Chauhan, H; Jang, Y and Jeong, I (2026) Assessing the impact of human-robot collaboration on worker productivity in construction through psychophysiological response analysis. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 152(3): 04025273, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Human-robot collaboration (HRC) presents a promising approach to addressing productivity and labor challenges in the construction industry. However, limited research has quantitatively explored how specific environmental and interaction-related factors influence productivity in construction-specific HRC scenarios. This study investigates the effects of workspace conditions (open versus closed environments) and robot engagement levels (no, low, high) on worker productivity, while also examining associated psychophysiological responses. A controlled virtual reality (VR) environment was used to simulate realistic construction tasks, and physiological data - including heart rate, electrodermal activity, skin temperature, and electroencephalography-based valence and arousal - were collected using biosensors. Results revealed that participants exhibited higher productivity in closed environments, likely due to reduced distractions and enhanced spatial control. Engagement levels with robots also significantly affected productivity, with direct human-robot interactions eliciting varying physiological and performance outcomes. Notably, changes in productivity were strongly associated with shifts in emotional and cognitive states, as reflected in psychophysiological measures. These findings fill critical research gaps by linking environmental and engagement factors to both objective performance and human-centered outcomes. The results offer valuable insights for designing more effective, adaptive HRC systems in construction that optimize productivity while supporting worker comfort and well-being.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | human-robot collaboration; personalized analysis; productivity; psychophysiological data |
| Index terms: | skin temperature, collaboration, well-being, workspace, productivity, performance outcome, construction industry, heart, interaction, virtual reality, comfort |
| Subjects: | behavioral psychology, building performance, medical science and clinical practice, industry analysis, occupational health and safety management, management, value management, virtual reality, mental health and wellbeing |
| Topics: | Stakeholder Management, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Organizational Design, Digital Applications, Health and Safety, Project Management |
| 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