Artificial Intelligence in High Capital Expenditure Construction Project Management: Current Adoption, Impact, Challenges, and Future Trajectories

This paper comprehensively investigates the current state of Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption, its perceived impact, inherent challenges, and future trajectories of high Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) construction project management. Drawing upon a mixed-methods research approach, including primary survey data and an extensive review of contemporary literature, the study reveals a significant paradox: while AI holds immense transformative potential for addressing long-standing industry issues such as cost and schedule overruns, its widespread operational integration remains low. The findings indicate that AI's impact is currently mostly adopted in project planning and resource optimization, yet its application in real-time execution, quality control, and stakeholder communication lags considerably. Critically, human-centric factors, including lack of skilled workforce and organizational resistance to change, emerge as more significant barriers to adoption than financial investment. The analysis further highlights the nascent stage of AI strategic maturity across most organizations and the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-specific cybersecurity risks. This report synthesizes these observations, offering strategic recommendations for industry leaders and policymakers to foster a human-AI symbiotic environment, accelerate adoption in underserved areas, and navigate the complexities of digital transformation in high CAPEX construction projects.