Edirisinghe, R and Gunathilake, L (2025) IoT-based smart vest for heat stress management in construction. International Journal of Construction Management, 25(16), pp. 2137-2149. ISSN 1562-3599
Abstract
Heat stress is a major challenge in construction, affecting workers' safety and productivity. However, existing systems often lack real-time monitoring capabilities, personalization features, and power efficiency, limiting their effectiveness. To overcome these limitations, this work presents an Internet of Things (IoT)-based smart vest, specifically designed for the construction sector. The experimental development of an IoT-based circuit followed rigorous circuit design guidelines and testing protocols. The components and sensors in the circuit were carefully designed, including IoT capabilities to cater for the construction sector's hostile work and environmental conditions. Workers' health status will be continuously monitored without disrupting regular work. The proposed system demonstrated strong performance, with an error range of −0.4 to 0.06 °C and continuous operation of data transmission. The developed IoT-based smart vest allows for seamless communication with cloud and local smart devices, enabling global access and effective real-time data visualization and warnings for workers and management. Temperature is used as the primary metric. Future research by the authors will incorporate heart rate variability, galvanic skin response, and humidity to enhance heat stress assessment. Sensor accuracy and reliability were validated with the potential for integration into construction safety protocols to enable a proactive response to heat stress management.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction management; heat stress; IoT; smart ppe; smart vest; wearables |
| Index terms: | heat stress, variability, internet, humidity, heart, testing, power efficiency, effectiveness, monitoring, productivity, real-time data, smart device, environmental conditions, construction safety, construction sector, visualization, integration, accuracy |
| Subjects: | data management, organizational analysis, statistical analysis, environmental health, industry analysis, performance management, design practice, management, professional development, energy systems, computing systems, control systems, medical science and clinical practice, environmental science, professional practice, innovation and technology management, climate science |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Engineering Principles, Health and Safety, Quality Management, Information Management, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Site Management, Digital Applications, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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