Gambatese Research Group

The overall goal of this research is to develop additional knowledge and practices related to the implementation of new work zone intrusion alert technologies (WZIATs) to improve driver and worker safety in temporary work zones. The research will focus on temporary construction and maintenance operations on multi-lane, high-speed roadways that involve one or two lane restrictions (e.g., repaving or restriping on Interstate 5) during daytime and nighttime conditions. Roadways with appropriate annual average daily traffic (AADT) levels for such cases will be reviewed with ODOT and incorporated within the research. The study will focus on the time period when roadway work is being performed after the traffic control is set up.

The study aims to confirm and, if needed, refine existing zero accident techniques (ZATs) and identify new best practices that reflect current safety knowledge and industry conditions. The study will consider all relevant and feasible safety practices, and emphasize those practices that can be correlated to high-performing safety projects and organizations with statistical confidence. The results will be incorporated into CII ZATs documentation, and a new single document will be created that presents the updated recommended ZAT best practices. The implementation guide will include guidance for the implementation of each recommended practice in different project contexts within the construction industry. As part of conducting the study, the researchers also aim to assess the present implementation level of the recommended practices within CII member companies and the industry at large.

The overall scope of the study is to develop a psychological safety training framework and case studies for construction workers with an emphasis on the construction jobsite. Psychological safety is about cover for candor and feeling safe to take interpersonal risk. It reduces mental health issues and enhances safety, productivity, quality, a sense of belonging, diversity, equity, and inclusion on construction jobsites. However, psychological safety training is still new in the construction industry with limited input and guidance from the industry. The proposed project is to use industry focus groups to develop a training framework on psychological safety and document several case studies for training purposes. The project will result in the development and dissemination of multiple deliverables including the framework and guidance document, a student training manual/worksheet, and an instructor training manual/worksheet.

The overall goal of this scope of work is to develop a PtD program that KEGI can implement to address construction worker safety when performing design activities for PKS projects. The scope of work includes: (1) Documenting the typical design process and resources utilized by KEGI on PKS projects; (2) Determining how to incorporate PtD concepts and practices into the existing KEGI design process and resources; (3) Developing supporting design knowledge (e.g., list of best design practices and design checklists) to be incorporated into the Kiewit PtD Program; and (4) Developing Kiewit PtD Program documentation and resources.

The goal of the overall research study is to provide the electric utility industry with information on work zone intrusion alert technologies (WZIATs) designed to prevent worker injuries and fatalities due to work zone intrusions on public roadways. The proposed study will characterize high-risk utility work zones, identify available WZIATs for reducing the number and severity of worker injuries and fatalities due to utility work zone intrusions, and provide recommendations for deploying WZIATs in utility work zones. The risks associated with work zone intrusions will be identified and mapped through archival analysis and discussions with an EPRI Program 62 project advisory committee (PAC). WZIATs will be evaluated through conducting controlled evaluation and multiple case studies of the use of WZIATs during construction and maintenance operations within electric utility work zones.

Precursor analysis involves close monitoring of designs and ongoing work operations for the presence of precursors (i.e., anomalies) and then acting if the analysis indicates a high probability of a failure. Yet precursors are site- and operation-specific. As a result, direct application of the existing precursor analysis processes to offshore ocean wave energy systems is infeasible because of the complex technology designs, dynamic and fast-paced nature of offshore work, and the often hazardous, high-risk work conditions present during operations. Precursor analyses of offshore ocean wave energy systems are further complicated by the disparate nature of the failure inputs – weather, waves, multiple types of wave energy converters, multiple installation and removal techniques and equipment, multiple operators with different levels of training, experience and supervision, and seafloor conditions – each with their own level of uncertainty and interdependence. This task will develop a real-time precursor analysis process and supporting implementation tool for application to the deployment and operation of offshore ocean wave energy systems. The task aims to provide: (1) guidance on how to identify and analyze precursors using a data-driven process; (2) methods to uncover latent precursors and interactions (“pathways”) among precursors; (3) examples of precursors to high-impact, low-frequency (HILF) events; and (4) thresholds for alarm and action. Site investigations and wave energy conversion systems (WECS) envisioned for PacWave will be targeted.

