Beyond Automation: Why Human-Centered Decision Making Remains Essential in Construction
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63282/3050-9246/ICRTCSIT-105Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Automation, Construction Management, Human-in-the-Loop (HITL), Ethical Oversight, Robotics, Digital Twins, Explainable AI (XAI), Safety Governance, Building Information Modeling (BIM), Human Judgment, Decision-Making, Accountability, Construction Ethics, Hybrid IntelligenceAbstract
The construction industry is undergoing a profound digital transformation as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and automation reshape traditional workflows. From AI-driven scheduling to robotic layout and computer vision-based safety monitoring, automation now touches nearly every phase of a project’s lifecycle. Yet despite these advances, construction remains a domain where uncertainty, accountability, and ethical decision-making cannot be fully automated. This paper examines the boundary between machine precision and human judgment through a qualitative framework that integrates professional field experience, regulatory standards, and recent academic findings. Using the Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) governance model, it identifies five domains technical, legal, ethical, managerial, and cultural where human oversight remains indispensable. The analysis demonstrates that while automation enhances speed and data accuracy, only human professionals can interpret intent, manage risk, and uphold safety and compliance. The study concludes that the future of construction lies not in full automation but in hybrid intelligence where digital tools inform and accelerate, and human judgment defines meaning, trust, and accountability. This collaboration between human expertise and AI-driven precision represents not the end of craftsmanship, but its evolution
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