Comparative Analysis of Immersive Collaboration Platforms: Multi-Criteria Evaluation for the AEC Industry

This chapter presents a structured comparative analysis of thirteen immersive collaboration platforms using a multi- parametric analytical framework derived from a systematic review of scientific literature. Through a mixed methodology that integrates computational lexicometric analysis with empirical evaluation, eight critical dimensions are examined to assess the effectiveness of immersive technologies in AEC contexts: industry compatibility, content representation, scalability and interoperability, support and community, collaborative features, personalization, user experience, and privacy and security. The analysis reveals the emergence of three distinct categories of platforms, each defined by specific priority configurations and implementation trade- offs. This classification enhances the understanding of the immersive technology ecosystem in the AEC, promoting a paradigm shift from a monolithic view of solutions toward a model of complementarity and functional specialization aligned with the complexity of contemporary design and construction practices.