This project consists of three major technology systems: (1) a construction equipment simulator that replicates the interior cab and behavior of a Caterpillar D8T bulldozer, (2) an innovative 3D motion capture system with supporting virtual reality (VR) technologies, and (3) upgrades to our high-fidelity moving-base simulator for simulating large vehicle operation in a virtual environment. These systems will be brought together to form a construction/transportation safety lab that allows for integrated simulation of multiple operators and operations. The new lab will be built within the existing Hinsdale Wave Lab Building.

The aim of this study is to quantify and apply the mental energy felt by workers while performing construction tasks, and improve an implementation tool designed to measure the level of mental energy and corresponding impacts on worker safety and work quality.

Safety success has been shown to depend on human behavior and safety culture. Worker decision-making is affected by personal traits, beliefs, and moral values. This study investigates the relationship between faith-inspired traits and safety performance to demonstrate the value and impact of positive character traits.

The current trend of work zone (WZ) related research is evidence that smart WZs are going to be a reality in the near future and, therefore, it is essential to prepare the workers to fit within such a transformed work environment. Though there are active research studies to create an smart WZs, effort towards making the worker “smart” are minimal. Through this FW-HTF Project Development Grant proposal, the PI and Co-PI’s put forward the concept of Connected-Smart Work Zones (CSWZ) for enhancing worker safety and comfort with the aid of technology. The main challenge here is developing an electronic device that is wearable for the worker without discomfort, and effectively communicate with other components of the CSWZ. Subsequently, this challenge necessitates the establishment of worker training programs and guidelines to ensure that workers can adapt to and maximize the benefits of technology.

The overall goal of this research is to develop additional knowledge and guidance for state transportation agencies and contractors that can be used to improve driver and worker safety on roadways. The part of work zone safety specifically targeted by the research is that during the set-up, removal, and modification of temporary work zones on high speed roadways. These operations are commonly performed by contractors on construction projects and by ODOT personnel when performing roadway maintenance. These operations also create unique hazards for workers and motorists to recognize, comprehend, and respond to, and have received limited attention in prior ODOT research.

The overall scope of the study is to develop eight detailed case studies that can be used by construction or safety professionals to train craft workers and field management on various safety management techniques and topics that will help prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities in Washington workplaces.

The research aims to investigate current approaches to identifying and managing last-minute work changes, evaluating the availability and capabilities of current safety technologies, and developing guidance for adopting and implementing the technologies to positively impact safety performance in the construction industry. The study places special emphasis on technologies that directly support the identification of and response to last-minute changes and/or unplanned work on construction projects. The guidance developed will also target those technologies that provide the highest aggregated value with respect to safety, implementation effort, technology robustness, cost, industry readiness, and other common technology and work operation performance criteria.

This research explores the relationship between lean construction and construction industrialization, and whether they reinforce each other to provide added benefit. The research identifies and quantifies the value, waste, and impact factors of lean construction practices and construction industrialization methods through a literature review, survey, and interviews. The results of the literature review and online survey were used to assess 14 lean construction practices and four construction industrialization methods, along with their value and waste. Interviews were used to validate the results of the literature review and survey. The research incorporates the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) concept, applies it to construction, and classifies lean construction. Finally, an improved combined construction process was developed to optimize the shortcomings of their respective applications. The contribution of this research to knowledge is an attempt to combine the application of lean construction practices and construction industrialization methods for better performance by demonstrating six aspects associated with construction projects. Appropriate application of the combined methods can increase the value they bring relative to separate implementation. The research attempts to explore the performance of the combined methods using different measurement dimensions. In this study, value and waste goals, project success factors, and employee factors are discussed.

This study aimed to examine the safety hazards and risks associated with traffic control operations during the set-up, modification, and removal of temporary traffic control, and to develop guidance for enhancing safety as the temporary traffic control placement and removal takes place. To fulfill the research goal, the researchers established a research protocol involving four research methods: a comprehensive literature review on the study topics, a survey of state department of transportation (DOT) and highway construction and contractor personnel, focus group interviews of contractors and DOT personnel, and on-site observations of traffic control placement and removal operations. the survey results reveal hazardous steps in the traffic control operation that create life-threatening hazards to workers and motorists, such as in a situation where a traffic control device is being initially placed to form a lane closure. Results from both focus group interviews conducted revealed interesting findings that nighttime work zone traffic control operation is perceived to be more dangerous than daytime traffic control operation. Furthermore, the site observation results show other work elements associated with the traffic control process that were identified to be risky for workers and motorists during the traffic control operation. An example of those identified elements included: misleading arrow sign indication mounted on truck, wrong sequence order of sign installation, reading traffic control plan while driving to work zone, among others.

