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.

This research study extends current knowledge to further explore means to identify, assess, and affect the safety leadership skills and risk-taking propensity of frontline supervisors in the construction industry. Specifically, the goal of the research study is to determine how those in frontline supervisory roles can positively influence safety through effective leadership skills and by modelling good safety behaviors and an appropriate level of risk tolerance. In addition, the research aims to identify ways in which construction organizations can confidently assess these attributes in employees being considered for promotion to frontline supervisory roles.

This Phase II research extends the findings of Phase I to investigate specific PtD-enhancing field resources that incorporate PtD principles, physical energy, and mental workload. The proposed research explores tools and practices that support risk management and enable the effective design of safe construction work operations during pre-construction planning. The study takes an experimental approach to document the efficacy and value of selected tools and practices and develop guidance for their effective implementation. It is envisioned that the study will lead to a protocol for their implementation in practice and ultimately facilitate a culture of safe design within construction firms when planning and scheduling work operations.

This research study seeks to fulfill the need for a work zone intrusion prediction model to allow for minimizing the chance of intrusions through proactive work zone design and planning. The research project fulfills this goal through the pursuit of two specific objectives: (1) Determine the frequency and characteristics of work zone intrusions and resulting crashes, fatalities, and injuries; and (2) Develop a tool based on predictive models and methods to estimate the likelihood of work zone intrusions and, therefore, improve work zone safety management and decision-making.

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.

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.

This research involves an investigation of last-minute changes in construction and how they can be mitigated through the use of technology, specifically proximity alert systems for heavy equipment. The research explores the relationship between last-minute changes and injury, fatality, and near-miss incidents, and proposes an protocol for adopting technologies to mitigate the safety impacts of last-minute changes.

The aim of this research study is to develop a model for judging whether a construction project is suitable for modularization. It is hypothesized that an AI-based deep learning model will enable effectively determining when and how a project should be modularized. The objectives of the study are to determine the required data set, develop the rules on which the model should be built, and train and verify the model for accuracy.

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 goal of this research study is to advance the understanding and application of project management principles in the life cycle management of temporary structures in construction. The study focuses on the development and integration of practical and innovative knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to enhance safety, quality, environment, planning, and field execution effectiveness in construction.

The goal of this research study is to design and test the Pre-Armor Resilience Index (PARI) as a systematic approach to constructing a resilence index for construction projects at the pre-armor phase. The study includes developing the PARI model and validating the PARI model through multiple research approaches including a Delphi study, incident data analysses, worker interviews, laboratory experiment, and onsite observations.

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.

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 goal of this study is to investigate how PtD can be applied to create safe work processes, and document the influence of PtD on the design of construction work processes and the corresponding safety risk associated with the work processes. The overall proposition to be investigated is that the application of the PtD concept and practices during design of the construction process will ultimately result in a safer project. Consistent with the CSRA mission, the research will focus on minimizing the risk of serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs) on construction projects. Hence, the study will examine whether and how PtD-influenced work processes affect the risk of a SIF occurring during execution of the work process.

This research project aims to determine how to integrate high energy control assessments (HECA) into safety by design (SbD) practices during the design of electric power facilities and infrastructure. The overall proposition to be investigated is that the application of HECA during design can help enhance SbD practice, eliminate worksite hazards caused by the design, and ultimately improve safety during downstream lifecycle phases of the facility and infrastructure.

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

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.

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.

Current Research Projects

Recently Completed Projects (2023 - 2025 only)