A Systematic Review of Technological Applications, Challenges, and Opportunities in Work Zone Safety Management

Work zones present unique challenges for traffic regulation and safety management. Highway infrastructure demand is escalating in the United States, leading to an increase in work zones, with thousands of crashes, injuries, and fatalities recorded annually. Traditional safety management systems often fall short in addressing the complexities of dynamic work zone settings. Given the growing body of research on technological applications for safety management in work zones, a comprehensive systematic review that synthesizes insights from previous studies is essential to guide future research, support evidence-based policy decisions, and identify practical implementation gaps. This study systematically reviews 189 peer-reviewed publications from 2000 to 2025, categorizes and critically examines current technology applications in work zone safety, and, using thematic analysis, identifies four dominant research themes: traffic control, safety monitoring, driving behavior assessment, and risk assessment. Advanced systems, such as vision-based and sensor-based hazard detection, connected vehicles, intrusion detection, simulators, and predictive analytics, are also applied across multiple themes but are less mature in deployment. Despite the proliferation of technology solutions, key challenges hinder widespread adoption. These include the limited availability of high-quality, diverse datasets; persistent false alarms and environmental interferences; concerns over data privacy and ownership; and the absence of standardized regulatory frameworks. Future opportunities should focus on integrating AI, computer vision, and real-time data fusion to develop scalable, robust, and adaptable automated safety systems. Advancing these technologies and overcoming current limitations are critical steps toward improving effectiveness, adaptability, and overall impact of work zone safety management strategies.