How the COVID-19 Pandemic Changed Construction Work Life 284 views

The emergence of the COVID-19 virus led to a worldwide pandemic affecting virtually every industry. The construction industry was one of those that was impacted significantly and whose repercussions are still felt at present. Construction companies were forced to implement new technologies and strategies in order to combat these challenges induced by pandemic. The technical aspect of the paper discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the construction industry in the United States, with a specific focus on the construction of the Student Health and Wellness Center (SHWC) on Brandon Avenue. The pandemic caused issues with the supply chain, worker availability, and safety, leading to delays, increased costs, and reduced productivity. The paper explores the changes in construction methods and technologies that emerged in response to the pandemic and examines the potential for further technological innovations to minimize the impact of future global events on the industry. The technical aspect of the paper involves an analysis of data from the SHWC project to understand how the pandemic affected labor productivity. To address this issue, our team developed a prototype application to streamline communication and data for construction projects. The STS aspect of the paper examines the role of technological innovation in shaping the construction industry’s response to the pandemic. The research methods used were a literature review and interviews with various industry professionals. Using Actor Network Theory, the relationship between technology introduced during the pandemic and construction industry workers can be analyzed. I found that the employment status of the construction industry worker dictated the technological innovation’s effect on their well-being. Workers who had the opportunity of keeping their job during the pandemic were aided by the new technologies and strategies implemented. On the other hand, workers’ well-being of those who lost employment in the industry was negatively impacted. In concert with the technical aspect of the paper, these research topics are significant because both shed light on our responsibility of innovating technology in ways that improve individuals’ well-being.

BS (Bachelor of Science)

English

All rights reserved (no additional license for public reuse)

2023-05-08