Developing and testing a 3D video game for construction safety education

Construction safety education has mostly relied on one-way transference of knowledge from instructors to students through traditional lectures and media such as textbooks. However, we argue that safety knowledge could be more effectively acquired in experiential situations. The authors have developed a 3D video game where students learn by themselves about safety issues in a virtual construction site. Students, who assume the roles of safety inspectors in the game, explore a virtual site to identify potential hazards and learn from the feedback provided by the game as a result of their input. This paper reports on the game design and development process as well as a preliminary assessment of the game's effectiveness. The preliminary assessment was conducted on five students and the results suggested a positive outlook as well as areas for improvement. Further work to improve the game includes incorporating additional violation scenarios, adding new game features to enrich the game experience, and providing enhanced pedagogical opportunities.