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CIB Conferences

Abstract

Construction work is highly exposed to extreme weather due to outdoor operations and physically demanding tasks. As climate variability intensifies, heat, cold, storms, and heavy rainfall present increasing risks to worker safety, productivity, and project continuity. Despite this, weather-related risk management in construction remains largely reactive and inconsistently implemented. This study presents a PRISMA-based systematic literature review of 100 studies published between 2015 and 2025, examining proactive and technology-enabled strategies for managing extreme weather in construction. Bibliometric mapping and thematic synthesis were applied to identify hazard distribution, intervention types, and implementation gaps. The findings reveal a strong concentration on heat stress (72% of studies), with limited attention to cold exposure, storms, flooding, and long-term climate risks. While digital tools such as wearable sensors, environmental monitoring systems, and real-time alerts show potential for earlier hazard detection, most studies evaluate technologies in isolation and lack longitudinal validation, particularly in SME contexts. The review identifies fragmented implementation, uneven regulatory guidance, and underrepresentation of vulnerable worker groups as persistent challenges. The study contributes a consolidated evidence base to support more proactive, integrated, and context-sensitive approaches to weather and climate risk management in construction.

Keywords

Extreme weather hazards, Construction safety, Proactive risk management, Digital safety technologies, Climate risk in construction

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