Farghaly, K; Collinge, W; Mosleh, M H; Manu, P and Cheung, C M (2022) Digital information technologies for prevention through design (ptd): A literature review and directions for future research. Construction Innovation, 22(4), pp. 1036-1058. ISSN 1471-4175
Abstract
Purpose: With the rapid development of digital information and modelling software applications for construction, questions have arisen about their impact on construction safety. Meanwhile, recognition that designers can help reduce risks involved in construction, operation and maintenance via a prevention through design (PtD) approach (also known as design for safety) highlights the significance of digital technologies and tools to PtD. Thus, this paper aims to provide a systematic review of a wide range of digital technologies for enhancing PtD. Design/methodology/approach: A five-stage systematic literature review with coding and synthesis of findings is presented. The review covers journal articles published between 2000 and 2020 related to the applications of various digital technologies, such as building information modelling (BIM), 4D, databases, ontologies, serious games, virtual reality and augmented reality, for addressing safety issues during the design phase in construction. Findings: Analysis of the articles yielded a categorisation of the digital applications for PtD into four main areas: knowledge-based systems; automatic rule checking; hazard visualization; and safety training for designers. The review also highlighted designers' limited knowledge towards construction safety and the possibility to address this by using gaming environments for educating designers on safety management and using artificial intelligence for predicting hazards and risks during design stage in a BIM environment. Additionally, the review proposes other directions for future research to enhance the use of digital technologies for PtD. Originality/value: This paper contextualises current digital technology applications for construction health and safety and enables future directions of research in the field to be identified and mapped out.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | BIM; construction safety; design and construction; design for safety; digital design; health and safety; information systems/management; it building design’s construction; prevention through design; safety management; virtual reality and visualization |
| Index terms: | visualization, literature review, ontology, design for safety, knowledge-based system, virtual reality, designer, design and construction, information technology, safety management, systematic literature review, journal, building information modelling, digital technology, operation and maintenance, building design, artificial intelligence, information system, methodology, modelling, health and safety, design phase, database, prevention, gaming, safety issue, construction safety, safety training, design stage, augmented reality |
| Subjects: | research dissemination and communication, occupational health and safety management, research evaluation and metrics, design practice, computing systems, virtual reality, contractual arrangements, architectural design, environmental health, decision-making and reasoning, information systems, data management, analytical methods, education and knowledge transfer, visualization, maintenance engineering, artificial intelligence, data analysis and analytics, profession, professional practice, health safety and environment, financial risk, research methods |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Cost Management, Research Practice, Health and Safety, Sustainability, Roles and Professions, Design Practice, Engineering Principles, Procurement, Business Strategy |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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