About the Research Project

1. About Second Life

Users can navigate through 3D virtual worlds using their avatars. They can also build their own houses and enjoy conversations with other users (avatars). For more information about Second Life, see its web site.

2. Need for Consensus Building in the Emerging Virtual Spaces

Conventional virtual realities were developed for identifying and resolving issues in the real life, such as flight simulators. However, Second Life is not necessarily intended for problem-solving in the real life. The purpose of participating in Second Life is in fact its life experience in the virtual world. This new kind of virtual space has been referred to as metaverse in order to distinguish it from conventional virtual reality.

In this research project, we will focus on "city planning (machizukuri in Japanese)" in metaverse.

Deliberative city planning seems not to exist in Second Life. Our research project will launch an experimental city planning effort in Second Life in order to identify the differences in interactions for consensus building between the real and the virtual world.

3. City planning for Sustainable Energy/Environment

The key theme for the city planning experiment will be sustainable energy/environment because of its significance nowadays. On an island in Second Life, participants of planning competition will realize their image of sustainable city from the perspective of energy/environment by using 3D modeling (e.g., structures and textures). For instance, they can design eco-buildings, plant trees, and develop power plants in Second Life to present their collective vision of sustainable energy/environment.

Principle Researcher

Masa Matsuura
Visiting Assistant Professor
University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Public Policy
Sustainable Energy/Environment & Public Policy Project

This project is supported by the Dai-ichi Housing and Research Advancement Foundation (Tokyo, Japan).