HydroVerse Education: An AI-Assisted Education Framework for Immersive Learning and Training Environments

Hydroinformatics education has traditionally been constrained by pedagogical approaches that fail to adequately convey the complexity of water systems. Virtual Reality (VR) presents a transformative solution by enabling interactive and experiential learning. This study introduces HydroVerse Education, an immersive virtual classroom environment designed to modernize hydroinformatics education by integrating virtual reality and artificial intelligence. Utilizing advanced technologies such as Unreal Engine, Metahuman, and Generative AI, the platform generates an interactive virtual classroom with immersive communication and knowledge generation features. Central to the framework is an AI-driven virtual instructor, enabling real-time voice-based interactions that provide personalized guidance tailored to diverse learning styles. The HydroVerse Education promotes engagement and understanding through realistic simulations of complex hydroinformatics scenarios, bridging the gap between theoretical concepts and practical application. Addressing the growing need for accessible and cost-effective educational tools, the platform offers flexible and adaptive learning experiences to prepare educators, instructors and researchers for advanced challenges. This study details the system’s development, architecture, and capabilities, explores its transformative potential for education, and discusses challenges and future directions for integrating virtual reality into any domain.