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With rising interest in innovative construction methodologies, global construction companies are actively exploring emerging sensing technologies and employing data analytics techniques to draw insights and improve their operations. While numerous educational disciplines employ Block-based Programming Interfaces to enhance domain-specific data-related inquiry and visualization skills, the construction sector has yet to fully explore this practical approach. Introducing block interfaces in construction education may overwhelm newcomers with excessive cognitive load. Past research has primarily relied on subjective measures, overlooking objective indicators for assessing cognitive responses to block interfaces’ interaction elements. This study evaluates the cognitive load induced using InerSens, a Block Programming Interface designed to address authentic construction challenges in ergonomic risk assessment. Electroencephalography is utilized to measure cognitive load, and the results are compared to those of a traditional tool, Excel. Theta Power Spectral Density in the frontal brain region, an indicator of cognitive load, demonstrates that in four out of six tasks, InerSens incurs lower cognitive load than Excel. The findings of this study underscore the potential of InerSens as a viable tool in managing cognitive load efficiency, paving the way for more effective and streamlined sensor data analytics learning experiences for future construction professionals.
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This content will become publicly available on January 1, 2026
Design and Usability Evaluation of an End User Programming Environment for Equipping Construction Students with Sensor Data Analytics Skills
Classification of construction resource states, using sensor data analytics, has implications for improving informed decision-making for safety and productivity. However, training on sensor data analytics in construction education faces challenges owing to the complexity of analytical processes and the large stream of raw data involved. This research presents the development and user evaluation of ActionSens, a block-based end-user programming platform, for training students from construction-related disciplines to classify resources using sensor data analytics. ActionSens was designed for construction students to perform sensor data analytics such as activity recognition in construction. ActionSens was compared to traditional tools (i.e., combining Excel and MATLAB) used for performing sensor data analytics in terms of usability, workload, visual attention, and processing time using the System Usability Scale, NASA Task Load Index, eye-tracking, and qualitative feedback. Twenty students participated, performing data analytics tasks with both approaches. ActionSens exhibited a better user experience compared to conventional platforms, through higher usability scores and lower cognitive workload. This was evident through participants' interaction behavior, showcasing optimized attentional resource allocation across key tasks. The study contributes to knowledge by illustrating how the integration of construction domain information into block-based programming environments can equip students with the necessary skills for sensor data analytics. The development of ActionSens contributes to the Learning-for-Use framework by employing graphical and interactive programming objects to foster procedural knowledge for addressing challenges in sensor data analytics. The formative evaluation provides insights into how students engage with the programming environment and assesses the impact of the environment on their cognitive load.
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- PAR ID:
- 10625031
- Publisher / Repository:
- Journal of Information Technology in Construction
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Information Technology in Construction
- Volume:
- 30
- ISSN:
- 1874-4753
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 213 to 242
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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