Utilization of Virtual Reality for Evaluating Work Environment Factors for Construction Workers: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

The construction industry faces substantial occupational safety risks due to simultaneous exposure to environmental factors such as extreme temperature, height, noise, vibration, and inadequate lighting. Evaluating these factors under real working conditions is often constrained by safety concerns and limited experimental control, which positions Virtual Reality (VR) as a safe and controllable simulation alternative. This systematic literature review aims to synthesize research on the use of VR to evaluate environmental factors in construction work settings. Following the PRISMA framework, 903 records were retrieved from three databases (Scopus, ScienceDirect, and IEEE Xplore) and screened down to 16 eligible studies published between 2011 and 2025. The findings indicate that height exposure has received the most research attention and consistently impairs postural stability while increasing workers' mental fatigue and anxiety, whereas heat exposure has been shown to simultaneously impair cognitive function and body balance. Noise, lighting, and vibration have each been examined only as single factors, while three studies combining multiple factors indicate that the effects of multi-factor exposure tend to be greater than those of single-factor exposure. This review concludes that future research needs to expand investigation into under-studied environmental factors, develop multi-factor VR scenarios, and establish integrated risk-evaluation models. This research direction is essential for producing a more representative scientific evidence base of real working conditions, thereby supporting the design of more effective occupational safety and health strategies to reduce the construction sector's high rate of fatal accidents.