Leveraging Bluetooth Consumer Electronics as Proximity Sensors to Construction Health Hazards

Abstract

There are numerous hazards on construction sites. Significant research has focused on using advanced technologies to prevent collisions between moving construction equipment and workers. Relatively few studies have focused on advanced technologies to quantify worker exposure to long-term health hazards, such as noise, fumes, silica dust and other exposure hazards. One possible technology is wireless Bluetooth systems to quantify exposure risk. A series of tests was designed to investigate leveraging consumer Bluetooth enabled devices as a platform to determine the proximity of a construction worker to potential construction hazards. Bluetooth enabled devices were tested in controlled studies to determine the characteristics of the signal detection and signal strength. The controlled studies demonstrated the viability of estimating the distance between a Bluetooth receiver and emitting device. In a field test, the receiver system performed reasonably well and the system was able to determine when workers were within approximately 50 to 100 feet of the construction hazard. However, signal disruption between the emitter and the receiver due to obstructions was an issue. Based on this research, there is significant promise in utilizing Bluetooth to detect worker proximity to processes that represent exposure risks to long-term health hazards.