A VR training system for learning and skills development for construction workers
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
A VR training system for learning and skills development for construction workers Francesco Osti1 · Raffaele de Amicis2 · Christopher A. Sanchez3 · Azara Betony Tilt4 · Eric Prather2 · Alfredo Liverani1 Received: 5 January 2020 / Accepted: 8 September 2020 © Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract There is a looming shortage of well-trained professionals in the wood construction workforce. To challenge this shortage, we developed a simulated learning environment that leverages a novel Virtual Reality (VR) system to train novice workers in wooden wall construction. A comprehensive task analysis was first used to best identify training requirements. Then, a virtual building site was modeled and a 3D video tutorial was implemented using a VR Head-Mounted Display (HMD). To evaluate the effectiveness of this tool, participants who learned via the VR training tool were compared with participants who instead only had simple 2-D instructional video training. VR training resulted in better retention, task performance, learning speed, and engagement than the video training counterpart, maintaining system usability. This demonstrates that VR is a viable training tool for the construction sector and can produce benefits beyond those of traditional video training. Keywords Virtual reality · Human-computer interaction · Workforce development · Virtual training
1 Introduction Wooden Light–Frame (WLF) structures offer flexible design possibilities for civil engineering applications in North America. These flexible assembly procedures rely on a blend of standardized technical knowledge and welldeveloped best practices to guarantee high quality and low operation times. However, despite the fact that the construction industry will be one of the largest growing sectors by 2026 (U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2018), within the next few years the construction sector will encounter a significant reduction of the expert workforce. The pending retirement of the “baby-boomer” generation that currently anchors the construction field poses * Raffaele de Amicis [email protected] 1
School of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering (DIN), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
2
School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
3
School of Psychological Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
4
School of Mechanical Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
an especially pressing problem (McGraw-Hill Construction 2012). To address this imminent shortage of expert workers, new teaching techniques must be implemented to create and foster the next generation of construction workers. The purpose of the current research is to design, develop, and evaluate a virtual reality (VR) learning environment that can measurably improve novices’ understanding of the installation and construction of WLF structures. With the help of experts in the fields of construction, train
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