Metaverse Technology for Public Services in Smart Cities:

Opportunities and Challenges

Hajra Rasmita Ngemba

1,2 a

, Dian Indrayani Jambari

and Kamsuriah Ahmad

Faculty of Information Science and Technology, National University of Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Department of Information Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Tadulako University, Palu, Indonesia

Keywords: Metaverse, Smart Cities, Digital Public Services, Developed Countries, Developing Countries.

Abstract: This study investigates the viability of metaverse technology as a digital public service in smart cities and

explores the prospects and challenges of implementing it in developed and developing countries. This study

employs a conceptual exploration through a review of the contemporary literature concerning the deployment

of metaverse technology, the construction of smart cities, and the revolutionization of public services. The

analysis compares readiness factors of technology, infrastructure, and policy between developed and

developing countries. Metaverse provides immense value to smart cities, including improved accessibility of

public services, real-time interaction, and operational efficiency. However, key challenges in deploying such

networks include limited infrastructure in the developing world, issues with data privacy, and high energy

consumption in developed countries. Conceptual research needs further empirical studies focusing on

implementing metaverse technology in smart cities. This research is beneficial for policymakers when

designing smart-metaverse implementations.

1 INTRODUCTION

The smart city concept has evolved to address

urbanization challenges by improving citizens'

quality of life and public service efficiency, citizens'

participation, and improving government and

environmental communication sustainability (Din et

al., 2020). Implementing innovative technology is

one of the governance efforts in cities' development

to ensure citizens' welfare. Citizens are the lifeblood

of a city, where citizens' growing sustainability and

welfare are things to be maintained. The

sustainability of smart cities is defined by the

elements of Emerging and advanced technology

(Almeida et al., 2024). The use of technology is

significant, especially in the government's application

of public services in the context of smart cities. Public

services are services that the government directly or

indirectly provides to the community to fulfill

citizens' basic needs and rights. The government has

three roles in public service innovation: regulator,

promoter, and user of technological innovation in

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8727-9267

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6700-1815

https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0038-2262

public services. Governments commonly employ

IoT, AI, Blockchain, Big Data Analytics, and

Information and Information Communication

Technology (ICT) to provide additional integrated,

efficient and effective services. One of the new

technologies that has yet to be studied by researchers

is the metaverse.

Metaverse offers a new dimension in the

transformation of digital public services. Metaverse

enables a more interactive, immersive, and real-time

virtual environment to provide a more transparent and

inclusive public service experience (Senadheera et

al., 2024). Metaverse can enhance digital public

services in smart cities with many benefits, such as

increased efficiency of public services, wider

accessibility, transparency, and citizen engagement,

and can reduce carbon footprint (Green ICT). It also

supports the Green ICT agenda, contributing to the

sustainability of innovative city initiatives (Chen et

al., 2024). Metaverse supports public services more

broadly (e.g., telemedicine as part of a city's health

Ngemba, H. R., Jambari, D. I. and Ahmad, K.

Metaverse Technology for Public Services in Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges.

DOI: 10.5220/0013432400003953

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Smart Cities and Green ICT Systems (SMARTGREENS 2025), pages 155-162

ISBN: 978-989-758-751-1; ISSN: 2184-4968

155

services or virtual classrooms as part of a smart city

initiative).

However, there is a disparity between developed

and developing countries adopting digital public

service technologies. Developed countries have made

significant progress in e-government, virtual services,

and smart cities, while broader development

challenges hinder the maturity of developing nations.

Limited bandwidth further delays smart city adoption

in these regions. This study offers three key

contributions: (1) it compares metaverse adoption in

public services between developed and developing

countries based on technological readiness,

infrastructure, and policy frameworks; (2) it

integrates governance and public service perspectives

with technology, highlighting opportunities and

challenges in smart city development; and (3) it

provides policy recommendations to support digital

transformation through metaverse implementation,

particularly for developing countries facing

infrastructure and regulatory constraints. These

insights enrich the literature and assist policymakers

in advancing smart city initiatives through emerging

technologies.

