Reimagining Rural Spaces: A Narrative Literature Review on the Role of Augmented Reality in Sustainable Rural Spatial Transformation
Keywords:
Augmented Reality; Village Space Transformation; Digital Innovation; Sustainable Development; Smart Countryside; Spatial Justice; Digital Empowerment; Rural Modernization.Abstract
This research aims to examine and synthesize various scientific literature discussing the role of Augmented Reality (AR) technology in transforming village space and supporting sustainable development in rural areas. Using a Narrative Literature Review (NLR) approach to seventeen international academic sources (2020–2025), this research explores the relationship between spatial transformation, digital empowerment, and spatial justice in the context of rural digitalization. The results of the synthesis indicate that the integration of AR in rural contexts results in a new form of collaborative and participatory digital space production, where communities are actively involved in the design, planning, and management of immersive technology-based spaces. AR has been shown to strengthen social, economic, and ecological connectivity in villages by increasing digital literacy, citizen participation, and increasing the efficiency of spatial data-driven development. Furthermore, digitalization oriented toward spatial justice also expands residents' access to information, resources, and local economic opportunities. This study proposes a new conceptual model, the AR-Driven Rural Spatial Transformation Model, which integrates three main components: (1) digital spatial transformation, (2) community technological empowerment, and (3) sustainable spatial justice. This model provides a theoretical contribution to the development of digital village development studies and offers policy directions that emphasize inclusivity, collaboration, and sustainability. Overall, the results of this study confirm that AR is not only a technological innovation but also a new social and spatial medium that reconstructs the relationship between people, space, and sustainable development in rural areas.
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