Wuni, I Y (2026) A systematic review and network meta-analysis of the risks of artificial intelligence in construction projects. International Journal of Construction Management, 26(4), pp. 639-659. ISSN 1562-3599
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are deployed in construction projects to analyze a large corpus of data, identify patterns in the data, infer from the data, and provide relevant insights to inform decisions in construction projects. However, the scientific literature recognized multiple risks of AI in construction projects. Therefore, this study investigated the critical risk factors for implementing AI in construction projects. The findings revealed forty-nine (49) critical risk factors for AI in construction projects, which have data, technical, knowledge, management, financial, and legal dimensions. It is discovered that the risk factors are disproportionately discussed in theoretical studies and underrepresented in decision-making models/frameworks. It is also established that the existing studies failed to leverage the sociotechnical perspective to jointly optimize risk management for AI deployment in construction projects. Thus, the study provides better insights and establishes a fertile ground for future investigation into the critical risk factors for AI in construction projects.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | artificial intelligence; construction projects; critical risk factors; risks; social network analysis; systematic review |
| Index terms: | construction project, social network analysis, risk factor, risk management, dimension, systematic literature review, investigation, decision-making, artificial intelligence, meta-analysis |
| Subjects: | research evaluation and metrics, production management, risk assessment, artificial intelligence, data collection methods, environmental hazards, health monitoring assessment and metrics, decision analysis, research methods |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Digital Applications, Risk Management, Health and Safety, Research Practice, Project Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here