Using 360-Degree Virtual Reality Technology for Training Construction Workers about Safety Challenges of Drones

Abstract

Integrating drones into already dangerous construction sites could expose workers to additional risks and make construction sites more dangerous than before. Several studies have identified various safety challenges of using drones on jobsites. However, limited studies have focused on educating construction workers about the safety challenges of the drone presence in their working environment. This study is the first effort to develop a 360-degree virtual reality (360VR) environment providing a semi-immersive training experience about drone applications in construction, potential safety challenges of working with or near drones, and proposed countermeasures for their safe integration. A repeated measures study design was used to assess the effectiveness of the 360VR training, followed by a system usability assessment. The results indicate that the developed 360VR training significantly improved users’ safety knowledge about drones and that the 360VR platform proved to be a sufficiently usable delivery mechanism for this training. The main contribution of this study is to provide a better understanding of 360VR capabilities, as an emerging learning technology, to create virtual learning environments for construction education and training, and, in particular, enhancing trainees’ knowledge about working safely with drones.