UGM to Launch Borobudur Temple in Metaverse

TheIndonesia.id - The Center of Excellence in Metaverse Science, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) of Gadjah Mada University (UGM), will launch a prototype of the Borobudur Temple version of the virtual metaverse world. 

"The target is that at the FMIPA Anniversary in September 2022, we will launch a mini version (prototype, ed.)," said the Coordinator of the Center of Excellence in Metaverse Science FMIPA UGM, Dr. Wiwit Suryanto, when contacted in Yogyakarta, Monday, July 4, 2022. 

He said the prototype would be designed with PT Arutala Digital Innovation, which is one of the pioneering businesses engaged in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in Yogyakarta. "We will start planning in July," he said. 

Suryanto, who is also the Deputy Dean for Research and Community Service, FMIPA UGM, said that the metaverse idea of the Borobudur Temple had been studied since the beginning of the "Center of Excellence in Metaverse Science" which was inaugurated in early 2022. 

One of the goals, he said, is so that people who have physical, age, and other obstacles will still be able to experience exploring every corner of the Borobudur Temple without directly climbing the original temple building. With virtual reality (VR) technology, according to him, later people will be able to see the complete form of the temple building. 

"Sometimes there are indeed people who are dissatisfied if they haven't gone up by themselves. But there are people who don't need to go up, the important thing is to be able to feel. For those whose goal is to see reliefs, they want to learn history, I think metaverse can replace the original object," he said. 

Suryanto hopes that this innovation will also be one of the solutions to reduce the risk of damage to the Borobudur Temple building structure that is eroded or damaged due to the friction of the visitors' feet. Based on the concept that has been designed, according to him, visitors to the metaverse version of Borobudur will allow them to feel various sensations like in the real world, such as the gust of wind and the hot sun.

"We can also create a 'sunset' sensation at Borobudur," he said. 

Visitors also possible to feel as if they set foot on the stone steps of the Borobudur Temple in their original condition. However, continued Suryanto, to be able to feel all these sensations, tourists still have to come directly to a studio which can later be established in the Borobudur Temple complex equipped with various supporting equipment for metaverse technology. 

"I'm sure many (tourists, ed.) will be interested if there is this. Especially those who have physical constraints, especially if for example the tickets are cheap," he said. 

He hopes that, after the prototype is launched, the concept of developing a virtual version of the Borobudur Temple in the metaverse will receive a positive response and support from the government, including PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur (TWC) and the Borobudur Authority Agency (BOB). 

Suryato said that FMIPA UGM had submitted a proposal to develop the metaverse version of the Borobudur Temple to obtain research funding at the Ministry of Education and Culture, Research and Technology in early 2022, but it has not been approved. "We will look for alternative financing. If later the prototype is made, people can see the benefits," he said.