Digital Twin-Based Heat Stress Monitoring System in Construction
Publication: Computing in Civil Engineering 2023
ABSTRACT
Construction work exposes workers to high levels of heat, which poses significant risks to their occupational health. In order to mitigate these risks, it is crucial to have a thorough understanding of the heat exposure that workers face. This study proposes a novel framework that leverages the combination of UAV photogrammetry and microclimate simulation to address the previously overlooked risks associated with heat radiation at construction sites. A case study was conducted in College Station, TX, in July 2022, to validate the effectiveness of the proposed framework. The results emphasize the significance of monitoring site-scale radiant heat-induced risks, while conventional indicators like air temperature and heat index do not fully capture the complexities and hazards posed by heat radiation in construction environments.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this chapter.
REFERENCES
Acharya, P., B. Boggess, and K. Zhang. (2018). “Assessing Heat Stress and Health among Construction Workers in a Changing Climate: A Review.” IJERPH, 15 (2): 247.
Chan, A. P. C., M. C. H. Yam, J. W. Y. Chung, and W. Yi. (2012). “Developing a heat stress model for construction workers.” Journal of Facilities Management, 10 (1): 59–74.
Chen, L., B. Yu, F. Yang, and H. Mayer. (2016). “Intra-urban differences of mean radiant temperature in different urban settings in Shanghai and implications for heat stress under heat waves: A GIS-based approach.” Energy and Buildings, 130: 829–842.
Dong, X. S., G. H. West, A. Holloway‐Beth, X. Wang, and R. K. Sokas. (2019). “Heat‐related deaths among construction workers in the United States.” Am J Ind Med, 62 (12): 1047–1057.
Fang, Z., T. Tang, Z. Zheng, X. Zhou, W. Liu, and Y. Zhang. (2021). “Thermal responses of workers during summer: An outdoor investigation of construction sites in South China.” Sustainable Cities and Society, 66: 102705.
Huang, J., Y. Chen, P. Jones, and T. Hao. (2022). “Heat stress and outdoor activities in open spaces of public housing estates in Hong Kong: A perspective of the elderly community.” Indoor and Built Environment, 31 (6): 1447–1463.
Jacklitsch, B., W. J. Williams, K. Musolin, A. Coca, J.-H. Kim, and N. Turner. (2016). Occupational exposure to heat and hot environments. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Criteria for a Recommended Standard.
Kántor, N., and J. Unger. (2011). “The most problematic variable in the course of human-biometeorological comfort assessment — the mean radiant temperature.” Open Geosciences, 3 (1): 90–100.
Lai, D., D. Guo, Y. Hou, C. Lin, and Q. Chen. (2014). “Studies of outdoor thermal comfort in northern China.” Building and Environment, 77: 110–118.
Lau, K. K.-L., C. Ren, J. Ho, and E. Ng. (2016). “Numerical modelling of mean radiant temperature in high-density sub-tropical urban environment.” Energy and Buildings, 114: 80–86.
Lindberg, F., and C. S. B. Grimmond. (2011). “The influence of vegetation and building morphology on shadow patterns and mean radiant temperatures in urban areas: model development and evaluation.” Theor Appl Climatol, 105 (3–4): 311–323.
Lindberg, F., B. Holmer, and S. Thorsson. (2008). “SOLWEIG 1.0 – Modelling spatial variations of 3D radiant fluxes and mean radiant temperature in complex urban settings.” Int J Biometeorol, 52 (7): 697–713.
Lindberg, F., S. Onomura, and C. S. B. Grimmond. (2016). “Influence of ground surface characteristics on the mean radiant temperature in urban areas.” Int J Biometeorol, 60 (9): 1439–1452.
Stull, R. (2011). “Wet-Bulb Temperature from Relative Humidity and Air Temperature.” Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 50 (11): 2267–2269.
Szer, I., T. Lipecki, J. Szer, and K. Czarnocki. (2022). “Using meteorological data to estimate heat stress of construction workers on scaffolds for improved safety standards.” Automation in Construction, 134: 104079.
Wong, D. P., J. W. Chung, A. P. Chan, F. K. Wong, and W. Yi. (2014). “Comparing the physiological and perceptual responses of construction workers (bar benders and bar fixers) in a hot environment.” Applied Ergonomics, 45 (6): 1705–1711.
Yi, W., A. P. C. Chan, X. Wang, and J. Wang. (2016). “Development of an early-warning system for site work in hot and humid environments: A case study.” Automation in Construction, 62: 101–113.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Computing in Civil Engineering 2023
Pages: 664 - 671
History
Published online: Jan 25, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Air temperature
- Business management
- Case studies
- Chemical processes
- Chemistry
- Construction engineering
- Construction management
- Construction sites
- Employment
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering mechanics
- Environmental engineering
- Health hazards
- Labor
- Methodology (by type)
- Mitigation and remediation
- Occupational safety
- Personnel management
- Practice and Profession
- Public administration
- Public health and safety
- Radiation
- Research methods (by type)
- Safety
- Temperature (by type)
- Thermal properties
- Thermodynamics
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.