An Australia-first study has tested the effectiveness of training delivered using virtual reality (VR) for construction worker training.

Researchers tested the outcomes from a ‘Working safely at heights’ course delivered via a custom-built VR simulation and compared these with the same training delivered via traditional means.

“Technological advances are changing the face of all industries, and construction is no different,” CSQ chief executive officer Brett Schimming says.

“Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) is interested in understanding how these changes may flow through, both to new skill requirements and new approaches to the delivery of training.

“The outcomes of the study provide an interesting case for training providers to further investigate emerging training technologies. CSQ will be keenly watching the commercial response to the research from here.”

The three-year project involved a partnership of leading researchers from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), CSQ and Next World Enterprise, with support from several registered training operators.

QUT lead researcher and associate professor Kate Thompson says the study returned some interesting insights about VR training in a construction setting as it did not rely on previous experience with VR.

“Around 60% of the VR trainees had never used the technology before but this VR experience provided them with a safe environment to learn in their own time,” Kate says.

“They could practise skills as many times as they liked before progressing to the next stage.

“It is a really exciting area to be researching as not all VR training environments are the same.”

The study showed VR training outcomes were comparable with traditional training for most questions when tested directly after training, with traditional training moderately more effective. However, in a re-test after one month, retained learnings through VR were comparable with retained learnings from face-to-face training.

“The use of VR has proven to be a successful vehicle for us as an engagement tool where our goal is to pique the interest of students in learning more about construction careers,” Brett says.

“Safety will remain paramount in all construction training conversations including considering the introduction of VR into the current training industry.”