Introducción
⌅In the current era, the faster development of computational technologies has opened the doors to revolutionary ideas, as the same as the artificial intelligence, the oblique computation, the big Data, the high reality experience, the quantum computation, etc. These technologies are fundamental to dealing with the high demands of modern society, each time it is more notorious the integrity in our current days.
In concern to the Agricola sector, the technology es necessary to keep competitive. In USA, China, Japan and the Netherlands are leaderships in the implementation of 5.0 agriculture Vargas-Canales (2022)VARGAS-CANALES, J.M.: “El sector agroalimentario mexicano y las nuevas tecnologías”, e-Agronegocios, 8(2): 89-113, 2022, ISSN: 2215-3462, DOI: https://doi.org/10.18845/ea.v8i2.6156., approaching the robotics and AI as a key tool. In contrast to them, developing countries are still closing the technological brochure, although the efforts of capacitation and technological transfer are starting to give good results. in lack of infrastructure inversion to goals to the challenge Global of Tecno-Agro.
The virtual reality (VR) creates interfaces that immerse the users in virtual realities, enhancing the interaction with computational technologies. The metaverse, emerge as a future virtual reality, offering users the ability to operate avatars through human-computer interfaces, such as PCs, smartphones, or VR devices like Oculus Meta Quest or the new Apple Vision Pro Apple Corporation (2024)APPLE CORPORATION: Apps de productividad de Apple Vision Pro. (2024, febrero 22), [en línea], 2024, Disponible en:https://www.apple.com/mx/newsroom/2023/06/introducing-apple-vision-pro/., these innovations are undoubtedly laying the foundation for advancements in cybernetics and human bionics.
The integration of virtual reality (VR) and the metaverse in agriculture represents an emerging frontier with the potential to radically transform the way agricultural processes are managed and optimized. The adoption of these technologies promises to enhance productivity, sustainability, and data-driven decision-making, addressing key challenges such as food security, climate change, and efficient resource management (Anacona et al., 2019ANACONA, J.; MILLÁN, E.; GÓMEZ, C.: “Aplicación de los metaversos y la realidad virtual en la enseñanza”, Entre ciencia e ingeniería, 13(25): 59-67, 2019, ISSN: 1909-8367, DOI: https://doi.org/10.31908/19098367.4015.). This study is justified by the urgent need to explore and develop innovative solutions that can contribute to a more resilient and sustainable agricultural future.
Virtual reality, by overlaying digital information onto the physical world, offers unprecedented opportunities for agricultural data visualization, environmental change simulation, and training field workers in advanced techniques without the risks or high costs associated (Zagalo, 2020ZAGALO, N.: “Engagement design”, En: Ed. Springer, 2020, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37085-5.).Therefore, the metaverse, as a shared collective virtual space, has the potential to revolutionize collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the management of remote agricultural operations, promoting connected and technologically enabled agriculture (Page et al., 2021PAGE, M.; MCKENZIE, J.E.; BOSSUYT, P.; BOUTRON, I.; HOFFMANN, T.C.; MULROW, C.D.; SHAMSEER, L.; TETZLAFF, J.; AKL, E.A.; BRENNAN, S.E.: “The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews”, bmj, 372, 2021, ISSN: 1756-1833, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-021-01626-4.).
The practical implementation of these technologies in agriculture is still in its early stages, with significant barriers in terms of technological access, required skills, and acceptance by the agricultural community (Koutsabasis et al., 2021KOUTSABASIS, P.; PARTHENIADIS, K.; GARDELI, A.; VOGIATZIDAKIS, P.; NIKOLAKOPOULOU, V.; CHATZIGRIGORIOU, P.; VOSINAKIS, S.: “Location-based games for cultural heritage: applying the design thinking process”, En: CHI Greece 2021: 1st International Conference of the ACM Greek SIGCHI Chapter, Greece, pp. 1-8, 2021, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3489410.3489419.). Therefore, this study aims not only to demonstrate the technical feasibility and benefits of an agricultural ecosystem in the metaverse but also to provide a framework for its effective and scalable implementation.
The research line on metaverse technologies aimed at digital agriculture (Agroverso) is part of the field of digital agriculture, which is defined as:
“It is a holistic approach aimed at optimizing production, improving efficiency, and reducing environmental impact by leveraging technological resources that enable farmers to monitor and control various aspects of the agricultural process remotely and in real time through different technological solutions” (Flores, 2024FLORES, J.: Agricultura digital: tecnología y sostenibilidad, [en línea], El Financiero, 2024, Disponible en:https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/opinion/colaborador-invitado/2024/03/11/agricultura-digital-tecnologia-y-sostenibilidad/.).
