Aunwong, P and Hadikusumo, B H W (2025) Digital 2D and 3D modelling for construction safety management in Thai construction projects. International Journal of Construction Management, 25(15), pp. 1778-1790. ISSN 1562-3599
Abstract
The construction industry is key to Thailand's economy, which is growing consistently with domestic and international trends. Its projected growth is 3.0–4.0% annually from 2024 to 2026, consistent with overall investment trends. However, the recent Workers' Compensation Fund data shows that construction consistently leads to occupational accidents, causing significant losses. From 2019 to 2023, residential construction accounted for 3.50% and nonresidential for 2.66% of annual occupational injuries, highlighting ongoing safety challenges. Therefore, the study focuses on the effectiveness of digital 2D and 3D modelling, including Building Information Modeling, in improving safety protocols and reducing workplace accidents. The study uses a quantitative approach to evaluate how digital 2D and 3D modelling tools affect work method development, risk assessments, safety awareness and compliance oversight. The results demonstrate a significant positive correlation between the use of digital models and enhanced safety performance indicators, such as reduced accident rates and increased client satisfaction. The most notable improvements occurred in work method formulation and risk assessment, where digital 2D and 3D modelling provide detailed visualizations that help identify potential hazards and plan safe construction practices.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | building information modeling; digital 2D and 3D modelling; safety management; safety performance |
| Index terms: | client satisfaction, Thailand, occupational accident, residential construction, effectiveness, risk assessment, compensation, 3D modelling, construction industry, building information modelling, construction project, safety performance, construction safety, safety management, visualization, injury, compliance |
| Subjects: | dispute resolution, design practice, health risk and incident analysis, performance management, construction integration, occupational health and safety management, health conditions and diseases, industry analysis, environmental health, information systems, computational design, client relations, Geography, health safety and environment, production management, financial risk |
| Topics: | Design Practice, Digital Applications, Stakeholder Management, Research Practice, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Quality Management, Legal Issues, Sustainability, Geographical Context, Project Management, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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