RP-2025-18: immersive workforce safety training

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) awarded $456,604 to the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) on July 8, 2025, under the Highway Planning and Construction program (CFDA 20.205) to develop enhanced road construction worker safety through immersive training and real-time monitoring technologies. This statewide, State Planning and Research (SPR) research project, designated RP-2025-18, represents a collaborative effort between WVDOH and West Virginia University (WVU) to advance occupational safety practices within West Virginia's transportation infrastructure sector. The project will leverage immersive technology platforms and real-time monitoring systems to create enhanced training environments that improve worker safety awareness and response capabilities across road construction operations.

As a formula grant under the Highway Planning and Construction program, this award supports research, development, and technology transfer activities designed to benefit the state's highway system and workforce. The research outcomes and training methodologies developed through this initiative will contribute to reducing workplace incidents and improving safety protocols for construction workers engaged in West Virginia's highway maintenance and construction activities, with potential applicability across the broader transportation infrastructure industry.

Project description

Statewide, SPR research project to develop enhanced road construction worker safety by using immersive training and realtime monitoring technologies (WVU), SPR.