Artificial intelligence in construction project management: Trends, challenges and future directions

Contemporary construction projects are characterized by escalating complexity, voluminous data flows, and stringent sustainability requirements, rendering conventional project management methods increasingly inadequate. In response, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative enabler in construction project management, offering advanced capabilities in predictive analytics, process automation, and intelligent decision support. This paper explores the role of AI in the identified principal functions of construction project management, including time management, cost estimation, quality assurance, occupational health and safety, risk mitigation, resource optimization, and design management through a narrative literature review. Analysis demonstrates that AI-driven approaches significantly enhance operational efficiency and system resilience by enabling proactive identification of schedule delays, cost overruns, and safety hazards. For example, image-recognition systems integrated with Internet-of-Things sensors facilitate real-time monitoring of site conditions and adaptive response to disruptions, while neural-network models trained on historical project data yield more accurate cost forecasts than traditional estimation techniques. In the design management domain, generative design algorithms and AI-enhanced BIM integration have the potential to automate clash detection, optimize form and function, and generate innovative design alternatives that align with cost, energy, and sustainability objectives. Beyond efficiency gains, AI fosters a paradigm shift toward predictive, data-driven, and adaptive management practices that strengthen project resilience, enabling teams to anticipate, absorb, and recover from unforeseen challenges while improving project performance and sustainability. Critical barriers to widespread AI adoption are also identified in this study. Fragmented and non-standardized data ecosystems impede model training and interoperability with legacy systems, while organizational resistance and a shortage of professionals skilled in both AI and construction hinder implementation. Ethical and legal concerns—stemming from the “black-box” nature of many AI algorithms—further complicate accountability in safety-critical decisions. By synthesizing these challenges, the strategic role of AI is highlighted not only as a technological innovation but also as a catalyst for cultural and organizational transformation toward more resilient project delivery. Targeted future research directions include empirical validation of AI tools in live project environments, development of sector-specific AI frameworks tailored to the peculiarities of the construction industry, interdisciplinary collaboration among engineers, data scientists, and managers, and educational initiatives to upskill the workforce. Collectively, these steps will help bridge the gap between theoretical potential and real-world impact, positioning AI as a cornerstone of intelligent, resilient, sustainable, and high-performing construction project management.