Ex-ante assessment of struck-by safety hazards in construction projects: A motion-planning approach

Struck-by accidents are one of the major causes of fatalities and injuries in construction projects. While the likelihood of struck-by hazards is significantly affected by the layout of a jobsite, sequence of activities, and movement patterns of equipment and workers, there is currently no existing methodology for ex-ante investigation of struck-by safety hazards during the construction planning phase. In this paper, we propose a preliminary methodology for evaluation of struck-by safety hazards using a motion planning approach. We solve the problem of finding collision states and obstacle free paths for working in the middle of moving machinery and in the presence of various obstacles. We present, propose, and implement efficient algorithms to create safe routes for workers that avoid static and moving obstacles. We present a detailed case study of a common construction task involving struck-by hazards. We discuss several avenues for future work that could transform into robust methodologies for safety planning in complex construction projects.

[1]  Howie Choset,et al.  Principles of Robot Motion: Theory, Algorithms, and Implementation ERRATA!!!! 1 , 2007 .

[2]  Marina L. Gavrilova,et al.  Roadmap-Based Path Planning - Using the Voronoi Diagram for a Clearance-Based Shortest Path , 2008, IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine.

[3]  G. Swaminathan.  Robot Motion Planning , 2006 .

[4]  D. T. Lee,et al.  Generalization of Voronoi Diagrams in the Plane , 1981, SIAM J. Comput..

[5]  Steven M. LaValle,et al.  Motion Planning Part I: The Essentials , 2011 .

[6]  Julio C. Martinez,et al.  Stroboscope: State and resource based simulation of construction processes. , 1996 .

[7]  C. Zhang,et al.  Improving construction safety through real-time motion planning of cranes , 2010 .

[8]  Xin-She Yang,et al.  Introduction to Algorithms , 2021, Nature-Inspired Optimization Algorithms.

[9]  Vineet R. Kamat.  VITASCOPE: Extensible and Scalable 3D Visualization of Simulated Construction Operations , 2003 .

[10]  Steven M. LaValle.  Motion Planning : Wild Frontiers , 2011 .

[11]  Chee-Keng Yap,et al.  A "Retraction" Method for Planning the Motion of a Disc , 1985, J. Algorithms.

[12]  Cheng Zhang,et al.  Multi-Agent-Based Approach for Real-Time Collision Avoidance and Path Re-Planning on Construction Sites , 2011 .

[13]  Thomas H. Cormen,et al.  Introduction to algorithms [2nd ed.] , 2001 .

[14]  Steven M. LaValle,et al.  Motion Planning : The Essentials , 2011 .

[15]  Mark de Berg,et al.  Computational geometry: algorithms and applications , 1997 .

[16]  Cheng Zhang,et al.  Towards real-time simulation of construction activities considering spatio-temporal resolution requirements for improving safety and productivity , 2011, Proceedings of the 2011 Winter Simulation Conference (WSC).

[17]  Dinesh Manocha,et al.  Fast computation of generalized Voronoi diagrams using graphics hardware , 1999, SIGGRAPH.

[18]  Ka Chi Lam,et al.  Cost–safety trade-off in unequal-area construction site layout planning , 2013 .

[19]  S. Zucker,et al.  Toward Efficient Trajectory Planning: The Path-Velocity Decomposition , 1986 .

[20]  Jimmie Hinze,et al.  The Nature of Struck-by Accidents , 2005 .

[21]  Jimmie Hinze,et al.  Autonomous pro-active real-time construction worker and equipment operator proximity safety alert system , 2010 .

[22]  Steven M. LaValle,et al.  Planning algorithms , 2006 .

[23]  P. Giblin.  Computational geometry: algorithms and applications (2nd edn.), by M. de Berg, M. van Kreveld, M. Overmars and O. Schwarzkopf. Pp. 367. £20.50. 2000. ISBN 3 540 65620 0 (Springer-Verlag). , 2001, The Mathematical Gazette.

[24]  Dinesh Manocha,et al.  Fast computation of generalized Voronoi diagrams using graphics hardware , 1999, SIGGRAPH.

[25]  Ali Mostafavi,et al.  Predictive Assessment and Proactive Monitoring of Struck-By Safety Hazards in Construction Sites: An Information Space Approach , 2014 .