Integration of Artificial Intelligence into Project Cost Control Practices in the Construction Industry: A Bibliometric Analysis

The construction industry’s digital transformation has not prevented numerous construction projects from experiencing cost overruns. This study aims to investigate the integration patterns of artificial intelligence (AI) into project cost control (PCC) processes within the construction industry over the past decade. Research on cost control practices with AI integration was extracted from the Scopus database over the period of 2015 to 2025. The VOSviewer text-mining tool was utilised to examine the connections within PCC and AI practices in the construction sector. The study found three clusters for the index keywords: Cluster 1: Construction project management and machine learning; Cluster 2: Artificial intelligence in cost control; and Cluster 3: Construction cost. The results presented the top ten authors, the top five countries, and research themes, with Egypt receiving the most citations and India producing the most documents on AI integration in PCC discussions. In practice, researchers can quickly identify key authors, influential journals, and topical areas related to AI in PCC research, thereby promoting more similar research. Construction professionals can use these findings to assess best practices and explore AI cost-control innovations. This study improves understanding of AI integration in PCC within the construction industry by identifying key concepts and consolidating research to aid effective project cost management. Workplace Stressors, Mental Health and