees. Complete immersion offers a more complete cognitive and sensory perception of the entire environment and the issues, as well as a richer user experience [42]. As an example, complex machinery can be practised by being operated by trainees, who can also receive safety instructions, learn how to perform maintenance and repairs, conduct remote training, and acquire critical soft skills. This encourages a staff that is more effective and knowledgeable. Employees and trainees can now take advantage of Dynamics 365 Guides’ more sophisticated features, which include pre-join settings for HoloLens users joining Teams calls that lets them turn on or off their audio and video before joining the session. During the meeting, users can also change these settings. This permits frontline staff to use the HoloLens as their primary calling device in settings where secrecy is crucial without jeopardizing securites. Dynamics 365 Guides simplify document navigation. Through action steps, this also offers the additional capability of linking straight from one guide to another. As with clicking on hyperlinks to get to different online pages, this enables easy switching between various training materials or manuals. These cutting-edge training techniques provide a secure and monitored environment for practical learning, which boosts productivity, lowers costs, and improves safety in industrial settings.
• Marketing and sales for manufacturing products Metaverse enables you to create virtual product experiences that allow customers to visualize and interact with products in a virtual environment. Metaverse has created numerous possibilities for industries to market their products by organizing Virtual product launches using the metaverse to launch brand-new products. Companies can create virtual launch events where users can virtually experience the new products, learn about their features, and even pre-order them. This creates buzz and anticipation among their customer bases. Virtual factory tours help customers connect with your brand. This allows them to experience the manufacturing process and get an inside look at your facilities without physically visiting the factories. Virtual booths at trade shows to showcase your products to a global audience. These booths can engage visitors and demonstrate your products using virtual presentations, videos, or interactive demos. Virtual trade shows offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to market your products and reach potential customers globally.
• Research and development: With its immersive and collaborative features, industrial metaverse apps have changed the way that industries undertake research and development (R & D). In the end, this results in previously unheard-of levels of invention, effectiveness, and inventiveness. classically, physical prototypes were used to conduct (R & D) on products which was not only time-consuming but costly as well. The industrial metaverse simulates the design of a product or service at a very early stage as a cost-effective design approach. It enables the design team to quickly pivot and make the best and most appropriate design choices. Early-stage product creation using the metaverse would be a good, "low-hanging fruit" use case for industries [43]. The Ford Motor Company is a typical example, It has been investigating how to leverage the metaverse for research and development in fields like car design, safety testing, and manufacturing efficiency. They have built virtual prototypes of their vehicles and tested them virtually for performance and safety using virtual reality (VR) simulations.

Table 1. Industrial Metaverse Use cases.

