Hubbard, B J and Middaugh, B (2013) Leveraging bluetooth consumer electronics as proximity sensors to construction health hazards. International Journal of Construction Education and Research, 9(2), pp. 117-131. ISSN 1557-8771
Abstract
There are numerous hazards on construction sites. Significant research has focused on using advanced technologies to prevent collisions between moving construction equipment and workers. Relatively few studies have focused on advanced technologies to quantify worker exposure to long-term health hazards, such as noise, fumes, silica dust and other exposure hazards. One possible technology is wireless Bluetooth systems to quantify exposure risk. A series of tests was designed to investigate leveraging consumer Bluetooth enabled devices as a platform to determine the proximity of a construction worker to potential construction hazards. Bluetooth enabled devices were tested in controlled studies to determine the characteristics of the signal detection and signal strength. The controlled studies demonstrated the viability of estimating the distance between a Bluetooth receiver and emitting device. In a field test, the receiver system performed reasonably well and the system was able to determine when workers were within approximately 50 to 100 feet of the construction hazard. However, signal disruption between the emitter and the receiver due to obstructions was an issue. Based on this research, there is significant promise in utilizing Bluetooth to detect worker proximity to processes that represent exposure risks to long-term health hazards.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | bluetooth; construction safety; hazard proximity; noise; silicosis |
| Index terms: | health hazard, estimating, platform, construction safety, construction site, exposure, construction equipment, construction worker, field test, signal strength |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, environmental hazards, public and environmental health, practitioner, financial and cost management, environmental health, construction equipment, networking, work location, digital design |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Roles and Professions, Engineering Principles, Site Management, Sustainability, Digital Applications, Plant and Equipment, Research Practice, Cost Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
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