As sensing technologies such as inertial measurement units (IMUs) become integrated into construction practices, the industry faces a growing demand for a skilled workforce capable of effectively implementing these technologies. Central to preparing this future workforce is the development of a strong professional identity, where students think, act, and feel like construction professionals. A strong professional identity can help students internalize the values, skills, and mindsets of practicing professionals. While prior research has explored general pathways of professional identity development, little is known about how such identities are shaped within the context of emerging sensing technologies. This study seeks to address this gap by investigating the experiences and identity practices of 10 construction professionals who regularly implement IMU on construction sites. Semi-structured interviews revealed key themes that define how these professionals engage with sensing systems, including factors influencing the use, critical implementation steps, and resources involved. The findings indicate that the professional practices of IMU implementation are influenced by contextual factors, including project demands, schedules, site conditions, and client expectations, while worker trust, consent, and acceptance are crucial to the successful implementation. However, worker acceptance can be strongly influenced by the physical comfort, wearability, and organizational measures such as adequate training, transparent communication of data use, and assurances of privacy protection. By revealing these professional practices, this study contributes to understanding how authentic professional experiences can be translated into construction education, contributing to building a resilient, tech-savvy construction workforce equipped with a strong sense of professional identity to drive innovation.

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Shaping Construction Engineering and Management Students’ Professional Identity Through Industry Practices with IMU Sensing Systems

  • Mariam Tomori,
  • Omobolanle Ogunseiju,
  • Joshua Nsiah Addo Ofori

摘要

As sensing technologies such as inertial measurement units (IMUs) become integrated into construction practices, the industry faces a growing demand for a skilled workforce capable of effectively implementing these technologies. Central to preparing this future workforce is the development of a strong professional identity, where students think, act, and feel like construction professionals. A strong professional identity can help students internalize the values, skills, and mindsets of practicing professionals. While prior research has explored general pathways of professional identity development, little is known about how such identities are shaped within the context of emerging sensing technologies. This study seeks to address this gap by investigating the experiences and identity practices of 10 construction professionals who regularly implement IMU on construction sites. Semi-structured interviews revealed key themes that define how these professionals engage with sensing systems, including factors influencing the use, critical implementation steps, and resources involved. The findings indicate that the professional practices of IMU implementation are influenced by contextual factors, including project demands, schedules, site conditions, and client expectations, while worker trust, consent, and acceptance are crucial to the successful implementation. However, worker acceptance can be strongly influenced by the physical comfort, wearability, and organizational measures such as adequate training, transparent communication of data use, and assurances of privacy protection. By revealing these professional practices, this study contributes to understanding how authentic professional experiences can be translated into construction education, contributing to building a resilient, tech-savvy construction workforce equipped with a strong sense of professional identity to drive innovation.