Exploring Cost Factors hindering Augmented Reality Adoption for Construction Worker Protection

This paper seeks to identify cost factors associated with implementing augmented reality (AR) in construction worker protection in South Africa and explore strategies to enhance cost-effectiveness and affordability of AR Implementation in South African construction industry. The paper highlights the need for comprehensive cost-benefit analyses to assess AR's long-term financial impact. Some studies suggest that AR could reduce accidents and increase productivity over time, offsetting the initial investment. However, these benefits are speculative and require robust empirical support. Worker protection remains a paramount concern in the construction industry, characterized by dynamic work environments fraught with inherent risks and hazards. Despite the recognized benefits of AR technology in enhancing safety, its widespread adoption in construction has been hindered by various challenges, chief among them being cost factors. The decision to adopt AR solutions entails substantial financial investments encompassing initial acquisition costs, implementation expenses, and ongoing maintenance expenditures, which can pose significant barriers for construction firms, particularly smaller enterprises with limited resources. This study employed a systematic literature review approach to identify and analyse cost factors hindering the adoption of Augmented Reality (AR) for construction worker protection. The study found that cost is identified as a significant barrier to the effective deployment of digital technologies in the VM process in construction, including the high cost of acquiring and maintaining these technologies. In conclusion, creating awareness among VM experts and gaining client financial support are highlighted as important factors in overcoming cost-related challenges. The paper has identified specific cost factors associated with implementing augmented reality technology for construction worker protection in South Africa, including initial investment costs, maintenance expenses, and operational expenditures. It has also identified strategies that can be employed to enhance the cost-effectiveness and affordability of implementing augmented reality technology for construction worker protection in South Africa, considering the cost factors.