The Application of artificial intelligence in the contract management of Iran s AEC industry

The AEC industry is a complex industry, facing several challenges currently. The contract management process is one of the primary processes, which can lead to a project’s success. Ignoring the adoption of a proper strategy for managing contracts can put the project on the verge of a disastrous circumstance. Digital technologies are considered a way to improve the contract management process, and artificial intelligence is one of the most prominent technologies concerning managing contracts. This paper aims to examine the state of Artificial intelligence in the AEC industry by conducting a bibliometric analysis based on the keyword, year, and journal, followed by a systematic literature review of related articles. Afterwards, a semi-structured interview was conducted with four experts (two industry experts and two academicians) to investigate the country s specific situation in Iran s AEC industry. The result showed that the ability of artificial intelligence in the contract management process is divided into five parts: bidding phase, smart contracts, cost estimation, contract analysis and monitoring, and dispute mitigation and claim management. Since Iran s AEC industry is traditional and currently struggling with significant problems, there is no determination to create a system based on artificial intelligence.