Publications / 2024 Proceedings of the 41st ISARC, Lille, France
Recent data from the Federal Highway Administration highlights an alarming increase in fatal crashes in roadway work zones, underscoring the need for enhanced worker safety measures. This study addresses this concern by evaluating stress levels among roadway workers exposed to multi-sensory AR-assisted warnings during varying work intensities, using a high-fidelity Virtual Reality environment for simulation. Unlike previous studies that mainly concentrated on external factors, this study investigates the internal impact of these factors on workers. Our findings from 18 participants indicate significant physiological differences between light- and medium-intensity activities in terms of heart rate variability, mean heart rate, NN50, pNN50, and HF-HRV, though SCR peaks showed no considerable variation. The study's significant contributions include insights into higher stress levels in workers performing moderate-intensity tasks, aiding in the development of improved warning systems. Additionally, it offers valuable data for optimizing resource allocation in construction settings. Ultimately, this research bridges a gap and provides insights for future research on improving both safety and productivity in roadway work zones through informed stress management and effective hazard warning systems.