A proof of concept application of sensing technologies for managing proximity hazards on construction sites

Abstract

Construction is among the most dangerous industries for the safety of workers. Due to the dynamism typical of construction sites, where workers, materials and equipment resources are often in motion, collisions and contact with moving construction machineries and heavy equipment represents one of the main safety problems. The study described in this paper concerns with the preliminary development of a proximity warning system (PWS) for construction activities, which is based on the implementation of sensing technologies for situation awareness. Preliminary results, the feasibility of the PWS and its practical potential are described, highlighting the needs of a continuous monitoring process and the expectations about the system configuration. The adoption of the Ultra Wide Band (UWB) technology is within the scope of the paper. A front-end loader and an excavator are the construction machineries taken into account for the analysis of the use case, which considers the differences between equipment with fixed and variable geometries in terms of sensor devices. The possibilities for real-time position tracking of workers and equipment in both outdoor and indoor conditions based on the system architecture settings are discussed. Moreover, the compliance of the system architecture with the requirements imposed by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is described. Future works will validate the system in the context of actual construction sites. Furthermore, factors to be considered when sensing technologies for tracking the position of resources on construction sites are implemented will be evaluated as far as planning and scheduling activities are concerned.

Enhancing Safety on Construction Sites: A UWB-Based Proximity Warning System Ensuring GDPR Compliance to Prevent Collision Hazards

“…Figure 1 depicts a typical UWB RTLS network architecture. Network nodes can be referred to as anchors, set up at fixed places, and tags, fastened to the moving objects that need to be tracked [ 8 ]. The node in charge of managing transmission timing between nodes and permitting new nodes to join the network is known as the network coordinator.…”

“…Unless solutions like GPS receivers with Real Time Kinematic (RTK) support are used, it is difficult to obtain these results using GPS technology. Moreover, the cost of these solutions would make them unsuitable for widespread use on construction sites [ 8 ]. On the other hand, studies have shown how the performance of UWB-based PWSs should be evaluated, taking into account aspects such as the error rate of real-time location tracking and the possible effects of non-line of sight [ 40 , 41 ].…”

“…Despite the importance given to construction safety management, traditional method, and preventive measures—e.g., risk analysis, worker training, site inspections and quality control checklists—do not always ensure a significant improvement in safety levels [ 7 , 8 ]. Workers tend not to perceive and recognise many of the hazards on construction sites as potential sources of risk, even when all of the above measures are effectively implemented [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Maintaining the appropriate level of situation awareness, which is critical to safety, is therefore a challenge [ 11 ].…”

“…Within the context just described, collision accidents involving operators and moving construction vehicles are one of the main safety issues in construction workplaces, being one of the leading causes of non-fatal accidents and one of the most frequent causes of death on construction sites internationally [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. The dynamic characteristics of construction site activities may be the cause of collision accidents, with construction resources often moving in situations of excessive proximity [ 8 ]. Inadequate analysis of spatial interferences in the design of construction site layouts often results in construction site spaces that are, at least temporarily, inadequate for the safe conduct of operations [ 17 , 18 ].…”

“…Inadequate analysis of spatial interferences in the design of construction site layouts often results in construction site spaces that are, at least temporarily, inadequate for the safe conduct of operations [ 17 , 18 ]. In addition, other factors can be identified that increase the likelihood of workers becoming victims of collision accidents: for example, the possible loss of concentration in performing daily activities due to fatigue and repetitive tasks, and the reduced visibility of construction vehicle operators due to blind spots [ 8 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Statistics, in fact, often highlight how collision fatalities can be caused by the failure of the operator to check the position of workers in the manoeuvring area, leaving workers undetected in blind spots or too close to moving vehicles [ 15 ].…”