Concept development of a cross-reality ecosystem for urban knowledge transfer spaces

This paper presents the development of a cross-reality (CR) ecosystem designed for an urban knowledge transfer space (KTS) in a post-industrial urban environment. The project is part of a larger initiative aimed at transforming a former industrial river port into a dynamic KTS, facilitating interactions between scientific, commercial, residential, and cultural stakeholders. Our research explores the potential of multimodal mixed reality (XR) technologies to enhance engagement with the content and stakeholders of the KTS. Through a three-phase process, we identified key stakeholders and their target audiences, selected appropriate XR technologies, and developed initial use cases that integrate web applications, mobile augmented reality (AR), and XR head-mounted displays. The preliminary findings indicate that these technologies can effectively cater to diverse user groups, providing different levels of virtuality and interaction. However, challenges remain, particularly in stakeholder engagement and the evolving nature of the KTS initiative. Ongoing work includes the development of a Web-XR-based prototype, which will be iteratively refined to better meet user needs and adapt to future technological advancements. This research contributes to the understanding of how CR technologies can be employed in urban transformation processes, offering insights into the design of flexible and scalable CR ecosystems.