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BIM is continuously changing the way construction can be approached, from design, scheduling, costing to facilities management. However, even though construction safety is a worldwide issue, and though previous, yet limited, studies have proven its great potential, BIM has not been extended to include automated construction safety management functions, i.e., hazard identification, assessment and control for construction works. In fact, as many as 71% of safety incidents can be prevented by safety considerations at design stage. Automation via BIM is the key to enhance effectiveness and efficiency of safety management, but development of Safety Information Modelling (SIM) is the key pre-requisite. This paper aims to outline a research project for developing both information and technical requirements for SIM via questionnaire survey, focus group, and real case studies. The project results, to be validated by real projects, will act as solid platform for developing:- i) Practical guidance to construction and safety professionals on the types of safety management a SIM can conduct, and the ways of utilizing the safety information in a SIM model [based on the systematic SIM information requirements (e.g., object identification, geometry attributes, safety rules)]; and ii) Overall guidance to software developers to develop appropriate SIM tools for different scenarios [based on the systematic SIM technical requirements (e.g., model information exchange, visualization, conflict analysis process for risk assessment, reliability)].

Automation technology has experienced explosive growth in recent decades. However, the construction industry, let alone the field of construction safety, is still among the least digitized globally. Although many types of automation have proven effective in enhancing productivity and accuracy, adoption and acceptance by construction professionals are still limited. Human factors are essential for the success of automation. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of different levels of system automation and transparency, and their interactions, on human states (trust, mental workload, situational awareness) and perceived performance (explainability, satisfaction, usability). An experiment was conducted using a tool to assess scaffolding design safety with varying automation and transparency levels. A between-group design was adopted in which participants were assigned to four groups (a 2×2 matrix of automation and transparency). In a multi-methods approach, human states were measured through questionnaires and electroencephalography, and system performance was measured through a questionnaire. The results indicated that (1) automation level does not have significant impact on human states or perceived system performance, (2) a highly transparent automation system is associated with significantly higher trust and better perceived system performance, and (3) the positive impacts of transparency tend to be more obvious in low-automation systems. Due to perceived complexity, one might think that transparency would be emphasized more in highly automated systems. However, the results of this study shed light on the importance of providing a highly transparent interface for explaining system logic in all automated systems for design safety assessment in construction, particularly those with low automation levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the globalization of the construction industry, there are increasing numbers of expatriate construction professionals (ExCPs). The work practices and living environment are different between home and host countries, which often induce stress in ExCPs, cause underperformance, and reduce intention to stay for expatriates. This study aims to investigate the interactions among stressors, stress, performance, and intention to stay for ExCPs through the development of a stressors-stress-performance-outcome model. A questionnaire survey with purposive sampling was conducted. The research results show (1) work-home conflict, organizational centralization, and heavy workload affect ExCPs' overall performance and intention to stay indirectly through the vicious cycle between emotional and physical stress; (2) poor transportation exacerbates ExCPs' physical stress, while language fluency relieves it; (3) physical stress impairs overall performance, further reducing intention to stay; and (4) poor transportation directly reduces ExCPs' intention to stay. Recommendations, including flexible work schedules and stress management programs, are made. The study results enhance the current understanding of the complicated stress and expatriate management for ExCPs in a cross-cultural context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influences of indoor environment quality on occupant health have long been one of the main focuses in built environment and public health research. However, evidence to this effect has been inconsistent. Furthermore, previous urban studies have indicated the interaction between urban morphology and indoor environment. This study thus goes beyond indoor environment to investigate: i) the effects of neighborhood environment on occupant health; and ii) the mediating roles of indoor environment on the neighborhood environment and occupant health relationships. To achieve this aim, buildings located in different neighborhood environment in Hong Kong are selected. Data are collected by post-occupancy evaluation (occupant health), indoor environment assessment (thermal comfort, indoor air quality, ventilation, visual comfort, and acoustic comfort) and neighborhood environment assessment (neighborhood building density, building height, cleanliness and greenspace) through questionnaire survey. Through correlation analysis, regression modelling and Sobel test, it is found that: i) occupant health is significantly affected by neighborhood building height, building density and cleanliness; ii) the relationships between neighborhood environment and occupant health are significantly mediated by indoor environment, in terms of visual and acoustic comfort; and iii) neighborhood greenspace affects occupant health indirectly through influencing indoor air quality. To cross validate the results of the survey study, which is conducted using subjective data, objective measurements and analyses are further conducted. The objective study, echoing the survey study results, indicates that buildings with lower neighborhood building density and height, and cleaner neighborhood environment have better visual (higher illuminance level) and acoustic (lower noise level) performances., (© 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)