Desarrollo de un entorno virtual 3D: infraestructura de la FCQS y administración central de la UTMACH

Abstract

The metaverse refers to a virtual world accessible through avatars, it was coined by Neal Stephenson in 1992. Currently, it is used in education to create virtual classrooms and academic simulations, especially in countries such as the United States and some Latin American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico that have begun to implement this technology. The main objective of this project is the development of a metaverse for the Technical University of Machala (UTMACH), focused specifically on the Faculty of Chemistry and the Central Administration that will allow the university community to explore these facilities in an immersive way, overcoming current physical and geographical limitations. The methodology used for the project was SCRUM, which allows collaborative work and incremental delivery of functionalities. For the development, advanced technologies such as Blender and Unity3D were used that seek to create a detailed and three-dimensional replica of the buildings and their internal areas. To evaluate the prototype, usability and functionality tests were carried out on members of the university community through the use of surveys. The results collected from this survey indicate that there is a high level of acceptance and satisfaction on the part of the participants, who also highlighted the ease of use and the level of detail in the 3D models. It was found that there is a positive impact on the accessibility and perception of the university campus, consolidating the metaverse as an innovative tool for the exploration of said environment. This project not only represents a significant innovation for UTMACH, but also aligns with global trends in the educational field. The creation of this metaverse has the potential to serve as a model for other institutions, promoting a more accessible and modern education.