Enhancing collaboration and engagement using virtual reality within site safety planning

Abstract

For construction managers effective collaboration, communication and engagement during safety planning, is essential to improve on-site efficiency and reduce risks. Whilst the use of Virtual Reality (VR) has gained increased global attention in the past decade, the documentation of practical applications during active construction projects in the UK remains underdeveloped. Specifically, this includes the use of VR within on-site construction logistics management processes, and its potential impacts on multidisciplinary collaboration and engagement. This study aims to bridge this gap by exploring the use of VR during practical safety and plant logistics planning workshops to capture real-world examples. Collaborating with a UK based construction contractor, this study collected qualitative data over a series of planning workshops during a live project, involving 15 site team members of varying disciplines. Data collection included direct observations and focus groups, with data analysed using a hybrid thematic analysis method. The results provided evidence of effective and accurate plant logistics planning with working practical examples, indicating that the use of VR had a positive impact on interdisciplinary collaboration and engagement. Results show that the inclusion of VR tools also encouraged knowledge transfer between project teams, which led to improved confidence and engagement when conducting planning activities.