Incorporating Virtual Reality Technology in Safety Training Solution for Construction Site of Urban Cities

• Main Authors: Zheng Xu, Nan Zheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-12-01
• Series: Sustainability
• Subjects: virtual reality; safety training; hazard perception; construction accidents
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/1/243

The lack of experiential training has become the primary cause of incidents that could have been easily avoided in construction areas, and the implementation of experimental training is crucial in minimizing incidents at construction sites. The limitation on the available training tools has made it impossible to build up a real test site or reproduce the constructing scenarios. This research aims to develop an immersive and interactive multiplayer-based training platform that incorporates virtual reality (VR) technology to improve the safety awareness of workers. The developed simulation platform serves as a training solution, enabling the provision of repeatable and flexible procedures within a secure environment. An evaluation survey was conducted to make a comparison between traditional training methods and the proposed VR solution. Promisingly, the results indicate that workers were better trained under the developed immersive environment, and they could memorize critical points more effectively because the implementation of VR technology can allow people to experience hazardous situations without being physically injured, thus creating a safer and more efficient training environment. This study reveals that the nomination of the proposed VR platform could reap many benefits and become an advantageous tool for construction training, as well as stimulate human-machine interaction research.