The synergy of digital agriculture and human-computer interfaces can create virtual spaces for the design of information systems in agriculture, which serves as a cyber repository to ubiquitously interconnect with cloud computing, computer networks, and massive information systems (Big Data), for the creation of virtual ecosystems that allow the transaction of information in agriculture in a user-friendly, intuitive, dynamic, and highly cybernetic way, this mode, the project has been named AgroVerse, a 3D architecture based on the Metaverse for real-time interaction between the Avatar (User) and digital agriculture systems (Serrano et al., 2024)."
Materials and methods
⌅Application Requirements
⌅Technical objective: Design a virtual reality environment in Unity XR for the metaverse that enables the connection of data system sources to create a haptic, kinesthetic, and immersive experience for the user, applied to digital agriculture systems.
Technical Characteristics:
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Installable APK
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Unity VR CORE development platform and XR Interaction Toolkit plug-in
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Compatible with versions of Meta Horizon OS operating system
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Compatible with Oculus Meta Quest 2 headsets and preferably Oculus Meta Quest 3
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Navigation and control via Touch controls and Hand Tracking
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Internet navigation support
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Audiovisual support
Software requirements
⌅Software use case specifications: Table 1
| Use case | Specifications |
|---|---|
| User role | User Avatar |
| Description | A spatial virtual reality environment in the Metaverse focused on information systems in agriculture, designed to enable haptic and kinesthetic activities in different activities that allow users to navigate immersively within a virtual ecosystem, enhancing the consultation and learning of the most important topics in digital agriculture. |
| Preconditions | APK compatible with Meta Horizon OS for Oculus Meta Quest headset, with navigation interfaces using Touch controllers and Hand Tracking. The user must have a Wi-Fi connection point with internet access. |
| Activities |
* Own authorship
Technology selection
⌅Other alternatives for the project design include the new Apple Vision headsets, which are the most scalable competitors in VR technology Apple Corporation (2024)APPLE CORPORATION: Apps de productividad de Apple Vision Pro. (2024, febrero 22), [en línea], 2024, Disponible en:https://www.apple.com/mx/newsroom/2023/06/introducing-apple-vision-pro/., these are goggles with a 4K virtual reality display that provide an immersive experience by integrating both physical and virtual environments, thereby enhancing user capabilities; no obstante, in 2024, Meta is launching the Oculus Meta Quest 3, which offer capabilities similar to the Apple Vision, although they are still headsets with camera systems for detecting the physical environment, rather than goggles with a peripheral display, as proposed by Apple.
On the other hand, Oculus is based on the Android operating system, allowing for greater versatility in development and access to platforms like Unity for spatial content creation, In contrast, Apple Vision is a spatial computer based on the visionOS operating system, requiring Mac infrastructure for content design (although it has great potential). As seen in the world of computers and smartphones, Apple’s product compatibility is exclusively limited to their own products.
VR Environment Architecture
⌅Data Flow Diagrams (DFD) are a way to map the circulation of data within information systems. These diagrams are structured in levels that that analyze the behavior of their components IBM (2025)IBM: Data flow diagram, [en línea], Recuperado el 15 de octubre de 2024, Disponible en:https://www.ibm.com/mx-es/think/topics/data-flow-diagram, [Consulta: 15 de octubre de 2024]., Below, Diagram 1 illustrates the system behavior in a Level 0 DFD.
The following diagram shows the system deployment represented in a Level 1 1 DFD:
In Diagram 3, the architecture layers of the working system can be seen, composed of 5 sub-layers, it begins on the left with the Unity design, followed by the compilation and construction of the APK file, Then, the process for linking the constructed environment to the Oculus Meta Quest, which enables the loading of the virtual environment and access to the Meta Horizon OS platform for real-time execution and Finally, the infoproducts represent the launch of the VR spatial environment simulation between the user and the HMI.
