From Concept to Reality: Digital Innovations Driving the Future of Intelligent Infrastructure and Construction

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Interests: computer vision; robotics; IoT technology
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Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
Interests: construction health and safety; construction informatics; BIM; blockchain; wearable sensors; digital twins
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Business Transformation, Birmingham City University (BCU), Birmingham, UK
Interests: applied AI; digital twins; immersive technologies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is our pleasure to present this Special Issue of the new journal Intelligent Infrastructure and Construction on the theme “From Concept to Reality: Digital Innovations Driving the Future of Intelligent Infrastructure and Construction”, which is open to submissions until 31st of December 2024.

This Special Issue will explore a wide range of topics, including the following:

  • Integrating AI, IoT, and Digital Twins for real-time decision making and predictive maintenance.
  • The role of robotics and automation in enhancing construction efficiency and safety.
  • Leveraging BIM across the entire life cycle—from design and construction to operations and disaster resilience.
  • Sustainable infrastructure through smart material selection and data-driven energy management.
  • Intelligent control systems that combine sensors and data analytics for proactive facilities management.
  • Cross-disciplinary approaches to bridge gaps between construction, technology, and environmental sustainability.

Prof. Dr. Junxing Zheng
Dr. Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari
Prof. Dr. Manuel Davila Delgado
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Intelligent Infrastructure and Construction is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1000 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.

Keywords

  • computer-aided design and engineering
  • artificial intelligence and machine learning
  • building information modeling (BIM) and digital twins
  • robotics and automation in construction
  • smart sensors and internet of things (IoT)
  • sustainable and resilient infrastructure
  • intelligent control systems and facilities management

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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24 pages, 4707 KiB  
Systematic Review
The Adoption of UAVs for Enhancing Safety in Construction Industry: A Systematic Literature Review
by Wanqing Zhong, Sina Rasouli, Atul Kumar Singh, Saeed Reza Mohandes, Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari, Clara Cheung, Patrick Manu and Unnati Agrawal
Intell. Infrastruct. Constr. 2025, 1(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/iic1010003 - 29 Apr 2025
Viewed by 132
Abstract
The nexus between sustainability and safety in construction is crucial for improving a resilient and responsible built environment. By adhering to sustainable principles, construction practices can not only mitigate the environmental impact but also prioritize the health and safety of workers and communities. [...] Read more.
The nexus between sustainability and safety in construction is crucial for improving a resilient and responsible built environment. By adhering to sustainable principles, construction practices can not only mitigate the environmental impact but also prioritize the health and safety of workers and communities. To prevent accidents and enhance safety in construction, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are utilized for aerial inspection, site monitoring, surveying, emergency response, and training purposes. However, no systematic review has yet identified UAV deployment’s adoption, challenges, and prospects. UAVs have emerged as promising technologies for improving safety through applications such as aerial inspections, site monitoring, surveying, emergency response, and training. However, a comprehensive review of UAV adoption, challenges, and prospects in the construction industry is still lacking. To address this gap, this study conducts a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis to examine the current state of UAV implementation in construction safety management. The analysis reveals the interconnectedness between construction, engineering disciplines, and safety management, providing a holistic overview of influential contributors and prevalent themes. Content analysis further uncovers significant barriers hindering widespread UAV implementation, emphasizing technical, regulatory, and safety concerns. This study highlights strategies for overcoming these challenges and optimizing UAV deployment to enhance safety in construction, aligning with broader principles of social sustainability. Full article
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