Monitoring and evaluating the status and behaviour of construction workers using wearable sensing technologies

Abstract

<p>Wearable sensing technologies (WSTs) are valuable in monitoring status and behaviour of construction workers, providing insights into their response under varying conditions and potentially improving their performance. Despite their importance, a comprehensive review of WSTs for evaluating construction worker behaviour and status is lacking. This paper conducted a quantitative and qualitative review of relevant studies. A bibliometric analysis revealed the selected 200 publications between 2011 and 2023 focusing on musculoskeletal disorders, worker activity, worker status, construction safety and occupational risks. Accordingly, a knowledge framework was proposed for evaluating workers' status and behaviour, compassing data collection, artifact removal, analysis, worker evaluation, and applications. Following a qualitative review, six future research directions were identified: sensor selection and placement, experiment validity, end-to-end data analysis, data fusion, human-technology interaction, and modelling worker status. This review provides the current research state and future trends, aiding the practical implementations of wearable technologies on construction sites.</p>