Structr combines AI-powered cameras mounted on construction helmets with bone conduction technology to detect and alert workers of hazards, while enabling hands-free communication and safety monitoring through a management app. The system addresses the high rate of construction accidents by proactively warning workers of dangers.
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Discovery
Problem
The employees at construction sites have to work in more dangerous environments than any other industry. They face various types of danger on a daily basis, and on top of that, they face language barriers, which lead to miscommunication and only add to the danger.
Research
Secondary Research
We wanted to understand how severe and common the problem was. Make sure we understand the industry in general before getting into details in each construction sites.
20% fatal work injuries occurring on construction sites
31% of injuries in construction are due to falls, slips, and trips
33.3% of projects fail due to poor communication in construction site
The statistics were collected through organizations such as OSHA and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which are organizations that oversee the construction industry in the United States.
Safety Not Priority
The construction sites prioritized the time over the safety. The workers would cut the steps in order to finish the work in time.
Momentary Hazards
Most of the injuries happen due to fall, slip and a hit, which are incidents that happen momentarily at anytime.
Communication Gap
In United States, significant amount of construction workers are workers who cannot speak an English, which causes the communication gap.
We could easily suspect that these three are the main reason that makes the work environment dangerous.
Research
Expert Interview
We reached out to experts at the management level because they could provide unique insights into both the daily workplace culture and the formal safety regulations at construction sites, helping us understand how these factors contribute to workplace accidents.
Chad
Ford + BMW
24 years
Issac
Hyundai
12 years
Joey
Disney Inc.
12 years
Research
Insights
New Age Safety
Construction companies are prioritizing worker safety by ensuring proper equipment usage and maintenance.
Bodget Allocation
A 3-5% budget allocation covers all safety measures including equipment, training, and site security.
Translation Demand
Language barriers among diverse workers create safety concerns, driving increased demand for translation services.
Ideation
Selected AI
Computer Vision
The helmet device uses Computer Vision AI to detect hazards in real time, providing 360-degree coverage and automated, context-aware alerts. This ensures accurate and comprehensive safety for construction workers.
Natural Language Processing
NLP AI ensures hazard alerts are clear, relevant, and actionable by analyzing and contextualizing detected risks. It translates complex data into concise voice commands, making it ideal for effective communication in high-risk environments.
Voice Synthesis
Voice Synthesis AI provides real-time, audible alerts, ensuring workers are instantly aware of hazards. It converts data into clear speech, allowing hands-free communication in noisy environments, making it ideal for delivering timely and actionable warnings.
Ideation
Branding
Ideation
Physical Product Development
Initially, we designed the product to sit on top of the helmet for a unique look but later opted for a wraparound design for safety and durability. A top-mounted device could cause the nail effect, increasing danger, and would be harder to sustain if objects fell on it.
Ideation
Digital Product Development
The lo-fi design prioritized intuitiveness and boldness, ensuring visibility in all weather conditions by using simple and high-contrast elements. In contrast, the big bento design relies on sunlight for visibility, making it less effective in low-light or adverse weather.
Final Design
NEXSTEP 1
Nexstep one is named to not overlap any of the words that is used in the site to reduce the confusion while communicating. Nexstep one focuses easy installation and an intuitive design to ensure quick setup and user-friendliness. The flexible wire of the bone conduction headphones adapts to any head shape or size, providing comfort and versatility. Its robust construction withstands harsh weather to ensure durability, while the design allows devices and cameras to achieve 360-degree visibility for full access to AIs.
Final Design
Hi-Fi
The screens use high-contrast colors for visibility in sunlight, ensuring usability in outdoor construction settings. Designed for tablets commonly used by managers, with large, intuitive buttons, they enable quick and efficient interaction, even with thick gloves, improving on-site task management.
Tablet
Final Design
Vision
STRUCTR is a hands-free construction solution powered by AI vision. Bone conduction headphones enable open-ear telecommunication, ensuring workers stay aware of their surroundings. Additionally, the management app helps locate workers during emergencies and offers an intuitive scheduling feature for project oversight. We firmly believe STRUCTR will save countless lives while advancing construction technology worldwide.
