BuildCES: A conceptual BIM–Blockchain–AI framework for transparent and predictive construction management

Construction management continues to face persistent challenges including cost overruns, inefficiencies, fragmented information flows, and limited transparency in project governance. This study presents BuildCES, a conceptual expert system framework that integrates Building Information Modeling (BIM), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Blockchain to support transparent and data-driven construction management. The proposed framework addresses key limitations of existing approaches by combining the complementary capabilities of these technologies within a unified architecture. In the BuildCES framework, BIM provides a semantically structured knowledge base for project information, AI enables predictive analytics for material price forecasting and anomaly detection, and blockchain ensures secure and immutable governance through smart contracts. Through this integration, the framework supports automated decision-making, improved accountability, and enhanced coordination among construction stakeholders. The study contributes a theoretically grounded architectural model that illustrates how predictive intelligence, structured project data, and decentralized governance can operate within a single construction management ecosystem. Although the framework is conceptual, it establishes a foundation for future prototype implementation, simulation studies, and empirical validation aimed at improving transparency, efficiency, and cost control in construction projects.