2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Smart Cities and Digital Public

Service

In the digital era, technology plays a vital role in

shaping smart cities that aim to improve urban

services and the community's quality of life. Smart

cities integrate various domains such as

transportation, energy, and public services through a

smart city environment. One of the key components

of smart cities is digital public service, which refers

to the use of digital technology to enhance the

efficiency, accessibility, and inclusivity of public

services. These services encompass e-government

platforms, digital healthcare, smart transportation,

and other essential public services designed to

improve citizen engagement and service delivery.

Despite offering many benefits, smart cities also face

significant challenges, primarily related to the digital

divide that most impacts people with disabilities

(Sabri & Witte, 2023).

Smart cities utilize IoT-based digital

technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and

cloud computing to improve the efficiency of

government services (e-government), healthcare, and

response to community needs. AI and Big Data also

play an important role in city planning, national

service management, and improving the security and

speed of public services. For instance, in the health

sector, this technology supports preventive planning,

predictive analysis, epidemiology, and pandemic

management through surveillance, contact tracing,

and remote consultation (Naik et al., 2022). However,

the main challenges in implementing smart cities are

data integration issues, privacy security, and

differences in digital readiness in various countries.

Research shows differences in the approach to smart

cities between developed and developing countries.

Developed countries focus more on sustainable

production and supply chain emission reduction

while developing countries focus more on education

and human rights (Kvasničková Stanislavská et al.,

2023).

The increased efficiency of government through

digitalization is more pronounced in developed

countries. However, both developed and developing

countries face challenges in building smart cities.

Developed countries also face challenges in

implementing smart cities, primarily concerning data

privacy, cybersecurity risks, and the ethical use of AI

in public services. Meanwhile, developing countries

experience problems such as low internet

connectivity, inadequate infrastructure, and the

digital divide. In addition, rapid urbanization often

leads to institutional weaknesses and a lack of

resources. Before moving to the stage of urban

innovation, it is necessary to fulfill basic needs and

increase community capacity (Fefta et al., 2023). The

main obstacle to adopting Industry 4.0 in both

countries is the lack of a clear digital strategy.

Developed countries have formulated national

strategies and policies to incentivize Industry 4.0

technologies, while developing countries have

adopted Industry 4.0 technologies at the enterprise

level, relying on individual enterprise initiatives

rather than national and coordinated policies (Raj et

al., 2020).

During the COVID-19 pandemic, digital

technology has been invaluable in monitoring the

outbreak's spread, predicting trends, and managing

health institutions. As an example of digital

technology adoption in smart cities, digital health

services have played a crucial role in enhancing

healthcare accessibility and efficiency. However, the

gap remains, especially in developing countries.

Limited infrastructure remain substantial obstacles to

the equal distribution of digital health services across

various regions (Naik et al., 2022).

Smart cities offer a sustainable solution for future

city development. However, to ensure its success, a

citizen-centric approach must be implemented. This

SMARTGREENS 2025 - 14th International Conference on Smart Cities and Green ICT Systems

156

strategy must be aligned with the community's needs

and preferences so that the presented innovations can

benefit all city residents. In supporting digital public

services, various advanced digital technologies have

been integrated into smart cities. One emerging

digital technology increasingly adopted in digital

public services is the metaverse. This technology

enables immersive virtual environments that facilitate

citizen engagement, digital governance, and remote

public service interactions. By leveraging extended

reality (XR), AI, and blockchain, the metaverse has

the potential to transform how public services are

delivered, making them more interactive, accessible,

and efficient (Yaqoob et al., 2023). Although

challenges remain, some developing countries have

successfully implemented innovative public service

solutions to address existing constraints.

2.2 Digital Technologies for Developed

versus Developing Countries

Significant differences in the adoption of digital

technologies between developed and developing

countries, as shown in Table 1, highlight structural

and policy imbalances in implementing technologies.

In advanced economies, mature digital infrastructure

and connectivity (e.g., 5G) strengthen their digital

transformation (Raj et al., 2020). On the other hand,

development can meet significant constraints in terms

of infrastructure and catch up with global technical

development. It demonstrates how the global digital

divide is not a question of access alone but a mirror

of global economic and political inequalities that

shape development priorities. Then, in the Smart city

approach that leads to citizen focus, it is very

important to gain insight into what services are most

important from the citizen's perspective and which

transaction channels are preferred (Wirtz et al., 2021).

