Leveraging data analytics to improve construction operations and occupational safety

Undoubtedly, there has been an exponential growth in the amount of data generated during all stages of construction projects (from project inception and planning to maintenance and demolition). However, massive amounts of data remained uncaptured and unexamined. As the engineering and construction industries are witnessing an unprecedented digital transformation, it becomes vital to leverage this data and turn it into valuable insights to solve numerous industry challenges. This dissertation focused on solving problems in five separate areas: (1) regulations, regulatory changes, and compliance, (2) occupational safety and health, (3) infrastructure management, (4) construction safety, and (5) disaster management. The first study targeted the COVID-19 pandemic that has caused much disruption in the construction industry. The study objectives were achieved through conducting interviews with project managers, engineers, designers, and superintendents that represented different states and distinct industry sectors in the United States. The adverse effects, new opportunities, and risk mitigation measures that are being adopted in construction workplaces were reported in this study. The study’s findings will guide industry stakeholders to continue maintaining a safe and productive work environment. The second research study was inspired by the unacceptable numbers of construction workplace injuries. Additionally, the impacts of these injuries carry more effect if the sustained injury is classified as severe or serious. In order to assess, understand, and mitigate severe construction workplace injuries, over 11,000 severe construction injuries were obtained from the newly developed OSHA severe injury reporting program. The study comprehensively analyzed the incidents’ attributes and assessed overrepresented attribute categories. The study's findings are expected to be practical for struggling construction organizations with high frequency and severity workplace injuries. The third study investigated past incidents reports that involved driving license examiners. This community of workers plays a vital role in our society as they ensure only competent drivers drive on the roads. Despite their essential role in enhancing traffic safety and serving the public, they are nonetheless exposed to high levels of safety risk. This study empirically examined past incident reports that involved driver license examiners. Qualitative content analysis was performed on the incidents’ narratives to identify the fundamental attributes (e.g., event type, contributing factor, and injured body part) and their categories. The study provided deeper understandings of the safety incidents that driver license examiners experience which can inform the development of effective injury prevention policies and safety interventions. The fourth study was mainly driven by how the construction industry is strongly regulated and these regulations are constantly subjected to changes and reevaluations. Such regulations typically influence capital projects' design, construction, and operation. The study's overarching goal was to evaluate the impact of regulations throughout the complete construction project lifecycle. The research methodology involved conducting an organizational survey to understand better how companies address regulations. The discoveries from the study can help organizations better understand the effect of regulations on building and operating projects and better plan for regulation compliance. Lastly, the fifth study pertains to assessing the interruptions of utility facilities to transportation projects. Coordinating public transportation projects with other stakeholders is significantly challenging.