Automated identification of hazardous zones on construction sites using a 2D digital information model

Abstract

Construction sites are high-risk environments owing to the dynamic changes and improper placement of temporary facilities, requiring comprehensive safety management and spatial hazard analyses. Existing construction site layout planning (CSLP) studies have limitations in identifying hazardous zones and accommodating the flexibility stakeholders require. This paper introduces a site information model framework to define digital objects and relationships in the CSLP, proposing methods to identify automatically unsafe spaces by considering facility hazards and visibility. By establishing ontological relationships and developing algorithms to quantify risk in unoccupied spaces, the framework identifies unsafe spaces in alignment with the perceptions of safety practitioners. Case studies at four sites demonstrated the reliability of the framework with a high precision, recall, and an F1-score of 0.945. This framework allows safety practitioners to evaluate systematically and improve site layouts during the preconstruction phase. Future integration with scheduling information could enhance the spatiotemporal hazard analysis and contribute to safer construction sites.