Yu, Y; Yang, X; Li, H; Luo, X; Guo, H and Fang, Q (2019) Joint-level vision-based ergonomic assessment tool for construction workers. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 145(5): 04019025, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Construction workers are commonly subjected to ergonomic risks. Accurate ergonomic assessment is needed to reduce ergonomic risks. However, the diverse and dynamic nature of construction sites makes it difficult to collect workers posture data for ergonomic assessment without intrusiveness. Therefore, this paper proposed a joint-level vision-based ergonomic assessment tool for construction workers (JVEC) to provide automatic and detailed ergonomic assessments of construction workers based on construction videos. JVEC extracts construction workers' skeleton data from videos with advanced deep learning methods, then Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) is used to conduct the joint-level ergonomic assessment. This approach was demonstrated and tested with a laboratory experiment and an on-site experiment, which indicated the accuracy of the ergonomic risk scores (70%-96%) and its feasibility for use on construction sites. This research contributes to an accurate and nonintrusive ergonomic assessment method for construction workers. In addition, this research for the first time introduces two-dimensional (2D) video-based three-dimensional (3D) pose estimation algorithms to the construction industry, which may benefit research on construction health, safety, and productivity by providing long-term and accurate behavior data.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | computer vision; deep learning; ergonomic risks; occupational safety and health; three-dimensional posture estimation; worker |
| Index terms: | accuracy, experiment, construction site, computer vision, laboratory, construction industry, construction worker, occupational safety and health, deep learning, estimation, productivity |
| Subjects: | industry analysis, occupational health and safety management, research management, computer vision, professional development, management, artificial intelligence, financial and cost management, work location, practitioner, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Site Management, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Cost Management, Information Management, Research Practice, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here