Moreover, this highlights their generally stronger

economic position by facilitating technology

investments as opposed to developing nations that

tend to rely on international grants or external support

(Tukur et al., 2023). This condition implies that this

dependency would drive an unequal and

asymmetrical relationship that thwarts developing

countries' independence in developing their

technologies. Developed countries with structured

data privacy policies reflect better preparedness in

dealing with digital security risks through policies

and data security (Tukur et al., 2023). On the other

hand, policy inconsistencies in the developing world

not only erode public trust but also affect all

technologies introduced(Hadavi & Alizadehsalehi,

2024)

Table 1: Comparison of Digital Technologies.

Aspects

Developed

Countries

Developing

Countries

Infrastructure

Digital

infrastructure

is already

establishe

Limited

infrastructure

and internet

access

Implementation

Cost

It is more

straightforward

to finance

technology

investments

Implementation

costs are high

and depend on

international

rants

Citizen

Participation

High-tech

literacy, active

engagement

Low digital

literacy and

technology

Data Security

Well-

established

data privacy

olic

Challenges in

maintaining

data privacy

and securit

Digital Policy

Data privacy

regulations and

technology

policies are

maturing

Policies are

inconsistent

and less

integrated

Based on Table 1, developed countries have

mature digital infrastructure, stable funding

resources, and integrated regulatory policies between

data security and technology regulation. In contrast,

developing countries lack internet network

infrastructure, have high implementation costs and

dependency on external funding, and have a long-

standing digital literacy gap that hinders increased

public participation. Therefore, differences in digital

policies and regulations, such as public services,

make data protection and regulation less harmonious.

Table 2: Comparative Analysis of Digital Public Services

in Smart Cities between Developed and Developing

Countries.

Evaluation

Criteria

Developed

Countries

Developing

Countries

Service

Coverage

Comprehensive

digital services

Basic

services

Accessibility

24/7 access via

multiple

platforms (web,

mobile apps)

Limited to

office hours

with in-

person

verification

Technology

Utilization

Use of IoT, AI,

blockchain, and

ital twins

Basic web

portals, SMS

services

System

Interoperability

Integrated

systems across

sectors (health,

finance)

Fragmented

systems with

limited cross-

secto

Metaverse Technology for Public Services in Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges

157

Table 2: Comparative Analysis of Digital Public Services

in Smart Cities between Developed and Developing

Countries (cont.).

Evaluation

Criteria

Developed

Countries

Developing

Countries

Evaluation

Criteria

Developed

Countries

Developing

Countries

Data Utilization

Big Data for

Policymaking

Limited data

usage in

overnance

Security and

Privacy

Robust

cybersecurity

frameworks

Vulnerable to

cyberattacks

Administrative

Efficiency

Automation of

administrative

processes

reduces service

time and costs

Some

processes are

still manual

2.3 Metaverse in Digital Public Service

The metaverse concept has evolved significantly

since its inception, with research interest increasing

rapidly in recent years. 2021 is often considered the

beginning of the "Metaverse Era," marked by a surge

in scientific publications and technological

advancements (Shen et al., 2023). The metaverse

introduces a new paradigm in digital public services

by offering immersive, real-time virtual interactions.

The main components of the metaverse are hardware,

software, and content. The two most common are VR

and AR metaverse driving technologies (Yaqoob et

al., 2023). Built upon technologies like virtual and

augmented reality, AI, and blockchain, the metaverse

has the potential to support various smart city

initiatives. By enabling more interactive and

engaging public services, it can enhance citizen

participation, improve government transparency, and

streamline digital transactions. The metaverse

enables avatars, which allow users to interact in an

immersive, synchronous, and continuous

environment (Al-Ghaili et al., 2022). At the same

time, it provides solutions for many sectors, including

government administration, security, transportation,

health, education, tourism, and social services.

