Evaluation of Construction Worker Perceptions of Wearable Proximity Sensors during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing was a critical measure to reduce the exposure risk. Restrictions pushed many work settings to develop out-of-the-box solutions to accommodate the requirements, such as contact tracing and 6-ft distances between workers. In response, the construction industry experimented with wearable proximity sensors to monitor worker distancing and tracking onsite. Before COVID-19, a significant amount of research was done on using wearable sensors at construction jobsites with different applications. However, the industry adoption of sensors has been very slow, even though proven improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of various construction tasks have been made, and the technology is mature enough to support robust wearable products. As an innovative application onsite, predictors of the technology adoption of proximity sensors have seldom been addressed. This paper describes a real-world case study at a large construction project (>$1 billion) in Richmond, Virginia, that deployed 1,200 wearable sensors to workers to collect proximity data during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research was conducted using Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) survey methods that incorporated social influences, perceived risks, and perceived privacy as external constructs to predict users’ adoption of proximity sensors. The proposed model was empirically evaluated using survey data collected from 138 fieldworkers. The study revealed that fieldworkers had a positive attitude toward wearing proximity sensors during the COVID-19 crisis, where ease of use and privacy concerns were crucial to their intention to adopt these devices. Additionally, social influence played a major role in shaping fieldworkers’ perceptions of the usefulness and ease of use of the device. This, in turn, impacted their willingness to adopt proximity sensors.