On active road construction sites, warning alarms, passing traffic and moving equipment are a constant presence throughout the workday. Over time, those sights and sounds can begin to fade into the background.

When workers encounter the same hazards day after day, they can become desensitized, said Dr. Namgyun Kim, an assistant professor in the Department of Construction Science at Texas A&M University. Workers may begin to tune out the flashing warnings and beeping alarms to focus on the task at hand.

“That is the moment that accidents happen,” said Kim, a leading researcher focused on improving construction safety and productivity through virtual reality, augmented reality and artificial intelligence.

At his Safety Systems.AI Lab, Kim collaborates with Dr. Brian Anderson, who leads the Learning and Attention Lab, to study how workers perceive and respond to hazards using these advanced technologies to develop systems to improve workplace safety and reduce injuries. Through a series of studies involving virtual reality simulations, brain activity monitoring, field observations and AI-driven augmented reality systems, Kim’s work examines whether immersive, experience-based training can help workers maintain attention to hazards in both controlled environments and active work zones.