Aligning visual data practices with construction decision making: Delphi-based investigation

As image-based technologies become increasingly integral to construction site monitoring, safety management, and progress tracking, understanding the decision-making processes that drive visual data use is essential. While prior research has emphasized the technical capabilities of image capture and analysis tools, less attention has been given to the human and contextual factors that shape how visual data are collected, interpreted, and acted upon in the field. Without this understanding, visual tools risk misalignment with practitioners' needs, limiting their effectiveness in supporting real-time coordination and risk mitigation. This study addresses this gap by identifying and validating the key triggers that prompt visual data collection in construction, the types of insights practitioners derive, and the visual formats that best support decision making. A multiphase research design was implemented, beginning with a comprehensive literature review, followed by a Delphi study with experienced construction professionals. Quantitative analyses using a relative importance index, median absolute deviation, and Spearman's rank correlation were conducted to assess expert consensus and prioritize visual data elements. Key findings include a ranked set of high-impact triggers, such as safety incidents, progress verification, and quality concerns. Among visual representation formats, bounding boxes, annotated photographs, and bar charts were identified as most effective for facilitating insight comprehension and action. This study contributes a validated framework for aligning visual data practices with real-world decision-making contexts in construction. It advances human-centered design of visual analytics tools by accounting for when and why visual data are collected, how they are interpreted, and what formats most effectively support communication. The results have direct implications for researchers, technology developers, and industry professionals seeking to enhance situational awareness, data relevance, and communication in construction workflows.