5. Environmental impact and sustainable development

• Energy Consumption: It is anticipated that the servers and data centres needed to support the development of the industrial metaverse will consume a substantial amount of energy. This might result in a considerable rise in energy usage, especially if the metaverse gains the widespread acclaim that many have predicted [68] Although the metaverse can reduce carbon emissions associated with travel, building, and maintaining infrastructure, the servers and data centres that power the metaverse can also consume significant energy. Clearly, given the IM’s infancy stages, energy consumption is still sketchy. However, cloud computing and data centres are the main tools of the IM data centres are large groups of connected enterprise servers frequently used to store, process, or transmit large quantities of data. This means data centres use a large amount of electricity which leads to several environmental issues. In one of the few major cases, the amount of energy consumed over the years was examined using the TRUBA dataset. The dataset includes the daily energy consumption of supercomputers, storage, and networking devices. TRUBA’s forecast results point to a reduction in energy consumption in the future. Furthermore, the same study also shows that the energy consumption of TRUBA is decreasing, but it must be noted that the usage of cloud servers for deep learning tasks is increasing [69]. Ensuring the underlying infrastructure supporting your metaverse is powered by renewable energy sources is key to achieving overall net zero.
• E-Waste: Electronic waste (E-waste) has significantly increased because of the growing desire for the newest technology, posing an environmental threat. A case in point is the Innovation in cellular phones which shifts almost completely to the digital part of the IM. Innovation is a costly endeavor, involving lots of trials and errors that generate waste of many kinds. By shifting the innovation process to the IM digital part industry can cut on this waste, save resources, and speed up the innovation cycles. However, these faster innovations lead to shorter product lifetimes and henceforth to increased obsolescence and waste. Take as an example the cellphone market that showed a sale of 1.7+ billion cellphones in 2021. Since this is now a (almost) mature market most of these cellphone went to replace existing ones leading to e-waste of 1.5+ billion cell phones. A significant portion of that replacement was motivated by innovation, as new captivating models hit the market. Stopping innovation is not good for business, and eventually not good for any of us who ultimately benefit from innovation, but it must go hand in hand with recycling and reusing. The IM, extending to all layers, as discussed previously, can become an essential force in making this happen [70]. The threats posed by e-waste are real, and they are made worse by the unorganized sector, which frequently strips e-waste of its most beneficial components. Lethal substances like lead, cadmium, beryllium, mercury, and brominated flame retardants are present in all electronic garbage. The likelihood of these hazardous compounds, contaminating the land, poisoning the air, and leaking into water bodies increases when gadgets and devices are disposed of illegally. The amount of worn and abandoned electronics is increasing along with the global demand for electronic devices. Every year, around 50 million tonnes of e-waste are produced, which more than the combined weight of all commercial aircraft is ever built. Instead with these things in mind, one can conclude that the Metaverse will be more detrimental to the environment than beneficial [71]. However, according to [72] only 17.4 % of electronic waste is recycled globally, leading to heightened environmental and health issues, particularly in economically developing countries. Electronic waste is leading to a loss of at least US $57 billion annually through the disposal of key raw materials, such as iron, copper, gold, and others. Adopting circular models can help companies access untapped opportunities and lower environmental impact to address critical e-waste challenges.
• Virtual Economies and Blockchain: Virtual economies within the Metaverse, often backed by blockchain technologies like NFTs and cryptocurrencies, have substantial energy requirements. The energy consumption of blockchain networks, especially those using proof-of-work consensus mechanisms, is a significant concern. Bitcoin mining has been found to consume as much energy as small countries, which translates into a significant carbon footprint. Whereas miners initially used central processing units (CPUs) to find PoWs, they quickly realized that graphic processing units (GPUs) were better equipped for the task. However, because blockchain mining uses a lot of energy and emits carbon dioxide, the environmental effects of blockchain technology on gaming must be taken into consideration. GameFi platforms should investigate environmentally friendly solutions, like proof-of-stake consensus algorithms, to reduce their carbon footprint and support the gaming industry’s sustainable growth [73].
• Elimination of pollution-generating activities: Increasingly, with the adoption of the industrial metaverse, numerous pollution-generating activities are being eliminated. These activities range from commuting, face-to-face meetings, offsite work events, and transport. Already virtual meeting space gather. town a virtual space platform that offers a new way of conducting online meetings, events, and conferences have attracted more than 4 million users. The platform provides a 2D environment where users can interact with each other in real-time, almost as if they were in the same physical location [74] and [75].
• Reduction in pollution generated by activities: The metaverse can be used to create different scenarios for an entity such as a city, and a factory in other to assess their impact on energy consumption. To evaluate the effects of various scenarios on energy usage, an entity like a factory can be created using the industrial metaverse. For instance, the industrial metaverse’s digital twins can be used to inexpensively and safely replicate real-world performance conditions. A case in point is that of microsoft’s deployment of industrial metaverse capabilities for Hellenic, which is among the largest Coca-Cola bottlers. Hellenic has more than 55 facilities across Europe and serves 29 markets in the region. Just one Hellenic production line produces 90, 000 bottles of Coca-Cola products per hour. Microsoft created digital twins utilizing data from sensors, which made it possible for factory workers to become immersed in the twins. It was reported that, in 12 weeks, the factory cut energy consumption by over 9 %.
• Reduction in the consumption of physical objects: It is important to consider the potential consequences of virtual consumption and how it may impact the environment. While virtual environments can be designed to be more sustainable than physical environments, it is not yet clear how they will affect energy use and carbon emissions [76]. Realizing the possibility of much less materialistic consumption can be facilitated by the industrial metaverse. It is stated that 21% of the consumers expressed their willingness to engage in digital activities in the future which is expected to reduce buying physical items [77].
• Precise assessment of pollution generated and improvement in reward and enforcement: Ascertaining the level of pollution generated by an entity can assist reward and enforcement processes to be improved as well as carbon-friendly habits to be incentivized. While tracing carbon across the real world is complex, it is possible to trace it in the metaverse by creating fungible digital assets on the blockchain. Tokenization facilitates the transaction of carbon credits and creates a carbon market, where voluntary carbon credits can be freely traded. The credits may represent emissions that have been mitigated due to activities such as forestry conservation and engagement in ways to sequestrate carbon such as soil improvement and changes in land use management. This is exemplified by Reseed company’s platform which utilizes blockchain technology to ensure the validity of carbon stock management, from registration through validation and verification, enabling farmers to receive additional income while providing a potential return to investors [78]. All in all, to get ready for sustainability within the industrial metaverse, enterprises may consider utilizing renewable energy sources and cloud services. Furthermore, developing a culture of examining the effects of products on the environment as well as creating a circular economy.

