Impact of Safety Technologies on Safety Performance Indicators for Risk Reduction in the Construction Industry: A Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM) Approach

10.22034/cpj.2026.584813.1444

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 08 June 2026

Document Type : Research Article

Author

b M.Sc. in Project and Construction Management, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University

Abstract
Despite advances in digital technologies, safety management in the construction industry remains challenged by persistent difficulties in risk control and mitigation. This study aims to systematically evaluate how the benefits of safety technologies influence safety performance indicators in construction projects. Based on the literature and expert judgment, 14 key benefits of safety technologies and 15 safety performance indicators were identified and modeled through static and dynamic Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM). The results show that the impacts of safety technology benefits are uneven across performance indicators. Documentation- and reporting-related benefits, including improved accident investigation, injury reporting, and near-miss reporting, exerted the strongest indirect effects and formed the most influential positive feedback loops. In contrast, advanced technologies such as BIM and VR/AR showed comparatively lower effectiveness, mainly due to infrastructural constraints. Among the indicators, those related to training, planning, and inspection experienced the greatest improvement, while culture-related indicators responded more slowly. The dynamic analysis further revealed that the combined-benefit scenario provides the fastest route toward system convergence and risk reduction. The findings highlight that prioritizing low-cost, accessible, and data-driven technologies can serve as an effective strategy for enhancing safety performance in infrastructure-constrained contexts. This study contributes data-driven insights for technology investment prioritization and supports the transition of the construction industry from reactive safety management toward proactive and learning-oriented systems.

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Subjects
  • Receive Date 03 June 2026
  • Revise Date 06 June 2026
  • Accept Date 08 June 2026
  • First Publish Date 08 June 2026
  • Publish Date 08 June 2026