Exploring the Drivers, Opportunities, Challenges and Benefits Influencing the Implementation of Immersive Technologies within On-site Construction Safety Management

The construction industry requires proactive safety management to identify hazards and plan work activities due to its high risk and dynamic nature. Integrating immersive technologies (ImTs) within safety management has been acknowledged within literature, however the practical industry application on construction sites remains limited. To date research into ImT implementation within construction has focused on safety training or using simulated environments. Whilst various aspects of ImTs such as drivers, opportunities, challenges and benefits have been considered by researchers, there is a dearth of studies that have explored these from an industry-based context. To accelerate industry implementation of ImTs, a critical missing element is considering these aspects collectively, through the lived experiences of construction professionals working within the field. To bridge this gap, this study aims to explore the site-based implementation of ImTs within safety management on construction projects, with a focus on the drivers, opportunities, challenges and benefits. This study adopts a multi-method qualitative approach to primary data collection through two key phases. The first phase used focus groups to gather the perception and experiences of ImT implementation within four recognised categories from 21 UK based construction professionals. Through inductive analysis the results identified key themes, which were tested during the second phase, an exploratory case study within a live project environment. This case study presents a unique empirical insight of ImT implementation within practical on-site safety management processes, and captures the lived experiences from 19 project based construction professionals within a range of roles. Findings from the thematic analysis in both phases found a total of 18 themes within the four categories. Results showed that there are opportunities for on-site integration within safety logistics planning and site-based training. The drivers focused on independent innovation, mandated requirements and the potential for future recruitment growth, whilst the challenges included senior management investment, costs and expertise. Practical on-site applications showed benefits of ImTs in enhancing the communication of hazards, engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration which led to more effective risk assessment. Although it was also highlighted that overexposure could lead to complacency. Results from the study suggests that industry perceptions of ImTs can be positively influenced through the lived experience of its practical on-site application and demonstration of performance impacts. Through the unique use of thematic analysis, using active industry professionals experience and practical on-site application, this study provides a fresh industry perspective into the underdeveloped field of site-based ImT research by exploring further practical understanding of the drivers, opportunities, challenges and benefits of ImTs implementation for on-site safety management. This study offers an analytical framework to inform industry adaptors of the key influencing factors influencing ImT implementation and recommends further practical testing using a range of project scales and site activities. Moreover this study recommends investigating these key themes from a clients perspective and further research into behavioural impacts of applying ImTs practically in on-site safety management.