Factors Preventing Construction Management from Adopting Wearable Sensing Devices in Construction Safety

Sensing technologies demonstrate promising potential in improving construction safety. The current research efforts focus on the sensing technologies development, yet these technologies are not implemented or are in the initial stages of adoption in the construction sector. This paper aims to understand the constructs that prevent decision-makers from adopting these technologies to enhance the safety of field labor. A modified unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) was developed to study the barriers commonly found within technology adoption in the construction industry. The model addressed the perceived performance expectancy, perceived effort expectancy, openness to data utilization, social influence, data security, and facilitating conditions. A closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect the study data. The study found that an association was found between behavioral intent to implement a biometric wearable sensing device and perceived performance expectancy, openness to data utilization, and the social influence of the client.