Okpala, I; Nnaji, C; Awolusi, I and Akanmu, A (2021) Developing a success model for assessing the impact of wearable sensing devices in the construction industry. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 147(7): 04021060, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
In a bid to optimize jobsite safety, wearable sensing devices (WSDs) are slowly emerging as a class of viable tools with strong potential to improve safety measurement and monitoring. While some industries have successfully utilized WSDs, such as smart personal protective equipment (PPE), to track data related to health, fitness, or even location, the construction industry has been relatively slow in implementing WSDs. Although some progress is expected, construction management research is yet to provide clear evidence of the impact of WSDs on vital project and organizational performance metrics such as safety and productivity. To fill this gap, the present study established the first WSD success model using multiple complementary frameworks and theories. The success model comprises individual adoption factors that influence individual WSD use and highlights implementation success indicators needed to evaluate adoption success. It was tested using survey questionnaires retrieved from 415 users of WSDs in the United States. Test results indicate the success model was a good fit. Moreover, findings suggest a strong positive relationship between the use of WSDs and individual performance, and project performance. This hybrid model provided critical insights on the impact of WSDs on workers' performance, project metrics, as well as essential information for supporting the increased adoption of WSDs. It is believed that this framework will also guide construction practitioners in the effective integration of WSDs into their work processes.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction safety monitoring; construction technology; safety management; safety performance; success model; wearable technology |
| Index terms: | safety performance, safety management, evidence, questionnaire, integration, construction practitioner, survey, wearable sensing device, management research, United States, construction technology, construction industry, implementation, project performance, organizational performance, monitoring, construction safety monitoring, personal protective equipment, productivity |
| Subjects: | control systems, research design and methodology, digital engineering, evaluation and assessment methods, data collection methods, contractual arrangements, project management theory and practice, professional development, Geography, computer vision, performance measurement, management, industry analysis, occupational health and safety management, organizational analysis |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Information Management, Geographical Context, Project Management, Research Practice, Procurement, Digital Applications, Quality Management, Site Management, Organizational Design |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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