This special issue focuses on how AI transforms public sector infrastructure projects, such as planning cities, transportation, energy, and health. As the public sector undergoes digital transformation, AI offers powerful tools that can improve decision-making, optimize resource allocation, predict the outcomes of projects, and enhance service delivery. Government agencies working towards sustainable development need these capabilities. Although acceptance of AI has various heavy baggage issues, such as data privacy, ethical matters, and limited technical expertise, the discussion of this problem delves into the opportunities but touches upon the challenges of integrating AI in public infrastructure projects.

The objectives of the special issue include understanding the role of AI in managing and executing public infrastructure projects, how to address ethical, technical, and operational challenges involved in using AI, case studies, and empirical evidence showing AI's effectiveness. Moreover, policy implications and governance frameworks for the responsible use of AI, and the advancement of SDGs through infrastructure by AI, will also be discussed.

The key themes cover the application of AI in managing public infrastructure projects where, through predictive analytics enabled by AI, planning, scheduling, resource optimization, and risk assessment can be efficiently addressed. The other major thrust is the contribution that AI can make toward sustainability-including promoting green practices, supporting smart city initiatives compatible with SDGs-and also specific applications across sectors like autonomous traffic management and optimizing public transport, demand forecasting, integration of renewable energy sources into the energy mix, and enhancing resource allocation in healthcare. Governance, ethics, and public policy are just a few of the issues. Ethics considerations and frameworks of regulation through policy for AI and public acceptance of AI through government projects will be considered. Some of the other issues will involve data privacy, cybersecurity, and skills gaps regarding the use of AI by public sector skills.

 

We encourage scholars. practitioners and policymakers to contribute their value insights in the form of empirical research, review articles, case studies, and best practices as an example of how AI may successfully be integrated or from lessons learned through real projects that have faced challenges.

 

AI in Public Infrastructure; Digital Transformation; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Predictive Analytics; Governance and Ethics in AI; Resource Optimization; Data Privacy and Cybersecurity.