Pervasive Computing for Improving Safety on Building Construction Sites

Objectives

Job site accidents cost the U.S. construction industry over 1,200 lives and $1 billion each year. Improving construction safety is a prime objective of the industry, insurers, and governmental agencies. Although many construction accidents are preventable through better awareness and communication, the environment is noisy, visually restricting and confusing. A construction environment enriched with pervasive computing embedded in equipment, tools, structure--and even workers clothing--can revolutionize construction site safety. Pervasive computing can provide real-time feedback to workers and supervisors to prevent acute risks (e.g., falls), and to measure and store data about long-term exposure to harmful conditions (e.g., particulate inhalation).

Funding Source & Period

Office of the Vice President for Research: ICTAS INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH TEAM FELLOWSHIP
August 07 - August 08

Principal Investigators:

Eloise Coupey; Marketing Department
Ed Dorsa; Industrial Design
Ron Kemnitzer; Industrial Design
Thomas Martin; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Michael O'Brien; Department of Building Construction