AI in the forefront of smart infrastructure in civil and engineering services – a comprehensive and critical review

Smart infrastructure signifies a transformative evolution in civil and environmental engineering, characterised by the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance operational efficiency, resilience and sustainability within the built environment. This paper provides a comprehensive and critical review of AI applications across key civil engineering sectors, including transportation systems, water supply and waste management, structural health monitoring, energy-efficient building design, nuclear infrastructure and the synergistic use of building information modelling with geographic information systems. Each domain is examined through the lens of advanced AI methodologies, implementation frameworks and empirical case studies. The analysis underscores both the transformative potential and the inherent challenges associated with AI-driven smart infrastructure. The study concludes by emphasising the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, the establishment of robust governance mechanisms and the adoption of adaptive strategies to fully realise the benefits of AI in shaping future urban environments.