Class diagram
| Section | Description |
|---|---|
| Packages - Unity | Importing the plugins and package kits that enable the basic configurations of the Oculus Meta Quest environment in the Unity VR Core works template |
| Packages - Asset Store | Composed of two packages imported directly through Unity support, which allow operation and debugging of programming and communication in the virtual environment within the XR SDK architecture for programming the controllers Touch. |
| Packages - tlablatoh | It is an open-source package called TLabWebViewMRTK for implementing the WebView tool and mixed reality applications using the Mixed Reality Toolkit (MRTK) for Hand Tracking control (TLabAltoh, 2025). |
| Main System | Contains 3 fundamental GameObjects: Main Camera(), XR Interaction Manager(), XR Origin(), which allow basic and advanced creation and navigation of the Avatar in the virtual environment. |
| Complements - Main Scene | Contains the GameObjects that make up the main scene and allow for the architectural construction of the spatial environment, as shown in Figure 4.1 and Figure 4.2, this can be seen in the hierarchy of the GameObjects that make up the main scene. |
| Accesos a las salas de trabajo | Includes a GameObject called ControladorNiveles(), which manages access to the 6 work sub-rooms. This interaction is achieved through a GameObject CanvasSalones(), which contains the labels and buttons for user access through Touch controllers |
*Own Authorship
Results and discussion
⌅Below, Figures 1 - 4, show the context of the main room and the architecture with which it is designed:
Sequence diagram
⌅In software engineering, sequence diagrams are a modality of the UML standard that allows for visualizing the simultaneity of interaction between objects and processes Vidal-Silva et al. (2019)VIDAL-SILVA, C.L.; VILLARROEL, R.H.; LÓPEZ-CORTÉS, X.A.; RUBIO, J.M.: “Una propuesta de algoritmo spin/promela para el análisis y diagnóstico de errores en diagramas de secuencia UML”, Información tecnológica, 30(1): 263-272, 2019, ISSN: 0718-0764., this enables the analysis of the lifelines between the user and the interaction of the lifecycle of the instances that make it up. In Diagram 5, the process of the prototype is described in its sequence diagram, where the lifelines can be observed and how the user can interact with the processes that comprise it.
Use Case Diagram
⌅Use case diagrams are a tool in the schematic processes of software projects that allow for observing the behavior of the system's operation Marín y Tolmo (2020)MARÍN, F.M.A.; TOLMO, G.D.: “Propuesta de fusión de una metodología para multimedia con el Proceso Unificado evidenciado en un caso real”, Revista Metropolitana de Ciencias Aplicadas, 3(3): 133-140, 2020, ISSN: 2661-6521., in diagram 6, the use case of the spatial environment prototype was outlined, clearly showing how the user interacts with the various rooms of the Agroverse, each allowing access to different haptic and kinesthetic work modalities.
Project Layout
⌅The layout in the design of information systems in agriculture is a topic that is just beginning to formalize, with the transformation of digital agriculture, software for managing the various activities carried out in the vast world of agronomy is being used more regularly.
An example of this application can be the article "Desarrollo de un sistema web móvil para la gestión de cultivos agrícolas", where the use of tools for drawing UML diagrams and views of the Mobile App prototype can be observed Martínez-Villalobos et al. (2018)MARTÍNEZ-VILLALOBOS, G.; FLÓREZ-MÉNDEZ, D.; BRAVO-OSORIO, N.: “Desarrollo de un sistema web y móvil para la gestión de cultivos agrícolas (Developing a Web and Mobile System for Crop Management)”, Trilogía Ciencia Tecnología Sociedad, 10(18), 2018, DOI: . https://doi.org/10.22430/21457778.669., they also have been used for the design of web systems to commercialize cape gooseberry, potato, and onion in the municipality of Pasca Cundinamarca Triana-Rincon (2023)TRIANA-RINCON, K.L.: Diseño e implementación de un sistema de información web para la comercialización de uchuva, papa y cebolla en el municipio de Pasca Cundinamarca, [en línea], Inst. Universidad de Cundinamarca, Cundinamarca, Colombia, 2023, Disponible en:https://repositorio.ucundinamarca.edu.co/bitstreams/082df7ca-0120-434e-8055-99f66ef8c1cd/download., as in the design of intelligent information systems for tree tomato cultivation Reyes-Roldán & Hernández-Ortiz (2021)REYES-ROLDÁN, A.N.; HERNÁNDEZ-ORTIZ, J.C.: “Desarrollo De Un Sistema De Información Inteligente Para El Registro Y Seguimiento De Costos Y Producción En El Cultivo De Tomate De Árbol (Cyphomandra Betacea) En La Vereda Buenos Aires Alto Del Municipio Pandi-Cundinamarca”, 2021, Disponible en:https://repositorio.ucundinamarca.edu.co/bitstreams/65bca918-cb50-45af-958a-d75cd7891ce1/download., another case is in the use of information systems for the commercialization of Hass avocado Bolaños-Camacho & Amaya-Santana (2019)BOLAÑOS-CAMACHO, E.; AMAYA-SANTANA, G.: Sistema de información multiplataforma para optimizar los procesos de