A state-of-the-art analysis of virtual reality applications in construction health and safety

Abstract

The construction industry contends with high injury rates, emphasizing the need for innovative preventive measures in construction health and safety (CHS). While previous studies have investigated the potential applications of virtual reality (VR) in the construction industry for different purposes, an in-depth study on VR in the CHS context is lacking. Hence, this study provides a state-of-the-art analysis of VR applications in CHS, employing a dual scientometric and systematic review approach. A scientometric analysis is conducted to examine annual publication trends, keyword co-occurrences, and science mapping of publication outlets, alongside mapping the contributions of leading countries in this domain. This analysis reveals a marked increase in research interest and identifies central thematic connections within the body of literature. The systematic review assesses VR technologies, including immersive, desktop-based, BIM-based, 3D game-based, and augmented reality, addressing their roles in hazard identification and safety training. The study also underscores challenges like infrastructure, content modeling, and interoperability and proposes directions for future research. Recommendations include probing into VR's role in cognitive safety risks and the impact of users' prior safety knowledge on learning outcomes. This study suggests that developing tailored VR experiences for specific user groups could significantly advance safety practices in the construction industry.