Kan, C (2021) A cyber-physical systems and digital twins approach to improving safety of mobile crane operations. PhD thesis, University of Florida, USA.
Abstract
Mobile cranes are widely applied in the construction industry all over the world. As a central component performing lifting operations and maneuvering heavy loads over long spans, mobile cranes are associated with a large number of accidents on construction sites. Typical mobile crane-related accidents include electrocution, crane tip over, and struck by crane parts or load. One of the main reasons behind these accidents is due to the operator’s lack of visibility of the crane itself and the surrounding environment. In this context, visual monitoring and alarming is an effective way to identify and mitigate potential mobile crane-related hazards on construction sites. With the goal of providing real-time safety assistance for mobile crane operations, this doctoral research presents a Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) and Digital Twins (DT)-based approach to monitoring mobile crane operations in real-time and providing enriched information to the crane operator. The developed CPS and DT-based system was validated in a laboratory setting and three full-scale construction sites to demonstrate its practical functionality. The results of the tests indicate that the developed system is effective in reconstructing crane motions in real-time and providing pro-active control feedback to the crane operator. In general, this research explored and validated a CPS and DT-based approach for improved mobile crane safety. It identified CPS and DT benefits and applicability to the area of mobile crane operations, developed a CPS and DT prototype for the monitoring of lifting work, conducted experimental tests to check and refine the prototype system, and conducted focus group sessions for performance analysis of the prototype system. By taking advantage of CPS and DT, this research provides a new approach to assisting crane operator in the monitoring of mobile crane operations through bi-directional communication between physical sites and their virtual models. This research has contributed to a deeper understanding of the potential of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) and Digital Twins (DT) to address critical problems in the construction industry, using mobile crane as an effective example application.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Anumba, C J |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | communication; crane operator; cranes; feedback; focus group; hazards; monitoring; safety |
| Index terms: | digital twin, lifting, construction site, functionality, prototype, focus group, laboratory, crane operator, construction industry, visual monitoring, performance analysis, monitoring |
| Subjects: | design features, practitioner, digital engineering, research management, data analysis and analytics, modelling and simulation, work location, control systems, data collection methods, industry analysis, occupational health and safety management |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Design Practice, Digital Applications, Site Management, Engineering Principles, Health and Safety |
| 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