Practice and Application of Artificial Intelligence in Built Environment

Dear Colleagues,

With the rapid advancement of science and technology, artificial intelligence (AI) is gradually permeating all aspects of urban development, with the built environment being a key branch. This Special Issue focuses on the deep integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology with the entire life cycle of human settlements, including buildings, cities, and infrastructure, exploring the paths and value of technology implementation. The built environment encompasses multiple dimensions, including architectural design, construction, operations and maintenance, and urban planning. The introduction of AI technologies (such as machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and digital twins) is driving its transformation from traditional experience-driven to data-driven, intelligent decision-making. This theme focuses on both the practical effectiveness of technology applications (such as improving design efficiency, optimizing construction safety, and reducing energy consumption) and their adaptability to complex real-world scenarios (such as AI applications in the preservation of historic buildings and the intelligent governance of high-density cities). It also balances ethical standards and sustainable development goals, making it a crucial frontier for interdisciplinary integration.

Topics covered in this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Applications for AI in the built environment;
• Stages and analysis of AI technology in the built environment;
• Using AI to analyze urban space;
• Optimizing urban or architectural space layout;
• Applications for AI in interior design;
• Practical practices in optimizing architectural design parameters;
• Applications of AI in architectural design solutions, performance optimization (e.g., daylighting and energy consumption simulation), and the digital restoration of historic buildings;
• Data security and privacy protection in AI applications in the built environment.

Dr. Yanyan Liang
Dr. Yile Chen
Dr. Junming Chen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.