Innovation Trial: Integrating Live Monitoring of Site-based Sensors with 3D Models to Improve Health and Safety on Construction Sites

This report presents the outcomes of an innovative safety trial, integrating Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology with wearable sensors to enhance safety on construction sites. The trial was conducted at AstraZeneca's QAB extension project in Macclesfield, focusing on identifying and monitoring hazardous zones in an automated and proactive manner. Discovering safety is funded by Lloyds Register Foundation and led by the Health and Safety Executive. Discovering Safety includes a range of projects which aim to improve the way digital data is used for improving health and safety, and to improve the use of digital tools which help to manage risk well. One Project within Discovering Safety is the Construction Risk Library, and it this project which is vitally concerned with the way risks are described and managed in construction design, and with how risk treatments such as safety zones are deployed. This trial forms a key part of this project. It is a forward look, to see how the next generation of design tools can work together better to enhance safety zone procedures. The trial's implementation involved the setup of safety zones using a 3D BIM model within the SafetiBase platform provided by 3D Repo, coupled with the deployment of a sensing system supplied by Plinx. Safety zone access was monitored through wearable sensors, and the collected data were integrated into the BIM model. Through this integrated system, the trial demonstrated the digital control paradigm that proactively identifies and manages hazards, offering real-time monitoring and feedback loops. The integration showcases a tangible shift from reactive to proactive safety measures. The system's real-time monitoring and automated alerting mechanisms demonstrated in a proof of concept that it is realistic to expect significantly improved hazard identification procedures, along with direct real time feedback to the site office of incursions into safety zones. These measures will improve timeliness of management decisions to address problems and reduce the likelihood of a failure of a safety zone to separate the hazard from a vulnerable target. The digital control of data visualisation within the BIM model, will facilitate comprehensive analysis and informed decision-making by designers, construction planners and site managers.
Despite the successes, challenges and limitations were encountered, including integration complexity, accuracy and calibration issues, user adaptation, privacy concerns, and cost implications. These challenges provided valuable insights, leading to recommendations for refining the system. Lessons learned underscored the importance of categorising safety zones, automating zone updating workflows, introducing people and machine zoning, and optimising the utilisation of shapes functionality in 3D Repo. In conclusion, the trial successfully demonstrated the potential of integrating BIM and monitoring-based sensing technologies for construction site safety. The findings highlight the need for ongoing refinement and optimisation, emphasising the importance of a collaborative approach which involves the whole project team, from the Client through to the sub-contractor. The report concludes with a forward-looking perspective, highlighting the lessons learned and providing recommendations for the future deployment of this innovative safety management system in construction contexts.