(Koohang et al., 2023). The metaverse is imagined to

be the convergence of physical and digital worlds,

defined by five features: digitally mediated,

spatiality, immersion, and real-time operations.

However, scalability, interoperability, privacy,

and ethical considerations remain. The metaverse

provides the opportunity to revolutionize public

services. A metaverse can benefit citizen service and

engagement in government, especially for younger

generations (Kshetri et al., 2024). However,

challenges encompass privacy issues, possible abuse,

and the disparate need for its careful implementation.

The impact of the metaverse spans all kinds of

industries, such as tourism and entertainment,

providing fresh means for interaction and problem-

solving (Koohang et al., 2023). Metaverse, an

ethereal smart city representation, has the potential

for environmental, economic, and social

sustainability goals (Allam et al., 2022).

3 METHODOLOGY

This study employs a qualitative and exploratory

approach to examine the potential of metaverse

technology in enhancing digital public services

within smart cities. Using a conceptual framework

based on recent literature, it explores opportunities

and challenges in developed and developing

countries.Data collection involved document analysis

of journals, conference proceedings, government

papers, and policy documents on smart cities and

digital transformation. Sources were retrieved from

IEEE, Scopus, and Web of Science using keywords

like Metaverse in Smart Cities, Digital Public

Services, and Metaverse Governance. Government

reports from organizations such as the OECD were

also considered. Of the 96 papers initially found, 30

were selected based on relevance to public service

applications. The inclusion criteria were: (1) peer-

reviewed journal articles or conference proceedings,

(2) studies on metaverse applications in digital public

services within smart cities, (3) discussions on

opportunities and challenges in government-related

services, and (4) empirical studies or comparative

analyses of developed and developing countries. Data

analysis involved content and comparative analysis.

Content analysis identified key themes, including

benefits, challenges, and potential applications of the

metaverse in public services. Comparative analysis

examined differences in technological readiness,

infrastructure, and policy frameworks between

developed and developing countries.

4 FINDINGS

The findings are categorized into two main aspects:

(1) Opportunities of the Metaverse, which highlights

its potential in enhancing digital public services, and

(2) Challenges in the Metaverse, which examines the

barriers that must be addressed to maximize its

benefits.

SMARTGREENS 2025 - 14th International Conference on Smart Cities and Green ICT Systems

158

Table 3: Comparison of Opportunities and Challenges in

Developed and Developing Countries.

Aspects Develop Country

Developing

Country

Opportunity

• Mature

Infrastructure

• Supportive

Innovation

Ecosystem

• Cross-Sector

Collaboration

• Focus on

Quality of Life

• Leader in

Technology

• Digital

Transformation

• Huge Market

Potential

• Focus on Local

Solutions

• Leap Frogging

Effect

• Development

Support

Challenges

• Level of

regulatory

complexity

• Ethics and

Social

Responsibility

• Maintenance

Cost

• High User

Expectations

• Change

Resistance

• Digital Divide

• Inadequate

Infrastructure

• Low Technology

Literacy

• High Initial Cost

• Reliance on

International Aid

Table 3 compares the opportunities and

challenges of metaverse deployment in developed

and developing countries. Developed nations benefit

from mature infrastructure, supportive innovation

ecosystems, and well-established regulations but

struggle with high costs and rising user expectations.

Meanwhile, developing countries view the metaverse

as a driver of digital transformation with vast market

potential but face barriers such as the digital divide,

inadequate infrastructure, and low technological

literacy. Despite these differences, the metaverse

presents opportunities for both to enhance public

services and foster digital innovation.

