# Metaverse Meets Smart Cities--Applications, Benefits, and Challenges
## 5 Results
### Real-World Metaverse Applications in the Smart City
The metaverse embassy offers a unique diplomatic opportunity to develop relationships with other countries, provide citizens access to services internationally, and promote cultural diplomacy [36]. London--Great Britain: The city of London works according to the Greater London Authority's London Plan, which provides an urban planning framework and regulations for new construction projects. Construction projects can be planned quickly and cost-effectively with the help of a 3D digital platform, which displays a large, detailed, and interactive model of the capital. Factors such as the layout, building density, environmental impact, and other components are considered [37]. An alternative application also enables impressive, location-based AR experiences based on high-resolution map models and scanned landmarks [38]. New York--USA: Columbia University is conducting a three-year project to develop a digital twin of significant intersections and locations in New York City. To this end, data from various sensors are being examined and used with the help of machine learning to optimize traffic flow and reduce congestion. The aim is to predict traffic conditions and implement intelligent traffic management. There will also be an app that makes the data available to road users, highlights road closures and accidents, and warns pedestrians of potential dangers at junctions [39]. Santa Monica--USA: Santa Monica provides an app similar to the augmented reality (AR) game Pokemon Go. A virtual AR application is combined with the physical world on the cell phone's screen via the smartphone's camera. The app's target is to collect various tokens to unlock content and collectibles. In contrast to the mobile game Pokemon Go, the digital economy is promoted here, as local trade transactions can take place. The relationship between citizens and their urban environment is also strengthened as they discover new urban areas and offers while searching for tokens [40]. Shanghai--China: Like the Chinese government, Shanghai plans to use the metaverse for administration and regulation. The city also intends to promote metaverse companies. The Shanghai government plans to establish a metaverse industry, expected to be worth 52 billion US dollars by 2025 [41]. Singapore: Singapore was one of the first cities to use a digital twin. The twin, Virtual Singapore, has been available since 2014 and accesses data from various sources. These include geometric, geospatial, topological, demographic, movement, and climate data. This allows models and large-scale simulations of the city to be created and the effects of urbanization on the city to be researched. Thus, solutions for optimizing logistics, administration, environmental and disaster management, infrastructure, internal security, and citizen service optimization are enabled [42]. Dubai--UAE: Dubai's Road and Transport Authority uses augmented reality to visualize a digital twin of the Dubai Metro rail network. The aim is to evaluate and analyze the metro's condition based on historical and current data. The aim is to detect critical changes at an early stage to minimize the railroads' downtime [43]. Benidorm--Spain: Under the name BenidormLand, the Spanish city of Benidorm is launching a platform to help promote tourism. It is based on a metaverse platform that depicts Benidorm virtually and supplements it with objects and avatars. The platform is an advertising tool to inspire potential tourists to make future trips and present the offer. Benidorm is a pioneer in digital tourism and the world's first certified digital tourism destination [44].