Purwanto Purwanto, Nailul Insani, Deny Yudo Wahyudi, Azizatuz Zahro, Pramono Pramono, Siti Uzairiah Mohd Tobi, Erisa Elvada, Corrie Teresia Purba, Moh. Wahyu Kurniawan Zain, Siti Nur Farihah, Eva Indra Sofiana, Muhammad Yusuf Rizkyanto
The Society 5.0 era integrates advanced technology and innovation to improve aspects of social life, including preserving cultural heritage such as Osing culture in Ijen UNESCO Global Geopark (Ijen UGGp), Banyuwangi. This research develops a Spatial.io-based virtual conservation laboratory (VCL) to support the preservation and management of Osing culture digitally. The method used is research and development with the analysis, design, develop, implement, and evaluate, namely ADDIE model. The results show that the VCL demonstrates high validity and feasibility for implementation. The field survey results show that there is an information gap about Osing culture, especially among the younger generation; therefore, the VCL is urgently needed to address this issue. The main features of the VCL have been successfully developed, including interactive map integration, immersive 3D models, and interactive avatars with rich spatial narratives to represent Osing culture. The VCL products have high validity based on material quality (88.9%) and media quality (88.3%), making them useful for teachers and students. Spatial.io technology can address this problem by enabling interactive exploration of important sites. The research was conducted at the Osing geosite, biosite, and cultural site of Banyuwangi Regency, which covered Gandrung dance, Osing language, and Osing traditional house. Spatial.io technology effectively creates an immersive virtual experience to explore the Ijen UNESCO Global Geopark and Osing culture, supports education and preservation, and increases public awareness, with potential positive impacts on tourism and the economy. Further development with interactive features and collaboration with local communities are expected to enrich the user experience and maximize its benefits. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.
Departement of Geography, Universitas Negeri Malang, 5 Semarang Street, East Java, Malang City, Indonesia; Department of History, Universitas Negeri Malang, 5 Semarang Street, East Java, Malang City, Indonesia; Department of Indonesian Language and Literature Education, Universitas Negeri Malang, 5 Semarang Street, East Java, Malang City, Indonesia; Department of PAUD Teacher Education, Universitas Negeri Malang, 5 Semarang Street, East Java, Malang City, Indonesia; Razak Faculty of Technology and Informatics, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 54100, Malaysia