Virtual reality can help design safer construction sites, researchers say

Wigston, England – The use of digital tools when designing construction projects can help make worksites safer, according to a report released Jan. 20.

Researchers from the University of Reading and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology brought together a variety of experts to learn how designers and builders can interact with the help of a virtual reality tool to design a safe construction process. The researchers noted that the virtual reality environment allowed safety professionals to identify several hazards and constraints of the building and the worksite, as well as draw up alternative construction methods.

The report – which was commissioned by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, a professional safety and health organization based in Great Britain – recommended additional research on the use of digital tools to assist construction Safety through Design.