Influence of the Format of Engineering Information and Spatial Cognition on Craft-Worker Performance
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 142, Issue 9
Abstract
A series of field trials with pipefitters in North America was conducted to explore how their spatial cognition influenced their performance on a scale model assembly task. Participants were provided one of three information formats, traditional, two-dimensional (2D) isometric drawings, 2D isometric drawings supplemented with a 2D visual rendering of a three-dimensional (3D) image of the assembly, and 2D isometric drawings supplemented with a 3D physical model of the assembly. Card rotation and cube comparison tests were administered to measure spatial cognition. This paper’s primary contribution centers around the discovery that individual spatial cognition significantly influenced the pipefitter’s performance, but the format of information can neutralize the effect. Both the information format and spatial cognition significantly influenced performance. When only 2D information was provided, participants with relatively low spatial cognition performed significantly worse than participants with relatively higher spatial cognition. When the 2D isometric drawings were supplemented with 3D information, participants with lower spatial cognition were able to complete the model assembly as efficiently and effectively as participants with higher spatial cognition.
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Acknowledgments
Financial and in-kind support for these research efforts were provided through multiple sources. A Construction Industry Institute (CII) grant under CII RT-327 Innovative Delivery Methods of Information to the Crafts made the field trials and data collection possible. CII’s financial and in-kind support of its member companies is gratefully acknowledged. The research also acknowledges the financial support from the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Higher Education through Taibah University. Finally, the research was made possible through financial support through the Nicholas R. Petry Endowment in the Construction, Engineering, and Management program at the University of Colorado Boulder. Any opinions, findings, and recommendations expressed in this paper are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the supporting agencies.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 142 • Issue 9 • September 2016
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 13, 2015
Accepted: Jan 22, 2016
Published online: Mar 24, 2016
Discussion open until: Aug 24, 2016
Published in print: Sep 1, 2016
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