Han, W; Xu, L; Mouri, M M; Loh, W Y; Dai, F and Zhu, Z (2025) Drone flights and worker visual attention: A quantitative study of distraction and hazard awareness. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 151(11): 04025173, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Drones are increasingly used in construction for progress tracking, safety monitoring, and inspection. However, their presence may divert workers' visual attention, reducing their ability to recognize hazards and increasing the risk of accidents. While some studies have explored drone-related distractions, few have used quantitative methods, and none have examined how drone flight height and direction affect workers' hazard awareness. This study investigates this issue using a controlled experiment in a virtual construction environment. Twenty-four participants performed material handling tasks across seven scenes with varying drone configurations using a virtual reality (VR) headset and an omnidirectional treadmill. Eye-tracking data were collected to analyze gaze fixation time and count on hazard areas and the sky. Results showed that drones approaching from the front and flying at lower heights (16 ft and 48 ft) caused the most distraction, significantly reducing visual attention to danger zones. These findings provide insight into how drone behavior can influence worker focus and site safety. In addition, this study contributes a validated, repeatable experimental protocol that integrates immersive VR, spatial audio, and full-body interaction. The protocol offers a scalable experimental protocol for future research on drone-induced distraction and supports the development of safer drone operation practices in construction environments.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | eye-tracking; unmanned aerial vehicles; virtual reality; visual attention; worker safety |
| Index terms: | experiment, presence, monitoring, quantitative method, drone, progress tracking, material handling, virtual reality, configuration, interaction, inspection, unmanned aerial vehicle |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, project controls, data analysis and analytics, quality assurance, behavioral psychology, systems engineering, control systems, virtual reality, automation and robotics, product delivery, environmental science |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Digital Applications, Quality Management, Site Management, Supply Chain Management, Sustainability, Research Practice, Time Control |
| 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