Exploring Barriers to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Technology for Construction Safety Management Using Mixed-Methods Approach
Construction safety is critical, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have emerged as a transformative tool to enhance safety management in the sector. While UAVs are widely recognized for their efficacy, limited research has specifically addressed the barriers to their integration into construction...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/12/2092 |
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| author | Atul Kumar Singh Saeed Reza Mohandes Sabih Hashim Muhodir Wanqing Zhang Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari Pshtiwan Shakor |
| author_facet | Atul Kumar Singh Saeed Reza Mohandes Sabih Hashim Muhodir Wanqing Zhang Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari Pshtiwan Shakor |
| author_sort | Atul Kumar Singh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Construction safety is critical, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have emerged as a transformative tool to enhance safety management in the sector. While UAVs are widely recognized for their efficacy, limited research has specifically addressed the barriers to their integration into construction safety management systems. This study aims to identify, prioritize, and analyze the interrelationships among these barriers to aid in their effective resolution. Using a mixed-methods approach, this research combines a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify barriers and a questionnaire survey to prioritize and examine their interconnections. The findings reveal significant barriers, including restricted airspace, inadequate safety regulations, limited flight durations, collision risks, insufficient piloting skills, lack of UAV awareness, resistance to new technologies, human errors, training needs, and legal constraints. Restricted airspace emerged as the most critical barrier, strongly linked to flight duration limitations and piloting proficiency. This study also highlights regional disparities: respondents from developed nations emphasized collision risks, legal restrictions, and resistance to new technologies, while those from developing countries focused on restricted areas, limited flight time, and piloting expertise. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing region-specific challenges and tailoring strategies to facilitate UAV integration, paving the way for safer and more efficient construction practices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d2d25b1a079d4c4094caadb59982e1f1 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-d2d25b1a079d4c4094caadb59982e1f12025-06-25T13:36:06ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-06-011512209210.3390/buildings15122092Exploring Barriers to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Technology for Construction Safety Management Using Mixed-Methods ApproachAtul Kumar Singh0Saeed Reza Mohandes1Sabih Hashim Muhodir2Wanqing Zhang3Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari4Pshtiwan Shakor5Department of Civil Engineering, Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, Bengaluru 560011, Karnataka, IndiaDepartment of Civil Engineering and Management, School of Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UKDepartment of Architectural Engineering, Cihan University-Erbil, Erbil 44001, IraqDepartment of Civil Engineering and Management, School of Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UKDepartment of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UKCivil Engineering Department, Al-Qalam University College, Kirkuk 36001, IraqConstruction safety is critical, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have emerged as a transformative tool to enhance safety management in the sector. While UAVs are widely recognized for their efficacy, limited research has specifically addressed the barriers to their integration into construction safety management systems. This study aims to identify, prioritize, and analyze the interrelationships among these barriers to aid in their effective resolution. Using a mixed-methods approach, this research combines a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify barriers and a questionnaire survey to prioritize and examine their interconnections. The findings reveal significant barriers, including restricted airspace, inadequate safety regulations, limited flight durations, collision risks, insufficient piloting skills, lack of UAV awareness, resistance to new technologies, human errors, training needs, and legal constraints. Restricted airspace emerged as the most critical barrier, strongly linked to flight duration limitations and piloting proficiency. This study also highlights regional disparities: respondents from developed nations emphasized collision risks, legal restrictions, and resistance to new technologies, while those from developing countries focused on restricted areas, limited flight time, and piloting expertise. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing region-specific challenges and tailoring strategies to facilitate UAV integration, paving the way for safer and more efficient construction practices.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/12/2092barriersunmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)construction safety managementsystematic literature reviewmixed-methods approach |
| spellingShingle | Atul Kumar Singh Saeed Reza Mohandes Sabih Hashim Muhodir Wanqing Zhang Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari Pshtiwan Shakor Exploring Barriers to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Technology for Construction Safety Management Using Mixed-Methods Approach Buildings barriers unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) construction safety management systematic literature review mixed-methods approach |
| title | Exploring Barriers to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Technology for Construction Safety Management Using Mixed-Methods Approach |
| title_full | Exploring Barriers to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Technology for Construction Safety Management Using Mixed-Methods Approach |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Barriers to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Technology for Construction Safety Management Using Mixed-Methods Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Barriers to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Technology for Construction Safety Management Using Mixed-Methods Approach |
| title_short | Exploring Barriers to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Technology for Construction Safety Management Using Mixed-Methods Approach |
| title_sort | exploring barriers to unmanned aerial vehicle uav technology for construction safety management using mixed methods approach |
| topic | barriers unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) construction safety management systematic literature review mixed-methods approach |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/12/2092 |
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