A Model for Adopting Metaverse Technologies for Enhanced Construction Safety Training and Implementation

The construction industry which is vital to the growth of the economy continues to grapple with safety challenges. The industry is notorious for its high-risk working environments, where accidents and injuries occur frequently. Towards curbing the accidents within the industry traditional safety methods have been proposed such as classroom sessions and on-site drills, which have limitations in terms of engagement and effectiveness. The limitations of the traditional methods also emanate from the limited realism, inadequate hands-on practice, and difficulty in scalability. Also, despite the adoption of traditional training methods accidents and injuries remain prevalent, necessitating innovative approaches to enhance safety training and practices.

The proposed PhD student would develop a model that supports the adoption of metaverse technology for enhanced construction safety. The student will also develop an immersive environment leveraging the technologies driven by the metaverse technology to develop an immersive environment for training and implementing construction safety. It is anticipated that in an immersive environment, these technologies can recreate construction sites, machinery operations, and hazardous conditions. Workers can step into these virtual or augmented worlds, allowing them to learn and practice safety procedures without exposing themselves to actual risks. The anticipated outcomes of this research hold promise for significantly reducing accidents on construction sites, addressing a longstanding challenge within the industry, and thereby meeting the United Nations sustainable development goals.

Academic qualifications

A first-class honours degree, or a distinction at master level, or equivalent achievements in Construction management, Real Estate, Quantity Surveying, and/or Architectural technology. 

English language requirement

If your first language is not English, comply with the University requirements for research degree programmes in terms of English language.

Application process

Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the supervisor, Dr. Temidayo Osunsanmi (T.Osunsanmi@napier.ac.uk) to discuss the content of the project and the fit with their qualifications and skills before preparing an application. 

The application must include: 

Research project outline of 2 pages (list of references excluded). The outline may provide details about

• Background and motivation, explaining the importance of the project, should be supported also by relevant literature. You can also discuss the applications you expect for the project results.
• Research questions or
• Methodology: types of data to be used, approach to data collection, and data analysis methods.
• List of references

The outline must be created solely by the applicant. Supervisors can only offer general discussions about the project idea without providing any additional support.

• Statement no longer than 1 page describing your motivations and fit with the project.
• Recent and complete curriculum vitae. The curriculum must include a declaration regarding the English language qualifications of the candidate.
• Supporting documents will have to be submitted by successful candidates.
• Two academic references (but if you have been out of education for more than three years, you may submit one academic and one professional reference), on the form can be downloaded here.

Applications can be submitted here.

Download a copy of the project details here.