Universitätsbibliothek
Weimar Open Access

Shihchung Kang, Eduardo Miranda

• The goal of the research is to increase the understanding of dynamic behaviors during the crane operation, and develops computer-aided methods to improve the training of crane operators. There are approximately 125,000 cranes in operation today in the construction industry, responsible for major portion of erection activities. Unfortunately, many accidents occur every year in the U.S. and otherThe goal of the research is to increase the understanding of dynamic behaviors during the crane operation, and develops computer-aided methods to improve the training of crane operators. There are approximately 125,000 cranes in operation today in the construction industry, responsible for major portion of erection activities. Unfortunately, many accidents occur every year in the U.S. and other countries related to the operation of cranes in construction sites. For example on November 28, 1989 a tower crane collapse during the construction of a building in San Francisco killing four construction workers, one civilian and injuring 28. According to the statistics from Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA), there were 137 crane-related fatalities from 1992 to 2001 in the US. A well-known internet website that keeps track of crane-related accidents (craneaccidents.com), reports 516 accidents and 277 fatalities from 2000 to 2002. These statistics show that even though many measures have been taken to decrease the number of crane-related accidents (Braam, 2002), the number of crane related accidents is still very large. It is important to recognize that each construction related fatality is not only a great human loss but also increases the costs of insurance, lawsuits, and the construction budget due to delay of a project (Paulson 1992)...…