The Use of Virtual Reality for Visualizing Construction Safety Management Process

From the literature review, weaknesses of these systems and causes of construction accidents are identified, discussed and compared. Complementing these findings are the results of an investigation into the availability and performance of different innovative approaches for safety management, such as the use of advanced information technology as used in other industries, such as the aircraft industry. Reviewed are opportunities for using these technologies in construction industries.;Three new safety management approaches are introduced in this research study, based on a combination of the use of Construction Virtual Prototyping approach and Game Engine approach. The first aims to improve the current hazard identification process by using Virtual Prototyping (VP) skills during early design stage. The second provides a close-to-reality 3D environment for the trainees to practice construction skills without risk. As it is a multi-users platform, the trainees are assigned different roles and are required to cooperate to complete the training. The third aims to provide the users with a 3D assessment platform which introduces not only the use of the 3D format of examination for better illustration of information, but also suggests the use of a better database structure.;The different approaches were tested using case studies conducted on functioning construction projects in Hong Kong. Interviews were arranged to collect opinions, feedback for the purpose of rating the approaches. The value of the new work is as follows: the use of the proposed hazard identification approach improves the construction environment by identifying potential hazard before commencement of work. The proposed training system provides a new training platform and thus improves the safety knowledge of construction workers. The improvement in safety knowledge enhances the workers' reaction to accident and potential hazards and eventually reduces accidents. The proposed assessment approach can verify the construction safety knowledge of the users before they are allowed to work on site. The new verification process raises the safety standard knowledge of the users and thus reduces the chances of construction accidents.