Rwamamara, R; Norberg, H; Olofsson, T and Lagerqvist, O (2010) Using visualization technologies for design and planning of a healthy construction workplace. Construction Innovation, 10(3), pp. 248-266. ISSN 1471-4175
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to investigate how health and safety gains and improvements of the construction workplace can be made through the use of threedimensional (3D) and fourdimensional (4D) visualization technologies. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology used in the paper was a combination of semistructured interviews with five construction project planners from three construction projects and observations of a 4D model used in one of the three projects. Findings – The findings of the paper have shown a great potential for 3D and 4D visualization in terms of communicating construction information as well as the health and safety risks in the design process where clash detection, work tasks sequence, workspace congestion can be identified by project stakeholders who are thus able to plan for alternative solutions to reduce or eliminate rework, heavy material handling and repetitive and awkward postures which expose workers to musculoskeletal injury risk. Research limitations/implications – The 3D and 4D models as they are currently used in the design of construction projects, particularly in the three projects investigated in this paper, still lack the worker reference frame and the visual interaction between the worker and the permanent as well as the temporary works. Originality/value – The paper describes the current and emerging trends in the development of 3D, virtual reality and 4D computeraided design visualization and simulation, which have affected or are likely to have an impact on construction projects planning in the Swedish construction sector.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | computer aided design; construction industry; health and safety; Sweden |
| Index terms: | computer aided design, project stakeholder, construction project, methodology, construction sector, visualization, material handling, injury, design process, health and safety, interview, rework, planner, temporary work, virtual reality, interaction, construction industry, Sweden, workspace, 4D visualization |
| Subjects: | virtual reality, data collection methods, computational design, profession, design methods, operations management, visualization, product delivery, research methods, design practice, management, production management, Geography, health safety and environment, health conditions and diseases, sociology, behavioral psychology, industry analysis |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Stakeholder Management, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Project Management, Health and Safety, Site Management, Supply Chain Management, Design Practice, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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