4.1 Opportunities of Metaverse

The metaverse offers significant opportunities to

enhance digital public services, particularly in

accessibility and engagement. For example,

Metaverse Seoul enables citizens to access

administrative services virtually, eliminating the need

for physical visits. In healthcare, Cleveland Clinic is

utilizing metaverse-based training simulations to

provide immersive learning experiences for medical

professionals. In urban planning, Singapore's 3D

Virtual City Model enhances data visualization and

decision-making processes, while the UAE is

advancing its digital services through the Dubai

Metaverse Strategy. Japan is also embracing this shift

by developing Metaverse Economic Zones, a

consortium aimed at creating virtual spaces for its

citizens. Even smaller nations like Tuvalu recognize

the metaverse's potential. Through the Digital Nation

Initiative, Tuvalu is working to preserve its cultural

heritage in a digital space, ensuring its identity

remains intact despite the looming threats of climate

change, natural disasters, and human activity (Naqvi,

2023). These real-world implementations highlight

the transformative potential of metaverses in

improving service delivery and citizen engagement. It

can provide immersive simulations for government

interaction and offer broader inclusion of disabled

persons as a tool in content creation and art

production (Radanliev et al., 2024). Metaverse can

help create a learning environment for neurodivergent

types, such as people with autism spectrum disorders

(Hutson, 2022). In healthcare, metaverse wearables

can also enhance patient care and wear; they can help

reduce accessibility and improve medical education

content (Kim et al., 2023).

The technology also has the potential to redefine

urban planning and service delivery in cities. This

change can open new doors for individuals with

physical disabilities to partake in creative and social

activities (Radanliev et al., 2024). At the same time,

it can enhance introverts and Autism Spectrum

Disorder (ASD) in academic and professional

environments (Hutson, 2022). Metaverse can

facilitate virtual meetings, which expand

participation and diversity in conferences (Kim et al.,

2023). In healthcare, the metaverse can transform

medical practice, enhance diagnosis therapy and

patient satisfaction for the hospitality and metaverse,

co-create the future of the tourism industry, and create

transformative experiences and value (Buhalis et al.,

2023).

Metaverse offers significant potential to improve

digital public services, particularly regarding

accessibility and inclusivity. The metaverse enables

remote governance, enhances service delivery, and

increases transparency (Naqvi, 2023). However, not

all services are as appropriate for the metaverse as for

this space; Citizen empowerment and citizen

development-focused services have the most

promise. The metaverse can help promote the UN's

Sustainable Development Goals, especially in

developing countries. While it provides excellent

potential for public services decision-making and the

delivery of services, it is careful to be suitable for

specific needs. As governments explore metaverse

applications, they must navigate facilitators and

Metaverse Technology for Public Services in Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges

159

barriers, develop their presence, and consider the

transformations required to benefit from these

technologies entirely (Kshetri et al., 2024).

4.2 Challenges in Metaverse

The metaverse offers opportunities and challenges,

which vary significantly between developed and

developing countries. Infrastructure and connectivity

gaps are essential hindrances in rural settings (Raj et

al., 2020). Intermittent internet connections and

improper infrastructure are significant barriers to

metaverse adoption in developing countries (Raj et

al., 2020; Tukur et al., 2024). 5G network limitations

and high latency can hinder real-time interactions in

virtual environments. Privacy and security concerns

matter, of course, but we also need to know which

apps, and how many, will continue to serve us and

how they can please us with better features. To solve

privacy and security challenges, we must prioritize

digital literacy programs and infrastructure networks

and discuss privacy and security concerns (Khalil &

Jumani, 2024). Despite these obstacles, the metaverse

offers potential benefits to developing economies,

including opportunities for education and economic

participation (Khalil & Jumani, 2024).

The Immersive and interactive metaverse

individualized settings and learning experiences (Onu

et al., 2024), yet it also inevitably raises concerns

about digital privacy and security (Al-kfairy et al.,

2024; Tukur et al., 2023). Libraries can design

metaverses concerned with arts and cultural data meta

literacy skills that librarians and users use. However,

using metaverse technologies encounters hurdles like

high cost, intricacy of implementation, incorporation

of new technology, and ethical concerns (Tukur et al.,

2024). Different governance systems use other

architectures, making integration into a single

metaverse difficult. To fully utilize the potential of

the metaverse for digital education and information

flow, independent research, and training challenges,

insist on cooperation and appoint the agency of

institutes for inclusive and ethical development (Al-

kfairy et al., 2024; Onu et al., 2024).

