Typology of civil engineers’ mental model about artificial intelligence

Purpose This study aims to identify, classify, and typologize the mental models of civil engineers, the diversity of their perspectives, and their intellectual structures regarding the integration of artificial intelligence in the industry. Method The philosophical framework of this research is based on an interpretive–positivist paradigm (Q method) and its application. The 11 participants were selected from individuals with sufficient knowledge, expertise, and experience related to the research topic, and who could provide the necessary information to achieve the study’s objectives. The purpose of this sampling is to classify them and identify common mental patterns within a small and targeted group, rather than to generalize the findings to a larger population. Findings The results indicate that civil engineers’ mental models regarding the applications of artificial intelligence are divided into three categories: hopeful-concerned, black-box thinkers, and results-oriented.