Digital information technologies for prevention through design (PtD): a literature review and directions for future research

Purpose With the rapid development of digital information and modelling software applications for construction, questions have arisen about their impact on construction safety. Meanwhile, recognition that designers can help reduce risks involved in operation maintenance via a prevention through design (PtD) approach (also known as safety) highlights significance technologies tools to PtD. Thus, this paper aims provide systematic review wide range enhancing Design/methodology/approach A five-stage literature with coding synthesis findings is presented. The covers journal articles published between 2000 2020 related various technologies, such building (BIM), 4D, databases, ontologies, serious games, virtual reality augmented reality, addressing safety issues during phase construction. Findings Analysis yielded categorisation PtD into four main areas: knowledge-based systems; automatic rule checking; hazard visualization; training designers. also highlighted designers’ limited knowledge towards possibility address by using gaming environments educating management artificial intelligence predicting hazards stage BIM environment. Additionally, proposes other directions future research enhance use Originality/value This contextualises current technology health enables field be identified mapped out.