The goal of this study is to help improve safety during construction, maintenance, and work operations in the electric utility industry. This goal will be achieved through the development of guidance on the use of visual literacy (VL) as part of safety by design (SbD) practice. The specific objectives of the study are to: (1) develop an understanding of the VL concept and practice; (2) document the typical design process used by electric utilities and the common safety hazards present on electric utility jobsites; (3) determine how VL can be integrated into SbD practice; and (4) develop guidance for electric utility organizations for integrating VL into their design practices and procedures.

This project aims to identify best practices when implementing the PtD concept to improve worker safety, as applicable to MEP design and construction. The identification will lead to synthesizing and reporting best implementation practices and exemplary cases from a number of leading MEP design companies and contractors with input from MEP workers, which will benefit the overall industry.

The goal of the small study is to provide an understanding of the health risk and productivity associated with rebar tying using the Twintier® RB401T-E Stand Up Rebar Tying Tool. The goal will be attained by comparing rebar tying by hand with that performed using the RB401T-E tool for typical concrete slab rebar. Comparisons will be made based on the extent of MSD risk associated with each rebar tying method as well as the average worker productivity associated with each tying method. An improved understanding of the benefits of the stand-up rebar tying tool is likely to be of value for selecting appropriate measures to lower exposures to risk factors (e.g., rebar tying by hand) that contribute to MSDs.

The goal of this study is to provide the electrical utility industry with information on emerging and effective controls for preventing accidents due to work zone intrusions. This project will identify common, readily implementable, solutions for reducing the number and severity of utility work zone intrusions. Work zone intrusion alert technologies (WZIAT) and temporary traffic control (TTC) practices for preventing work zone intrusions will be identified through literature reviews and discussion with the EPRI project advisory committee (PAC).

This research study seeks to fulfill the need for guidance on work zone intrusion mitigation technology usage through the pursuit of two specific objectives: (1) Identification of successful applications of emerging technologies to mitigate work zone intrusions (referred to as work zone intrusion technologies or WZITs); and (2) Development of a technology implementation guidebook that helps transportation agencies select and implement emerging technologies to prevent work zone intrusions, and ultimately improve work zone safety.

The overarching aim of the study is to develop knowledge and resources that support the effective and safe application of robotics and automation (RA) in construction operations. By doing so, the study will provide critical insights that could reduce the safety risks associated with using RA, increase the adoption of RA technologies, and improve the safety performance of construction workers and organizations. Specific objectives of this study include the identification, verification, and quantification of construction safety risks that are introduced or enhanced by human-robot interactions (HRI) in at-risk construction trades (masonry, concrete, dry-wall, roofing, and plumbing workers).

The goals of the small study are to: (1) expand the construction industry’s understanding of formwork activities by comparing the typical use cycles of conventional and engineered formwork systems; (2) survey the work-relatedness of MSD symptoms and risk factors; and (3) identify and assess MSD risks associated with the use of different formwork systems. The study focuses on horizontal formwork systems (e.g., slab formwork) during formwork erection, which is one stage associated with high safety and health risks. The study utilizes both self-reports and observational methods as means to identify and assess MSDs risks in workers. A work sampling method, namely the posture, activity, tools, and handling (PATH) method, is adopted to characterize the MSD hazards. The outputs of the study will be documentation that presents the differences in the activities involved in erecting different types of formwork systems, high-risk body regions, and formwork activities, along with potential interventions for preventing MSDs. The results are likely to be of value for constructors when identifying effective intervention measures to lower MSD risk factors for workers, and for both designers and constructors when selecting safer and “healthier” formwork systems in the planning phase for concrete construction.

The overarching goal of this research is to advance the body of knowledge and make practical contributions to the integration of temporary structures with advanced technologies. Specifically, this research explores the identification of the desires and needs of adopting technologies in temporary structures, and the development of tools to improve the quality of temporary structures in the design and construction phases of a construction project. The present research contributes to the body of knowledge by identifying the needs and desires of using technologies in temporary structures, as well as the technology selection criteria and areas of improvement for temporary structures, and develops practical tools to improve the design and inspection quality of temporary structures.