6. Innovative Security and privacy threats

• Data Security and Cybersecurity Risks: With the increased reliance on interconnected systems and data sharing, the Industrial Metaverse raises concerns about data security and cybersecurity risks. To this end, more and more devices as well as platforms are increasingly becoming interconnected. Practically, this increases the risk of cyber threats and data breaches. Safeguarding sensitive data is thus imperative to protect enterprises, governments, and individuals.
• Privacy Implications and Regulatory Compliance: The Industrial Metaverse also brings to the fore challenges with regulatory compliance and privacy issues. Thus, with companies collecting and analyzing huge amounts of data, there is a need to ensure that the privacy of individuals is respected and protected. Striking a balance between innovation and privacy rights is a challenge that needs to be addressed.
• Avatar Authentication Issue: Increasingly, digital avatars such as faces, videos, and voices are employed in the virtual world, which is a metaverse, user authentication and verification are common chores in comparison to the real world. Realistically, attackers can simply make identical sounds and movies by mimicking the appearance of the real user using sophisticated AR and VR tools and devices, together with AI bots. Consequently, the security and privacy of avatars remain a major concern.

7. Future Research challenges

• Security by design: The robust data sets linked to digital twins are useful for both businesses and criminals. Digital twins are vulnerable to manipulation by criminals who could use them to steal identities, encrypt data, extort businesses, or spy on corporate [81] secrets. A case in point is the deployment of fake digital twins which enable criminals to use stolen data to create virtual representations of people or entire environments for criminal intents. A deep flake scenario could, for example, be the deceptive imitation of a company’s executive member in a virtual conference room in the metaverse, enticing the victim to disclose sensitive information. Data Poisoning is another aspect wherein data from the underlying AI and ML learning systems may be intentionally altered. This taints the insights businesses derive from their simulations and, in the worst instance, may result in disastrous business decisions based on inaccurate data. Companies run the danger of allocating funds to unproductive channels in the belief that they are acting based on reliable projections from their digital twins if, for instance, demographic data or action profiles of the modeled target groups are fabricated. Consequently, user privacy and security must be foundational design elements while designing any metaverse applications, rather than being included as add-ons at a later stage [82].
• Communications and Protocol design: Immersive IM experiences will require high download speeds, low-latency, and large capacity to facilitate heterogeneous interconnected devices to communicate with the virtual model at the requisite level. In industrial settings, this will require 5G and possibly also 6G networks [80]. To this end, a paradigm shift in communication protocol will be required that should be goal-oriented and semantic aware. Communication protocol design will need to consider the vision of a seamless IM experience. Ultimately, a model design will be required to standardize the communication protocols for the IM that can be flexibly accessed from heterogeneous communication systems in different virtual worlds.
• Energy-Efficient and Green Industrial Metaverse: The Industrial Metaverse market is now projected to be worth between $100 and $150 billion US dollars, with a conservative 2030 forecast of about $400 billion but with a potential upside of more than $1 trillion [41]. The industrial metaverse is creating more opportunities for companies and workers alike and increasing the adoption of greener practices and renewable energy [83].

8. Conclusion

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