Implementation challenges: High costs are

mainly involved, and some notable challenges and

technical complexity are present. Hardware and

software are significant adoption barriers (Tukur et

al., 2024). Metaverse requires servers with high

computing power to handle real-time interactions,

data storage, and graphics rendering. Furthermore,

the complexity of implementation and the need for

cutting-edge tech like VR, AR, AI, and blockchain

present additional challenges. Privacy, management,

security issues associated with data, and cybercrime

threats are serious issues that must be addressed

(Gupta et al., 2023; Tukur et al., 2023). Translation:

Cultural aspects and ignorance regarding metaverse

technologies also hold back large-scale acceptance.

The merger of the physical and solving challenges in

the digital world requires solving regulations,

interoperability, and ethical considerations (Hadavi &

Alizadehsalehi, 2024). This situation poses serious

challenges in the metaverse (data privacy and

cybersecurity). Key concerns include privacy threats,

data management problems, and the requirement for

strong security measures. Applying privacy

computing approaches to tackle the abovementioned

problems and using machine learning models to

strengthen security in the metaverse. A decentralized

general framework for Self-Sovereign Identity has

been suggested to safeguard personally identifiable

information (Fiaz et al., 2024). The future of these

systems is being modeled using Zero-Trust

Architecture for a potential solution (Gupta et al.,

2023). Legal challenges around intellectual property,

privacy, and jurisdiction in the metaverse need an

interdisciplinary angle.

Significant potential also exists in the metaverse

policy and governance challenges. Topics include

privacy concerns, threats to national security, and

data management. Ethics, including digital

splintering, social regulation, and identity

marshaling, require attention. Governments face

obstacles in deploying metaverse technologies,

demanding metamorphosis in their function (Kshetri

et al., 2024; OECD Digital Economy Outlook 2024,

2024), which poses challenges to intellectual property

protection and jurisdictional power over cyber

borders. Governance based on technical standards is

essential for aligning compatibility and security in

various phases of tannic. The multifaceted, multi-

dimensional nature of the metaverse requires an

interdisciplinary approach to tackle these challenges

better. Implementing a Zero-Trust Architecture

model can enhance security (Gupta et al., 2023).

Despite these challenges, the metaverse provides

prospective advantages in education, commerce, and

public sector services that demand ongoing research

and development (Al-Ghaili et al., 2022).

5 CONCLUSION

This study explores the potential of metaverse

technology in digital public services in smart cities by

comparing its adoption in developed and developing

countries. Metaverse can enhance citizen integration

SMARTGREENS 2025 - 14th International Conference on Smart Cities and Green ICT Systems

160

and participation in interactive virtual public services.

In developed countries, this technology supports

service efficiency, government transparency, and the

implementation of Green ICT. In developing

countries, the metaverse has the potential to be an

innovative strategy in public services that needs to be

pursued immediately to improve the quality of

services for its citizens. However, challenges remain,

such as privacy and ethics issues, high energy

consumption in developed countries, infrastructure

limitations, high implementation costs, and

technological literacy gaps in developing countries.

To address these challenges, recommended policies

include strengthening data privacy and security

regulations, adopting green data centers, and piloting

projects like virtual city halls. In developing

countries, the focus should be increasing investment

in digital infrastructure, technological literacy, and

budget-friendly devices. International collaboration

is also needed to support technology transfer,

funding, and the implementation of best practices.

Further research should focus on facilitating

metaverse implementation in public services and

smart cities. Efforts to improve accessibility and

inclusivity also be considered so that the community

can feel the benefits of the metaverse to support the

sustainable digital transformation of smart cities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to the Indonesia Endowment Fund for

Education Agency (LPDP) for providing full

financial support for this research.

REFERENCES

Al-Ghaili, A. M., Kasim, H., Al-Hada, N. M., Hassan, Z.

Bin, Othman, M., Tharik, J. H., Kasmani, R. Md., &

Shayea, I. (2022). A Review of Metaverse’s

Definitions, Architecture, Applications, Challenges,

Issues, Solutions, and Future Trends. IEEE Access, 10,

125835–125866.

https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3225638

Al-kfairy, M., Alomari, A., Al-Bashayreh, M., Alfandi, O.,

& Tubishat, M. (2024). Unveiling the Metaverse: A

survey of user perceptions and the impact of usability,

social influence and interoperability. Heliyon, 10(10),

e31413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31413

Allam, Z., Sharifi, A., Bibri, S. E., Jones, D. S., & Krogstie,

J. (2022). The Metaverse as a Virtual Form of Smart

Cities: Opportunities and Challenges for

Environmental, Economic, and Social Sustainability in

Urban Futures. Smart Cities, 5(3), 771–801.

https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities5030040

Almeida, F., Guimarães, C. M., & Amorim, V. (2024).

