Ontology-Based Framework for Enhancing Safety in Earthmoving Operations: A Socio-Technical System Approach in the Industry 4.0 Era

Nazi Soltanmohammadlou^1,2, Carol K. H. Hon^1,2, Robin Drogemuller^1,2

1. Building 4.0 CRC
2. Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

Published in Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024), edited by Ali GhaffarianHoseini, Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini, Farzad Rahimian and Mahesh Babu Purushothaman. Springer Nature, Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, volume 591, 2025, pages 1207 to 1216. DOI 10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_115.

Abstract

Earthmoving operations are complex environments that involve interactions between equipment and humans in the construction process. In the fourth industrial revolution, new technologies such as digitalization, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things have fundamentally transformed how these elements interact, profoundly impacting worker safety and operational dynamics. This paper aims to establish a framework that focuses on the interactions among key entities in earthmoving operations, such as humans, equipment, and technologies, enhancing the socio-technical aspects of these operations. The analysis phase utilized NVIVO 14 for word frequency analysis on selected publications, verifying their classification. Full texts of articles from primary clusters—Human, Equipment, Human-Equipment, Equipment-Equipment, and Equipment-Infrastructure—were retrieved to enable detailed examination. Findings reveal that implementing advanced technologies—such as VR/AR training, AI-enhanced monitoring, and real-time locating systems—significantly improves safety in earthmoving operations by reducing human errors, preventing collisions, and enhancing equipment maintenance through better situational awareness and addressing operator fatigue. This paper contributes to shedding light on human and organizational factors for further research and highlighting the effectiveness of Industry 4.0 technologies in the safety management of humans and equipment in earthmoving operations.

Keywords

Session

Presented in Track B, Friday 8 November 2024, 11:00 to 13:00, room WA 224 B, Auckland University of Technology. Session chair Assoc. Prof. Pernille Christensen.

How to Cite

Soltanmohammadlou, N., Hon, C. K. H., & Drogemuller, R. (2025). Ontology-Based Framework for Enhancing Safety in Earthmoving Operations: A Socio-Technical System Approach in the Industry 4.0 Era. In A. GhaffarianHoseini, A. GhaffarianHoseini, F. Rahimian, & M. B. Purushothaman (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024) (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, Vol. 591, pp. 1207–1216). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_115

About the Conference

Presented at SASBE 2024, the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, held in Auckland from 7 to 9 November 2024 and chaired by Professors Ali and Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini, founders of GDI Academy. The version of record is published by Springer Nature; this page is the conference archive record kept by GDI Academy.