Application of wearable devices for real time construction safety management

Construction is a very complicated high risk industry involving more than twenty trades and skilled workers in various construction processes. Accidents, injuries and fatalities occur repeatedly, with incidence rates doubling the industry averages. Safety management and communication are crucial factors with immense influence on construction safety. However, due to the dynamic and complicated nature of construction work, it is often challenging to deliver safety information to the right people at the right time. This study contributes to addressing these issues by proposing a wearable computing, BIM and Augmented Reality (AR) based system to support: automated safety planning; experiential safety training; and real time safety monitoring and control. Interviews with safety managers concluded that the proposed approach can address the limitations of current construction safety management practices and contribute to improving construction productivity.