Exploring the Differences and Similarities between

Smart Cities and Sustainable Cities through an

Integrative Review. Sustainability, 16(20), 8890.

https://doi.org/10.3390/su16208890

Buhalis, D., Lin, M. S., & Leung, D. (2023). Metaverse as

a driver for customer experience and value co-creation:

implications for hospitality and tourism management

and marketing. International Journal of Contemporary

Hospitality Management, 35(2), 701–716.

https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-05-2022-0631

Chen, Z., Gan, W., Wu, J., Lin, H., & Chen, C. M. (2024).

Metaverse for smart cities: A survey. In Internet of

Things and Cyber-Physical Systems (Vol. 4, pp. 203–

216). KeAi Communications Co.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iotcps.2023.12.002

Din, Z., Jambari, D., Yusof, M., & Yahaya, J. (2020).

Information Systems Security Management for Internet

of Things: Enabled Smart Cities Conceptual

Framework. Proceedings of the 9th International

Conference on Smart Cities and Green ICT Systems,

44–51. https://doi.org/10.5220/0009791700440051

Fefta, A., Usman, F., Wicaksono, A. D., Utomo, D. M., &

Murakami, K. (2023). Public Policy Management in

Determining the Feasibility of the Smart City Project in

Malang, Indonesia. International Journal of

Sustainable Development and Planning, 18(3), 677–

682. https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsdp.180303

Fiaz, F., Sajjad, S. M., Iqbal, Z., Yousaf, M., &

Muhammad, Z. (2024). MetaSSI: A Framework for

Personal Data Protection, Enhanced Cybersecurity and

Privacy in Metaverse Virtual Reality Platforms. Future

Internet, 16(5), 176.

https://doi.org/10.3390/fi16050176

Gupta, A., Khan, H., Nazir, S., Shafiq, M., & Shabaz, M.

(2023). Metaverse Security: Issues, Challenges and a

Viable ZTA Model. Electronics, 12(2), 391.

https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics12020391

Hadavi, A., & Alizadehsalehi, S. (2024). From BIM to

metaverse for AEC industry. Automation in

Construction, 160, 105248.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2023.105248

Hutson, J. (2022). Social Virtual Reality: Neurodivergence

and Inclusivity in the Metaverse. Societies, 12(4), 102.

https://doi.org/10.3390/soc12040102

Khalil, A., & Jumani, N. B. (2024). Feasibility Of

Educational Metaverse For Immersive Transformation

Of Teacher Education. Journal of Arts & Social

Sciences, 11(1), 95–106.

https://doi.org/10.46662/jass.v11i1.456

Kim, K., Yang, H., Lee, J., & Lee, W. G. (2023). Metaverse

Wearables for Immersive Digital Healthcare: A

Review. Advanced Science, 10(31).

https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202303234

Koohang, A., Nord, J. H., Ooi, K.-B., Tan, G. W.-H., Al-

Emran, M., Aw, E. C.-X., Baabdullah, A. M., Buhalis,

D., Cham, T.-H., Dennis, C., Dutot, V., Dwivedi, Y. K.,

Hughes, L., Mogaji, E., Pandey, N., Phau, I., Raman,

Metaverse Technology for Public Services in Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges

161

R., Sharma, A., Sigala, M., … Wong, L.-W. (2023).

Shaping the Metaverse into Reality: A Holistic

Multidisciplinary Understanding of Opportunities,

Challenges, and Avenues for Future Investigation.

Journal of Computer Information Systems, 63(3), 735–

765. https://doi.org/10.1080/08874417.2023.2165197

Kshetri, N., Dwivedi, Y. K., & Janssen, M. (2024).

