Next-Gen Risk Management: AI-Driven Solutions for Engineering and Construction Projects

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction Management, and Computers & Digitization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 1679

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail
Guest Editor
Construction Technology Innovation Laboratory, School of Architecture and Building Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
Interests: construction safety; AI-driven monitoring; deep learning; natural language processing; computer vision; large language model

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Construction Technology Innovation Laboratory, School of Architecture and Building Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
Interests: construction safety; safety education; construction informatics; virtual reality; augmented reality
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming risk management in engineering and construction, offering predictive insights, automation, and real-time monitoring to enhance safety and efficiency. Traditional risk management relies on manual processes and historical data, often leading to inefficiencies and unforeseen hazards. AI-driven solutions, including machine learning, computer vision, and Internet of Things (IoT) integration, provide advanced capabilities for risk identification, assessment, and mitigation.

This Special Issue aims to explore the role of AI in modern risk management for engineering and construction projects. It will cover cutting-edge research and practical applications of AI technologies that enhance safety and reduce project uncertainties. We invite submissions that focus on AI-driven risk assessment models, digital twins for predictive risk analysis, autonomous monitoring systems, AI-powered safety compliance tools, and the integration of AI with Building Information Modeling (BIM), IoT, and drone-based surveillance.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • AI-based predictive risk modeling;
  • Machine learning for hazard detection and accident prevention;
  • Integration of AI with BIM, IoT, and digital twins;
  • AI-driven safety compliance monitoring;
  • Computer vision for site safety analysis;
  • Autonomous systems for high-risk environments;
  • AI-powered decision support for risk-aware project management.

We welcome original research, case studies, and reviews from academia and industry to explore AI’s transformative impact on risk management. This issue aims to advance AI-driven solutions for safer, more resilient, and efficient engineering and construction practices.

Dr. Syed Farhan Alam Zaidi
Dr. Akeem Pedro
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.

Keywords

  • AI-driven risk management
  • computer vision for safety
  • autonomous monitoring systems
  • digital twins in engineering
  • safety compliance automation
  • risk assessment in construction
  • smart construction technologies
  • AI and building information modeling (BIM)
  • hazard detection and prevention
  • robotics in risk mitigation

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

28 pages, 4292 KB  
Article
Systematic Methodology for Estimating the Social Dimension of Construction Projects—Assessing Health and Safety Risks Based on Project Budget Analysis
by María D. Alba-Rodríguez, Valeriano Lucas-Ruiz and Madelyn Marrero
Buildings 2025, 15(13), 2313; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15132313 - 1 Jul 2025
Viewed by 334
Abstract
One of the major challenges in the construction sector involves achieving sustainability in all three of its dimensions: economic, social, and environmental. Economic and environmental assessments have already been unified, but social indicators are still excluded. In this line, it is important for [...] Read more.
One of the major challenges in the construction sector involves achieving sustainability in all three of its dimensions: economic, social, and environmental. Economic and environmental assessments have already been unified, but social indicators are still excluded. In this line, it is important for a rapid introduction of sustainability indicators that the evaluations of its three dimensions are carried out simultaneously and without adding new training or a large workload to the project. In this work, it is proposed to use the definition of tasks in construction cost databases. These, due to their long tradition in the sector, have a clear definition of the contours of the problem and the inventory of resources. Therefore, based on this inventory that does not leave any unaccounted element, the evaluation of the social dimension is proposed through the use of the work units of the databases as an element of occupational risk assessment. The project cost and risk assessment are performed simultaneously in the construction of a social housing project in Andalusia, Spain. The costs of prevention measures represent 5% of the work units’ costs and reduce the risk indicator by 65%. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 22501 KB  
Article
Computer Vision-Based Safety Monitoring of Mobile Scaffolding Integrating Depth Sensors
by Muhammad Sibtain Abbas, Rahat Hussain, Syed Farhan Alam Zaidi, Doyeop Lee and Chansik Park
Buildings 2025, 15(13), 2147; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15132147 - 20 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 668
Abstract
Mobile scaffolding is essential in construction but presents significant safety risks, particularly falls from height (FFH) due to improper use and insufficient monitoring. While prior research has identified hazards, it often lacks robust, actionable solutions, especially regarding the comprehensive analysis of worker behaviors [...] Read more.
Mobile scaffolding is essential in construction but presents significant safety risks, particularly falls from height (FFH) due to improper use and insufficient monitoring. While prior research has identified hazards, it often lacks robust, actionable solutions, especially regarding the comprehensive analysis of worker behaviors and the spatial context. This study proposed a computer vision-based safety monitoring system that leverages depth cameras for accurate spatial assessments and incorporates temporal conditions to reduce false alarms. The proposed system extends object detection algorithms with mathematical logic derived from safety rules to classify four key unsafe conditions related to safety helmet use, guardrail and outrigger presence, and worker overcrowding on mobile scaffolds. A diverse dataset from multiple sources enhances the model’s applicability to real-world scenarios, while a status trigger module verifies worker behavior over a 3 s window, minimizing detection errors. The experimental results demonstrate high precision (0.95), recall (0.97), F1-score (0.96), and accuracy (0.95) for safe behaviors, with similarly strong metrics for unsafe behaviors. The qualitative analysis further confirms substantial improvements in worker position detection and safety compliance using 3D data over 2D approaches. These findings highlight the effectiveness of the proposed system in improving mobile scaffolding safety, addressing critical research gaps, and advancing construction industry safety standards. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

24 pages, 2123 KB  
Review
Artificial Intelligence for Predicting Insolvency in the Construction Industry—A Systematic Review and Empirical Feature Derivation
by Janappriya Jayawardana, Pabasara Wijeratne, Zora Vrcelj and Malindu Sandanayake
Buildings 2025, 15(17), 2988; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15172988 - 22 Aug 2025
Viewed by 248
Abstract
The construction sector is particularly prone to financial instability, with insolvencies occurring more frequently among micro- and small-scale firms. The current study explores the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) models for predicting insolvency within this sector. The research combined [...] Read more.
The construction sector is particularly prone to financial instability, with insolvencies occurring more frequently among micro- and small-scale firms. The current study explores the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) models for predicting insolvency within this sector. The research combined a structured literature review with empirical analysis of construction sector-level insolvency data spanning the recent decade. A critical review of studies highlighted a clear shift from traditional statistical methods to AI/ML-driven approaches, with ensemble learning, neural networks, and hybrid learning models demonstrating superior predictive accuracy and robustness. While current predictive models mostly rely on financial ratio-based inputs, this research complements this foundation by introducing additional sector-specific variables. Empirical analysis reveals persistent patterns of distress, with micro- and small-sized construction businesses accounting for approximately 92% to 96% of insolvency cases each year in the Australian construction sector. Key risk signals such as firm size, cash flow risks, governance breaches and capital adequacy issues were translated into practical features that may enhance the predictive sensitivity of the existing models. The study also emphasises the need for digital self-assessment tools to support micro- and small-scale contractors in evaluating their financial health. By transforming predictive insights into accessible, real-time evaluations, such tools can facilitate early interventions and reduce the risk of insolvency among vulnerable construction firms. The current study combines insights from the review of AI/ML insolvency prediction models with sector-specific feature derivation, potentially providing a foundation for future research and practical adaptation in the construction context. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop