Emerging Risks in Highway Construction Quality Assurance: Data Manipulation Risks from Artificial Intelligence Tools

Current quality assurance frameworks in highway construction are not equipped to detect or mitigate the rapidly emerging risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI)–driven data manipulation. As AI tools evolve faster than industry protocols, the risks of undetected fraud and compromised infrastructure quality increase, necessitating updates to detection methods and a critical review of current quality assurance (QA) processes. The objectives of this research are to identify unexplored and emerging risks that AI may pose to highway construction QA processes and to develop a comprehensive framework for detection and mitigation. The framework may include: (1) exploring the potential misuse of AI tools in falsifying and manipulating construction data; (2) investigating how AI-generated scripts can alter key project metrics and compliance with specifications; (3) developing countermeasures to prevent opportunities for AI data manipulation used for construction acceptance; (4) developing advanced detection mechanisms and QA protocols that can identify AI-driven data manipulation in real time; and (5) providing recommendations for leveraging AI to enhance QA processes while augmenting existing best practices.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5859
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $500,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 10-153

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Barcena, Roberto

• Start Date: 20250526
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Artificial intelligence; Information processing; Quality assurance; Risk assessment; Road construction
• Subject Areas: Construction; Data and Information Technology; Highways; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01956605
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 10-153
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 28 2025 2:00PM