Systematic review of application of artificial intelligence tools in architectural, engineering and construction

PurposeThis study reviews the extent of application of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the construction industry.Design/methodology/approachA thorough literature review (based on 165 articles) was conducted using Elsevier's Scopus due to its simplicity and as it encapsulates an extensive variety of databases to identify the literature related to the scope of the present study.FindingsThe following items were extracted: type of AI tools used, the major purpose of application, the geographical location where the study was conducted and the distribution of studies in terms of the journals they are published by. Based on the review results, the disciplines the AI tools have been used for were classified into eight major areas, such as geotechnical engineering, project management, energy, hydrology, environment and transportation, while construction materials and structural engineering. ANN has been a widely used tool, while the researchers have also used other AI tools, which shows efforts of exploring other tools for better modelling abilities. There is also clear evidence of that studies are now growing from applying a single AI tool to applying hybrid ones to create a comparison and showcase which tool provides a better result in an apple-to-apple scenario.Practical implicationsThe findings can be used, not only by the researchers interested in the application of AI tools in construction, but also by the industry practitioners, who are keen to further understand and explore the applications of AI tools in the field.Originality/valueThere are no studies to date which serves as the center point to learn about the different AI tools available and their level of application in different fields of AEC. The study sheds light on various studies, which have used AI in hybrid/evolutionary systems to develop effective and accurate predictive models, to offer researchers and model developers more tools to choose from.

A Review of Problem Solving Techniques in Engineering Project Management - Mapping The Mind, Design Thinking Approach and Six Thinking Hats

In order to effectively manage and run a successful organization, problem-solving techniques are important for the successful leader/project manager. This paper introduced three problem-solving techniques in engineering project management which are Mapping the Mind, Design Thinking Approach, and Six Thinking Hats Methods. The objective of this paper is to review these three techniques, which consist of the descriptions of the techniques, the advantages/disadvantages, the highlights and the addition of suggestions, comments and analysis/comparison between the three techniques. This review had been made from various types of information, back in year 2000 until present which is year 2020. This article can be a good reference for engineering project managers, to be used by their project management team members, in order to solve associated problems during engineering processes or services.