“The Future of Construction Productivity with AI: Hype, Reality, and the Way Ahead”

Call for Papers – Special Issue: “The Future of Construction Productivity with AI: Hype, Reality, and the Way Ahead”

Journal: Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
Publisher: Emerald Publishing
Submission deadline: 12 June 2026

Overview

This special issue—published by Emerald Publishing—addresses the stagnation of construction productivity by demanding rigorous, evidence-based research on AI implementation. It aims to bridge the gap between technological hype and measurable productivity outcomes, prioritizing studies that document real-world performance, implementation pathways, and economic ROI over purely aspirational projections.

Key Research Themes

• Empirical Measurement: Establishing metrics and methodologies for assessing AI-enabled productivity gains across diverse project phases and organizational levels.

• Implementation Pathways: Documenting the transition from pilot projects to scaled deployment, focusing on organizational enablers, change management, and scaling challenges.

• Case Studies with Measured Outcomes: Providing empirical evidence of AI applications, specifying the productivity metrics used and the contextual factors that influenced the results.

• Economic Modeling: Developing cost-benefit analyses, ROI frameworks, and financial models for AI adoption based on actual project economics rather than speculative data.

• Critical Perspectives: A systematic examination of the gaps between AI promises and reality, including an analysis of failed implementations and unexpected barriers to sustained productivity.

Submission Details

• Submission window: 12 March 2026 – 12 June 2026.

• Submission portal: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ecaam

• Special Instructions: During the submission process, ensure you select the special issue title from the "Please select the issue you are submitting to" drop-down menu.

Guest Editors

• M. Reza Hosseini, University of Melbourne (mreza.hosseini@unimelb.edu.au)

• Masoud Gheisari, University of Florida (masoud@ufl.edu)

• Nuria Forcada Matheu, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (nuria.forcada@upc.edu)

Why This Issue Matters

While AI promises significant gains, much of the existing literature is either speculative or lacks empirical validation. This special issue—published by Emerald Publishing—is designed to provide a foundational evidence base that helps practitioners identify where and how AI investments actually yield measurable returns, fostering a more critical and informed approach to technology adoption in the construction industry.

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