In addition to lower speed, the difference in vehicle speed from the average speed has been identified as a factor in roadway crashes. However, for work zones, the problem is potentially magnified. Within a work zone, there is a higher potential for differences in vehicle speed due to the presence of tapers, construction vehicles (e.g., asphalt trucks) entering/exiting the roadway, temporary speed reductions, and other unforeseen construction operational impacts. The research focuses on variation in vehicle speed from the average speed in work zones. The research aims to confirm the need to address vehicle speed variation, identify means to minimize speed variation, and recommend ways in which ODOT can minimize and mitigate the effects of speed variation.

The overall goal of this research is to develop additional knowledge regarding the impact of using flashing lights of different color placed on construction equipment in work zones. Specifically, the study aims to measure the change in vehicle speed, if any, when flashing amber and white lights are placed on paving equipment compared to when flashing colored lights are not placed on equipment. The research focuses on high speed roadways and on typical nighttime, mobile paving operations that occur on such roadways. The study is intended to augment the prior blue lights study with data related to other light colors. The research aims to confirm whether use of the other light colors on construction equipment leads to lower vehicle speeds in work zones, and to recommend to ODOT whether the use of flashing lights is a potentially viable short-term safety treatment.

This research aims to further develop a new way of evaluating worker performance in the construction industry using the energy concept. Within the context of this research, “energy” is a property related to performing construction operations and can be defined as the feeling of stress, pressure, and being overwhelmed as a result of the factors, conditions, and resources that accompany the performance of the task. To develop the energy model, an initial conceptual model from previous research and literature review was used as a starting point. Constituents, components, and metrics were used to develop the energy model to evaluate worker performance on construction sites during a project and assess an ongoing project. The contributions of this research to knowledge are the validation and identification of the constituents, components, and metrics used for evaluating worker performance using the energy concept. The energy model contributes to evaluating worker performance in the construction industry based on the level of energy felt by the worker.

Sustainability is a balanced approach that must incorporate equal achievement of environmental stewardship, economic prosperity, and social equity. Previous research suggests that worker health and safety is an integral part of social sustainability. The aim of this research study is to assess and quantify occupational health and safety (OHS) risk associated with the construction, operation, and maintenance of sustainable projects across the U.S. construction industry and compares it with OHS risk encountered on conventional non-sustainable construction projects. The first part of the research involves conducting a detailed review of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, a third-party certification program used to certify green buildings, to evaluate the potential positive or negative impact of green design elements and construction practices associated with the implementation of LEED on the health and safety of construction and maintenance personnel. The second part of the research quantifies OHS risk associated with green design elements and construction practices. Finally, the third part of the research compares the risk encountered in sustainable construction with risk incurred in non-sustainable construction.

A worker’s decision whether and how to perform a construction operation is impacted by the worker’s evaluation of the risk associated in the operation in relation to the reward expected as a result of performing the operation. The goal of this research is to explore and model a worker’s perception of the risks and the rewards associated with performing construction operations. The research objectives include: (1) identifying and quantifying the items commonly viewed as rewards by construction workers; (2) evaluating the level of risk a worker is willing to take; and (3) developing a model that can be used to simulate the relationship between risk and reward for a worker performing a construction operation.

Selecting contractors based on safety performance can improve safety and reduce the risks of injuries. However, owners commonly choose contractors based on competitive bidding when the price and the schedule are the most important criteria. This basis for selection means that safety in not given as much importance as the other criteria. The lack of consideration of safety is due in part to the lack of resources and guidance for selecting contractors based on safety performance. This research study tries to fill this gap in practice by developing a tool that owners can use to choose contractors based on safety performance before awarding the project. To develop tool, a literature review and Delphi survey were used. The results from the literature review and Delphi survey revealed 10 indicators and 23 corresponding metrics for contractor safety selection criteria.The 10 indicators and 23 metrics were used to develop a decision-making tool that an owner can use to evaluate construction contractors before awarding the contract. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by revealing indicators and metrics for contractor safety selection criteria and developing a decision-making tool to use by an owner to select contractors based on safety performance. Using this tool will help owners select a safe contractor and therefore the contractor will deliver a safe project.

Current Research Projects

Recently Completed Projects (2020 - 2023 only)