Metaverse for advancing government: Prospects,

challenges and a research agenda. In Government

Information Quarterly (Vol. 41, Issue 2). Elsevier Ltd.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2024.101931

Kvasničková Stanislavská, L., Pilař, L., Fridrich, M.,

Kvasnička, R., Pilařová, L., Afsar, B., & Gorton, M.

(2023). Sustainability reports: Differences between

developing and developed countries. Frontiers in

Environmental Science, 11.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1085936

Naik, N., Hameed, B. M. Z., Sooriyaperakasam, N.,

Vinayahalingam, S., Patil, V., Smriti, K., Saxena, J.,

Shah, M., Ibrahim, S., Singh, A., Karimi, H.,

Naganathan, K., Shetty, D. K., Rai, B. P., Chlosta, P.,

& Somani, B. K. (2022). Transforming healthcare

through a digital revolution: A review of digital

healthcare technologies and solutions. Frontiers in

Digital Health, 4.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2022.919985

Naqvi, N. (2023). Metaverse for Public Good: Embracing

the Societal Impact of Metaverse Economies. The

Journal of The British Blockchain Association, 6(1), 1–

17. https://doi.org/10.31585/jbba-6-1-(6)2023

OECD Digital Economy Outlook 2024: Vol. Volume 2.

(2024). OECD. https://doi.org/10.1787/3adf705b-en

Onu, P., Pradhan, A., & Mbohwa, C. (2024). Potential to

use metaverse for future teaching and learning.

Education and Information Technologies, 29(7), 8893–

8924. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-12167-9

Radanliev, P., De Roure, D., Novitzky, P., & Sluganovic, I.

(2024). Accessibility and inclusiveness of new

information and communication technologies for

disabled users and content creators in the Metaverse.

Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology,

19(5), 1849–1863.

https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2023.2241882

Raj, A., Dwivedi, G., Sharma, A., Lopes de Sousa Jabbour,

A. B., & Rajak, S. (2020). Barriers to the adoption of

industry 4.0 technologies in the manufacturing sector:

An inter-country comparative perspective.

International Journal of Production Economics, 224,

107546. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2019.107546

Sabri, S., & Witte, P. (2023). Digital technologies in urban

planning and urban management. Journal of Urban

Management, 12(1), 1–3.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jum.2023.02.003

Senadheera, S., Yigitcanlar, T., Desouza, K. C., Li, R. Y.

M., Corchado, J., Mehmood, R., Mossberger, K., &

Cheong, P. H. (2024). Metaverse as local government

communication platform: A systematic review through

the lens of publicness theory. Cities, 155, 105461.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2024.105461

Shen, J., Zhou, X., Wu, W., Wang, L., & Chen, Z. (2023).

Worldwide Overview and Country Differences in

Metaverse Research: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Sustainability, 15(4), 3541.

https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043541

Tukur, M., Schneider, J., Househ, M., Dokoro, A. H.,

Ismail, U. I., Dawaki, M., & Agus, M. (2023). The

metaverse digital environments: a scoping review of the

challenges, privacy and security issues. Frontiers in Big

Data, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdata.2023.1301812

Tukur, M., Schneider, J., Househ, M., Dokoro, A. H.,

Ismail, U. I., Dawaki, M., & Agus, M. (2024). The

Metaverse digital environments: A scoping review of

the techniques, technologies, and applications. In

Journal of King Saud University - Computer and

Information Sciences (Vol. 36, Issue 2). King Saud bin

Abdulaziz University.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksuci.2024.101967

Wirtz, B. W., Müller, W. M., & Schmidt, F. W. (2021).

Digital Public Services in Smart Cities – an Empirical

Analysis of Lead User Preferences. Public

Organization Review, 21(2), 299–315.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-020-00492-3

Yaqoob, I., Salah, K., Jayaraman, R., & Omar, M. (2023).

Metaverse applications in smart cities: Enabling

technologies, opportunities, challenges, and future

directions. Internet of Things, 23, 100884.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iot.2023.100884

SMARTGREENS 2025 - 14th International Conference on Smart Cities and Green ICT Systems

162