Usman, W. I.; Mazher, K. M.; Umer, W.; Wuni, I. Y.; Alshibani, A.; Ghaithan, A.; Nasir, A. R. and Mohammed, A. (2026) BIM-based construction accidents knowledge database management system: Centralized accessible information repository for enhanced learning from the past. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 152(9): 04026149, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Knowledge management (KM) for project safety is crucial to prevent repeated construction accidents, including fatalities, injuries, near misses, and property damage. This research examined widespread issues in managing historical accident data that impact effective learning from past accidents. Subsequently, a prototype building information modeling (BIM)-based construction accidents knowledge database management system (BIM-CAKDMS) was developed that exploits the structured database management and three-dimensional (3D) visualization capabilities of BIM and was validated using three construction accident case studies, expert interviews, and a lab experiment. The proposed system's primary innovation lies in its ability to integrate accident investigation data directly into the 3D BIM model, creating high-fidelity construction accident animations and simulations that allow stakeholders to analyze the chain of events, understand contributing factors in their actual spatial and temporal context, and internalize lessons learned through experiential rather than abstract learning. Results show that BIM-CAKDMS provides a centralized repository, standardizes data entry, and improves information accessibility. Moreover, its 3D visualization capability and the construction accident animations enhance collaboration, safety communication, and training effectiveness, and reduce the cognitive load of learning from accidents compared with text-based approaches. Overall, this study contributes to automation in construction by enabling enhanced access to accident knowledge, streamlining data-sharing among stakeholders, and learning from 3D accident animations, which potentially may lead to proactive accident prevention strategies.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | building information modeling; character animation; construction accidents; construction health and safety; database; learning from incidents |
| Index terms: | lessons learned, building information modelling, management system, database, prototype, experiment, health and safety, accident prevention, visualization, injury, accessibility, accident investigation, collaboration, interview, 3D visualization, fatalities, training effectivenes, streamlining, case study, construction accident, knowledge management, automation, strategy |
| Subjects: | environmental health, assessment methods, data management, health risk and incident analysis, health conditions and diseases, modelling and simulation, professional development, health safety and environment, data collection methods, design practice, visualization, management, automation and robotics, inclusive design, occupational health and safety management, information systems |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Education, Engineering Principles, Sustainability, Organizational Design, Design Practice, Health and Safety, Information Management, Research Practice, 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