recepción y comercialización de aguacate hass en la asociación Agrobilbao, [en línea], Universidad de Cundinamarca, Tesis de Licenciatura., Cundinamarca, Colombia, 2019, Disponible en:https://repositorio.ucundinamarca.edu.co/bitstreams/42d6c35d-6065-4394-9698-5d52f32d7046/download., they have also been used in the design of web geographic information systems for thematic maps of irrigation areas Fiallos (2020)FIALLOS, J.: Sistema de información geográfica para la generación de mapas temáticos de áreas de riego, [en línea], Ed. MappingGIS, 2020, Disponible en:https://mappinggis.com/2022/09/10-aplicaciones-gis-en-la-nube-para-publicar-mapas-en-la-web/. and in web geospatial systems focused on lemon fields Sotomayor & Chávez (2024)SOTOMAYOR, V.C.; CHAVEZ, E.R.: “Diseño de un sistema web basa-do en datos geoespaciales para identificación y visualización de predios de limón”, Revista Ingeniantes, 11(1): 20-35, 2024., although this is a brief literature review, there are other cases, demonstrating that digital agriculture has been taking shape in recent years advancing toward the digitalization of information systems processes to place the primary objectives of production in the field at the forefront (Alvarado-Torres et al., 2019ALVARADO-TORRES, C.; VELARDE-GARCÉS, E.; BARCIA-AYALA, O.: “Implementación de un sistema de mapeo y localización a un robot hexápodo enfocado en la exploración del entorno y monitoreo de temperatura”, Científica, 23(2): 99-107, 2019, ISSN: 1665-0654.).
With a view to the future, prototyping in information system design must gain formality to develop computer systems oriented toward agriculture. This will enable engineers to outline the correct methodological paths in software architecture design for the construction of technical work reports.
Figures 5-8 provide a detailed schematic of the spatial project prototyping.
Database Schema
⌅Below is the descriptive model of the entity-relationship database from the perspective of logical infrastructure:
Navigation results
⌅The 3D spacial environment was designed through a synergy of Solidworks and Blender, also Open Source FBX models were used to complement animation of 3D geometries of the virtual ecosystem, thus, structuring the main room of the Agroverso and work sub-rooms, with the Unity VR CORE development engine the architectural organization of 3D models was carried out and its corresponding programming with the tools from XR Interaction plug-in of XR Interaction Toolkit plug-in package, as described above.
The following group of images shows the navigation of the spatial environment using Oculus Meta Quets 2 with the option of using Touch controls or Hand Tracking (depending on the mode of operation of each room).
Conclusions
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Information systems in agriculture, or more precisely digital agriculture, are a highly relevant topic in the technological development of this sector, the virtual reality is still an emerging and evolving technology, and it will take a few more years before these systems expand into other sectors, leading to the obtain of new software and hardware products that enhance their functionalities.
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In the context of VR technologies applied to agriculture, there are online notes about interest, opportunities, findings, ideas, and other expectations where spatial environments in the metaverse will have a great impact on the Agro sector, without a doubt, virtualization is a phenomenon that has spread globally, pushing contemporary society further into digitalization.
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A working framework focused on agricultural information systems has been documented. However, this is not the only opportunity available for the Agro sector, considerations can be made regarding national and international trade, agro-industrial process simulation, training for mechanical and mechatronic machinery, advanced kinesthetic laboratory simulations, and many other potential applications.
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In the framework of the development of computer programs, software engineering is a tool that allows designers to outline both the methodological and logistical strategies of the software production process, in the realm of VR project production in the metaverse and digital agriculture, this resource is a key element to guide the planning efforts and the creation of technical, key, and critical paths that can be observed throughout the entire planning process.
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As future work, the formation of a multidisciplinary work team with a broad spectrum to involve designers, programmers, documentalists, researchers, experts in the topics of agronomy, etc., who can contribute from the inter, multi, and transdisciplinary perspectives to enrich the Agroverse and one day consolidate it as a spatial environment in the metaverse composed of world’s, allowing avatars to navigate through different spatial areas to maximize the potential of a future Multidisciplinary Agroverse.