A Situation Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Team (SMART) framework for structuring Situational Awareness (SA) in construction projects

Construction projects are socio-technical systems requiring shared Situation Awareness (SA) to manage uncertainty and change. This study proposes Situation Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Teams (SMART) as a human-centred framework for structuring shared SA in construction. A thematic literature review identified a gap in understanding SA as an ongoing socio-technical process. An exploratory pilot study in a simulated modular construction setting examines communication patterns across four reporting phases: no reporting, self-reporting, SMART reporting, and post-intervention. SMART reporting was associated with a shift from fragmented to more structured and task-oriented communication, alongside increased information sharing and task-related exchanges. These patterns indicate coordination and information exchange, not direct measures of SA. The study makes three contributions: (1) reconceptualizing SA as an organizational socio-technical process rather than an individual or technology-driven outcome; (2) introducing SMART as a mechanism linking monitoring, sensemaking, and reporting; and (3) providing exploratory evidence that structured reporting is associated with communication patterns linked to SA processes. The controlled pilot setting and use of proxy indicators bounds findings. Future research should test SMART in real-world scenarios and examine its integration with digital and AI-assisted tools.