Immersive VR/MR Simulation & Smart Service Prototype
Client: Kahramaa (Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation) Partner: IT Corner (UAE) Year: 2023 Category: Immersive Simulation • Interactive Architecture • VR/MR • Digital Twin • Metaverse Experience
Project Overview:
Kahramaa sought to prototype a mobile, sustainable Smart Customer Center—a next-generation service hub designed to deliver a tech-enabled visitor journey. To transition this concept from a vision to a tangible reality, Metas developed an immersive, VR-ready architectural simulation. This digital twin allowed stakeholders to explore every detail of the mobile center, from its external branding to the internal customer touchpoints, ensuring that the integration of robotics and smart systems aligned with Kahramaa’s high standards for service excellence.
Project Goals:
- Journey Validation: Virtually test the end-to-end customer journey (Arrival → Service → Awareness) before physical fabrication.
- Spatial Optimization: Evaluate the efficiency of the layout within a compact, mobile footprint.
- Technology Integration: Test the placement and interaction flow of robotics (Pepper), self-service kiosks, and VR/MR awareness zones.
- Executive Alignment: Provide a high-fidelity visual tool for stakeholder reviews to secure rapid approval for the national-level concept.
The Experience & Featured Zones:
The simulation provides a structured walkthrough of a fully integrated smart environment:
- Smart Hospitality & Reception: Visualizing the front desk and coffee corner touchpoints.
- Robotic Service Integration: Testing the interaction zone for the “Pepper” robot as a concierge and service assistant.
- Self/Tele-Service Stations: A dedicated station featuring ergonomic setups, integrated peripherals, and scanning/ID tools for remote assistance.
- VR/MR Awareness Zone: A specialized area designed for immersive education, aligned with Kahramaa’s national vision and sustainable energy messaging.
Scope & Deliverables:
The project was executed through an iterative, phase-based approach:
- Phase 1: Conceptual Visualization: Production of cinematic concept videos showcasing the exterior identity and interior flow.
- Phase 2: Refined Proposals: Development of alternative interior/exterior configurations, incorporating digital signage and environmental adjustments for indoor/outdoor placement.
- Phase 3: Execution Readiness (Planned): Transitioning the simulation into full execution drawings and a detailed Bill of Quantities (BOQ) covering architecture, HVAC, and smart systems (access control, surveillance, and smart switching).
Why Immersive Simulation Works for Smart Cities:
- Risk Mitigation: Identifying spatial constraints in a mobile unit early prevents costly adjustments during the manufacturing phase.
- Tech-Experience Testing: Validates how advanced technologies like robotics and VR interact with human users in a physical space.
- Stakeholder Confidence: Offers a “metaverse-ready” preview that aligns with Qatar’s digital transformation goals and national vision.
- Sustainable Planning: Reduces the need for physical prototypes by refining the design in a high-fidelity virtual environment.
Summary:
The Kahramaa Smart Customer Center project demonstrates Metas’ expertise in creating digital twins for smart infrastructure. By merging interactive architecture with VR/MR readiness, we provided Kahramaa with a powerful tool to validate a futuristic, mobile service concept—ensuring operational efficiency and a premium customer experience from day one.
