As this is written, the construction industry is taking a cautious approach to artificial intelligence. While AI offers great potential to improve how projects are planned, executed, and controlled, there remain many challenges to be overcome. To fill a gap in the literature, researchers have assembled a comprehensive review of how AI technologies are being applied at jobsites and in project delivery.
Outlined in “Artificial Intelligence in the Construction Industry: A Comprehensive Review of Benefits and Challenges,” the study by Mohammadamin Zohourian, Apurva Pamidimukkala, and Sharareh Kermanshachi identified and cataloged six AI-integrated technologies: the Internet of Things, machine learning, building information systems, digital twins, blockchain technology, and drones.
The benefits and challenges of employing each of these technologies in construction are detailed and ranked, providing decision-makers, project managers, and construction firms a structured understanding of where AI provides the most value. The paper connects AI adoption directly to project outcomes that matter: reduced errors, shortened schedules, and lowered costs. Major barriers, such as data integration, cybersecurity, and training gaps, are highlighted, allowing the industry to prepare for this digital transformation. Learn more about this study and the insight it offers civil engineers to make informed decisions about adopting AI tools in the Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction at https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/JLADAH.LADR-1397. The abstract is below.
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize the construction industry by providing transformative tools that increase efficiency, improve safety, and facilitate rapid and smart decision making. Despite potential benefits, AI integration into construction industry faced several challenges like, high implementation costs, lack of experts, and resistance to change. Additionally, the concern of data security against the cyberattacks, high volume of data and matching data from various sources (other AI tools) are significant challenges. Although, numerous studies have been conducted on this topic, but none have comprehensively reviewed the benefits and challenges of integrating the six technologies integrated with AI of specific benefit to the industry: the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, machine learning (ML), building information modeling (BIM), digital twins (DT), and drones. The goal of this study, therefore, was to identify, categorize, and rank the benefits and challenges of each of the tools. To achieve this goal, a comprehensive review of 230 relevant publications from the existing literature was conducted. The results revealed 30 benefits and 27 challenges corresponding to six AI technologies that were ranked according to the frequency of their occurrence in the literature. The findings of this study will help construction decision-makers, project managers, practitioners, and company owners address the challenges of integrating AI into their projects so that they can reap the benefits thereof.
Learn more about these AI technologies and their potential benefits to your project in the ASCE Library: https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/JLADAH.LADR-1397.
