Digital Technologies in Buildings and Critical Infrastructure: Transforming Design, Construction, and Operations

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue, which focuses on the transformative role of digital technologies in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operation (AECO) industry. The building industry is undergoing a profound digital revolution driven by advancements that are redefining how projects are designed, executed, and managed. Additionally, it is believed that digital transformation in the AECO industry can address the growing complexity of our critical infrastructure and megaprojects, including transportation hubs (airports, seaports, and real-way stations), data centers, campuses, and power plants.

By integrating cutting-edge tools and emerging knowledge and skills, such as digital twins, artificial intelligence (AI), real-time data analytics, digital engineering, and robotics, these innovations can enhance efficiency, improve collaboration, advance safety, and foster sustainability across all stages of project lifecycles. Nevertheless, we also need to pay attention to the socio-technical aspects through multi-modal and multi-dimensional data acquisition and integration, ensuring preparedness for the adoption of these technologies for their success and mitigating the risks of failure.  

Aim of the Special Issue

This Special Issue will explore how digital technologies are reshaping AEC workflows and enabling smarter, more resilient, and sustainable built environments. It aligns with the journal’s focus on innovation and practical application in construction and engineering disciplines. By gathering groundbreaking research and case studies, this collection seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state and future directions of digital transformation in the construction industry.

Suggested Themes and Article Types for Submissions

In this Special Issue, we welcome original research articles and review papers for submission. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Applications of digital twins for real-time monitoring, optimization, and lifecycle management.
• The role of AI in generative design, risk management, safety, and operational efficiency.
• The integration of software and hardware in digital engineering for optimized workflows.
• AI-powered systems for automated code checking, compliance, and quality assurance.
• Advanced applications of building information modeling (BIM) in planning, coordination, and visualization.
• Robotics in construction for material handling, automated workflows, and precision tasks.
• Simulation tools and parametric design for improving constructability and optimization.
• Multi-disciplinary collaboration platforms for seamless stakeholder communication.
• Data-driven methods for sustainability and resource management in AEC.

We look forward to receiving your contributions and advancing knowledge in this rapidly evolving field.

Dr. Issa Ramaji
Dr. Soheil Sabri
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• digital twin
• digital engineering
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• building information modeling (BIM)
• robotics
• compliance checking
• generative design
• operation and maintenance
• real-time assessment
• automation