Knowledge-based collaborative design decision framework for construction safety

Building designers are confronted with the challenge to address construction safety in the design phase, because they are normally short of related safety knowledge and on-site experiences like construction professionals. Available approaches to design for construction safety are incapable of assisting designers to make construction safety design decisions. Targeting this problem, the paper identified technological possibilities and emphasised builders' creative contributions to support designers' work through collaboration. Based on these discussions, a knowledge-based collaborative design decision framework is proposed to take advantage of a computerized safety design knowledge base, building information modelling (BIM), and server-client application mode to enable geographically dispersed designers and builders to perform collaborative design decision. Applying such an ICT solution, designers are expected to adopt safety design considerations into their design practices upstream while builders can examine these considerations downstream. The development of this system anticipates improving construction safety design before projects start.