Abstract
Nigerian tertiary construction programmes face limited access to modern equipment, inadequate repeatable hands‑on practice, and gaps in safety and Industry‑4.0 readiness reported by employers. This study developed and validated an Immersive AI‑Enhanced VR/AR Platform to strengthen practical, safety and digital‑construction competencies of 150 undergraduate construction students across three public universities. The platform combines immersive VR/AR scenarios with an AI adaptive engine to personalise practice, provide objective performance analytics, and generate instructor dashboards for competency tracking and certification. The study was conducted in five phases: needs assessment and competency mapping with academic and industry stakeholders; iterative content and software development; deployment of VR kits and AR tablets and instructor training at the three universities; pilot training and mixed‑methods evaluation; and refinement, curriculum integration and dissemination. Evaluation uses pre/post competency tests, timed task performance, safety compliance scoring, learning‑analytics of AI adaptation, focus groups and employer interviews. Statistical analysis included paired t‑tests and ANCOVA to measure learning gains, targeting ≥30% mean improvement in practical task scores and reduction in simulated safety incidents. Eight validated VR/AR modules; AI adaptive engine and instructor dashboard; instructor training pack and 30 certified trainers; pilot evaluation report; curriculum integration guide; two stakeholder validation workshops; open‑access learning analytics summary and two peer‑review papers were the deliverables. The outcomes include that there are measurable gains in practical competency, improved safety awareness, increased instructor capacity.
Presenters
Samaila HamzaAssociate Professor, Construction Technology Education, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria Ismaheel Adewale Badru
Lecturer, Electrical/Electronic Technology Education, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2026 Special Focus—Human-Centered AI Transformations
KEYWORDS
VR/AR TRAINING, CONSTRUCTION SAFETY, AI ADAPTIVE LEARNING, SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION AND
