Enhancing labour productivity in the Sri Lankan construction industry through computer vision

Abstract

Labour productivity is a crucial factor in the success of construction projects. However, Sri Lankan construction industry has been struggling to enhance labour productivity due to inadequate labour management, poor monitoring systems and safety-related problems. These various challenges have led to problems such as project delays and cost overruns, and poor site performance. Computer vision (CV) has been found to overcome these issues and enhance labour management in the construction industry. Additionally, CV can monitor the activities of labours, track activities, control behaviour, detect the location and identify objects continuously, which ultimately enhances the labour productivity. By automating data collection through cameras and AI models, site managers gain accurate insights into performance without disrupting workflows. It ensures transparency, accountability, and quick response to inefficiencies. This research study focuses on deploying CV to improve labour productivity in the Sri Lankan construction industry. This study was based on information gathered from 16 expert interviews involving construction professionals and IT specialists. The findings highlight CV applications in labour management and further present substantial possibilities to transform the construction industry through CV. Moreover, the study highlights real-time monitoring together with task optimization, safety improvement and workforce efficiency enhancement. Finally, this research provides CV applications and key stages as follows with a view to indicating appropriate decisions to make. Application of CV can assist in avoiding problems and identifying the best practices in the application of CV technologies in the Sri Lankan construction industry.