Exploring the Realization of Creative Dimensions within the Metaverse: The Case of Tabriz Metropolis
Subject Areas : Technology and information managementSaied Jaffari namvar 1 , Hossein Nazmfar 2 , Ibrahim Taghav 3
1 - PhD Department , Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Marand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marand, Iran
2 - Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning,Islamic Azad University Marand branch, Marand, Iran
3 - Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Marand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marand, Iran
Keywords: creative city, smart city, Metaverse, structural-interpretive modeling, Tabriz metropolis,
Abstract :
Abstract
Innovation and creativity play a crucial role in driving economic growth. The advancement of the metaverse technology enhances existing technologies and fosters communication and interaction between real and virtual realms. This technological innovation significantly impacts various aspects of life, including philosophy, culture, society, and economic governance, as it integrates into the framework of the creative city. The objective of this study is to assess the dimensions of establishing Tabriz as a creative city within the metaverse context. The research methodology is characterized as applied-developmental in purpose and descriptive-analytical in approach. To ascertain the relative importance of research components, 20 experts were consulted using the preferential weighting evaluation ratio algorithm (SOARA). The weights of indicators and sub-indices were determined and ranked utilizing the Aras Gray analytical model. The expert opinions on indicators related to talent, technology, diversity, tolerance, and local assets and facilities were analyzed to evaluate Tabriz's progression towards achieving creative city status. Based on the Aras Gray technique, regions 5, 8, and 10 were identified as the most optimal choices, while regions 6 and 9 were deemed less ideal. The final weights derived from the linear model using Lingo software indicated that talent indicators held the highest weight at 0.401, followed by technology at 0.285, tolerance at 0.096, and infrastructure and local assets at 0.067, revealing their significance as key indicators for establishing Tabriz as a creative city in the metaverse. The primary strategy recommended for Tabriz to realize the concept of a creative city within the metaverse context involves enhancing the creative urban environment to nurture creative individuals and attracting and retaining the creative class and talents.
Key Words: creative city, smart city, Metaverse, structural-interpretive modeling, Tabriz metropolis
1.Introduction
The Metaverse or the outer world should be considered as a turning point of convergence between the efforts made and completed in different fields such as computer, information science, artificial intelligence, graphics, social sciences, business, etc. Metaverse may have started with a commercial brand. However, it means reorganising the scattered movements and events in the semantic creation of realities. All efforts of several years to create platforms for electronic and virtual interactions in formats such as Second Life and the like have been rearranged in a meta-universal way. Therefore, the development of the Metaverse enhances existing technologies and strengthens communication and interaction in the real and virtual worlds. By integrating into the context of the creative city, this technology also changes people's way of life and due to its special characteristics, it affects philosophy, culture, society and economic governance.
Simultaneously with the expansion and development of Metaverse space, this research on enhancing creativity in the spaces of Tabriz city is not only necessary but also holds significant potential for broader application across other cities in Iran. Considering the importance of creative economy, creative industries, creative class and, in general, creative city in economic, social and cultural development and regeneration of urban space, the research aims to evaluate and measure the indicators of creative city in the context of Metaverse in Tabriz metropolis. Metropolises also face various issues and need creativity to solve them, especially social and economic issues. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to answer the following question:
- With what mechanism and process will the dimensions and indicators of the creative city be objectified in the Metaverse platform, and will they cause the all-around development of Tabriz metropolis?
2.Methodology
This research, with its descriptive-analytical purpose and applied-developmental approach, employed a thorough data analysis process. Expert panel methods were used in a combined form, and the comprehensive structural equation modeling was utilized to analyze the relationships between observation variables.
The findings are from four sections, each of which divided into relevant sub-sections. In the first step, in order to determine the weight of the relative importance of the mentioned components, by asking 20 experts based on the algorithm of the analytical model of the preferential weighting ratio (SWARA), the weights of the indicators and sub-indices were extracted and ranked in the ARAS model. In the second stage, again, for more precise identification and evaluation of the criteria by completing 20 questionnaires by other experts, each of the above items was evaluated and weighted based on the best-worst method and then confirmed in the analytical model algorithm. Finally, in the third stage, the structural analysis method was used to explain and model the requirements and effective strategies for realizing the creative city of Tabriz metropolis.
3.Results and discussion
Better management and planning can be applied by knowing the indicators and their ranking at the level of the 10 regions of Tabriz city. Examining the indicators of the creative city infrastructure across the regions and how they are distributed uncovers both imbalances and balances in the allocation of facilities and benefits, providing a foundation for effective planning for improvement and planning priorities to be realized favourably. Today, various criteria and models are used to measure the status of a society. Using efficient models is one of the most desirable and appropriate ways to measure a society's enjoyment level. Applying an appropriate model to measure and fairly distribute the indicators of having a creative place among urban areas is one of the ways to achieve justice in Tabriz. Investigations show that the imbalances and differences in the desired indicators in the 10 areas of Tabriz city in the northern and central areas of Tabriz are more appropriate and relatively inappropriate in the southern and eastern areas. This study showed different results in different models. The results indicate that regions 5 and 8 rank the most suitable regions, while regions 9 and 6 are identified as having the least favorable conditions in terms of the evaluated indicators. Therefore, by comparing these cases, we find that the differences caused by public and private infrastructure indicators in the public infrastructure sector and the spatial gap reveal social justice more vividly.
4.Conclusion
In the metropolitan areas of Tabriz, fewer people engage in creative businesses due to the lack of infrastructure related to the creative city and the absence of favorable conditions that support the creative output from all members of the creative class members. As a result, the number of creative classes in these cities has decreased, and they will not benefit from this class's creativity and economic and cultural benefits. All these areas are not at the same level, and some have a favorable situation compared to the rest of the areas despite the inappropriate use of these potentials. In the metropolitan areas of Tabriz, the conditions and activities that will lead to the emergence of the future creative class, such as artists, are not considered. Additionally, less attention is paid to strong public education and access to cultural activities vital to forming creative people. In creative cities, abundant creative talent is the main driver of creative industries and city economy. The commercialization of these innovative and creative ideas, which can cause employment and generate wealth in cities, is given less attention by economic enterprises. In this sense, there is a strong connection between space and creativity. Creative people need space to live, work, inspire and display their work. Unfortunately, such spaces do not meet the needs of the creative class in most areas of Tabriz metropolis. As a result, these cities cannot express their residents' creativity. Unfortunately, many regions do not provide a strong and creative vision for creativity's growth, support and guidance, a vision that can make the city famous and transform the city's economy through attracting tourists. Of course, attracting tourists also requires infrastructure, which most regions face this problem. In a creative city, the system relies on young forces in the urban management system. However, in the metropolitan areas of Tabriz, young forces are ignored or underutilized in the management and planning of the city.
Conflict of interest: none
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