Simulating Wind Tower Construction Process for Virtual Construction Safety Training and Active Learning

Abstract

The growth of the wind energy industry in the United States has been remarkable; however, despite its significance and installation capacity, wind energy investments such as wind turbines and wind farms involve various safety risks. To increase awareness of construction workers regarding hazards associated, one needs to develop engaging training programs. Therefore, to address this emergent need, we develop a realistic simulation of the wind tower construction process in an immersive virtual reality environment aiming at informing workers of the general safety and health hazards associated with the critical processes used in constructing, maintaining, and demolishing wind towers.