Ghosh, B. and Karmakar, S. (2026) Development and application of a digitalised construction safety document management system for advanced constructions using building information modeling. International Journal of Construction Management, 26(8), pp. 1490-1507. ISSN 1562-3599
Abstract
Traditional safety management systems (SMS) in construction engineering and management are inefficient, complex, and plagued by disorganised documentation, cumbersome inspections, and poor safety record-keeping. Manual processes for managing safety data are time-consuming, resource-intensive, and contribute to poor safety audit scores, claims disputes, and tender prequalification challenges. This study has identified eighteen key problematic issues within SMS through a comprehensive literature review and expert interviews. Therefore, to address these issues, the study has developed a transformative solution—an integrated Safety Management System using Building Information Modelling (SMS–BIM). The system has been developed as a plugin for Autodesk Revit, streamlining safety document management, inspection processes, and safety information dissemination, significantly reducing manual tasks. Validated through a case study on a national highway project in India, the SMS–BIM system has demonstrated its effectiveness, resolving over 76% of the identified issues and improving safety management performance by at least 75% compared to traditional systems. This innovative framework offers a more efficient and technology-driven approach to managing safety in construction projects.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | building information modelling;highway; safety; safety management system |
| Index terms: | safety management system, India, effectiveness, construction engineering, highway construction, inspection, dispute, information dissemination, streamlining, case study, building information modelling, construction safety, safety management, construction project, documentation, literature review, safety audit, management system, interview |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, dispute resolution, data analysis and analytics, performance management, civil engineering, engineering methods, management, professional development, occupational health and safety management, information systems, environmental health, research dissemination and communication, Geography, health safety and environment, production management, quality assurance |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Engineering Principles, Project Management, Geographical Context, Health and Safety, Quality Management, Legal Issues, Information Management, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
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