This review explores the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative Design (GD) in engineering within the mechanical, industrial, civil, and architectural domains. Driven by advances in AI and computational resources, this intersection has grown rapidly, yielding over 14,000 publications since 2016. To map the research landscape, this review employed semantic search and Natural Language Processing, parsing 14,355 publications to ultimately select the 88 most relevant studies through clustering and topic modelling. These studies were categorised according to AI and GD techniques, application domains, benefits, and limitations, providing insights into research trends and practical implications. The results reveal a significant growth in the integration of advanced generative AI methods, notably Generative Adversarial Networks for direct design generation, alongside the continued use of genetic algorithms and surrogate models (e.g., Convolutional Neural Networks and Multilayer Perceptrons) to manage computational complexity. Structural and aerodynamic applications were the most common, with benefits including improvements in computational efficiency and design diversity. However, barriers remain, including data generation costs, model accuracy, and interpretability. Research opportunities include the development of generalisable foundation surrogate models, the integration of emerging generative methods such as diffusion models and large language models, and the explicit consideration of manufacturability constraints within generative processes.

Observational studies of designers play an important role in engineering design research, yet there is currently no accepted standard approach for comparing, combining, or contrasting studies. Consequentially, reuse, reanalysis, replication, and aggregation of data are limited and the potential impact of individual studies is severely constrained. This paper begins to address this issue by introducing and developing a foundational method for observational design research to improve replicability, reuse, and overall comparability of empirical studies. A three-step foundational method is proposed that covers capture, coding, and analysis. The capture step defines overall and situational context as well as multiple capture streams, generating a broad data-set that can be examined from multiple perspectives. The coding step employs a multi-level approach that seeks to minimise workload while describing both detailed and high-level information. The analysis step builds on the multi-level approach to provide for a flexible yet standardised examination of the data-set. The overall approach is introduced theoretically and illustrated using a comparison of an industrial study and an experimental study. Finally, it is argued that the proposed method promotes rigour, reliability, and standardisation; and could provide one means for improving comparison and aggregation, ultimately increasing impact in academia and practice.

This paper investigates using simulation to predict the benefits and costs of digitalising cold distribution chains. The study focuses on the distribution of refrigerated beef in the UK, where digitalisation was implemented to re-route cargo carriers. By comparing simulations of both digitalised and non-digitalised supply chains, the study found that digitalisation can reduce beef waste and decrease the number of miles driven per successful delivery, leading to potential cost savings. Note that this work is not attempting to prove that digitalisation is appropriate for the chosen scenario, only to justify a simulation approach as a decision making tool. The proposed modelling approach provides decision-makers with more accurate predictions of the cost–benefit of increased sensorisation in supply chains. By accounting for stochastic and variable parameters, such as weather and demand fluctuations, simulation can be used to identify potential challenges and estimate the economic benefits of digitalisation. Moreover, qualitative assessments of the impact on customer satisfaction and product quality can help decision-makers consider the broader impacts of digitalisation. Overall, the study suggests that simulation can play a crucial role in facilitating informed decisions about the implementation of digital technologies in the food supply chain. By providing a better understanding of the potential costs and benefits of digitalisation, simulation can help organisations make more strategic and effective decisions.

Due to the situational and contextual individuality of engineering work, the in-progress monitoring and assessment of those factors that contribute to the success and performance in a given scenario poses a distinct and unresolved challenge, with heavy reliance on managerial skill and interpretation. Termed engineering project health management (EPHM), this paper presents a novel approach and framework for monitoring of engineering work through data-driven and computational analytics that in turn support the managerial interpretation and generation of higher level, context-specific understanding. EPHM is formed through the first adaptation of integrated vehicle health management (IVHM) to the field of engineering management; an approach that has been used to-date for the machine monitoring and predictive maintenance. The approach is applied to four industrial cases, which demonstrates the generation of project-specific information. The approach thereby acts to increase understanding of an engineering activity and a work state, and is complementary to existing managerial toolsets and approaches. A key tenet of the adaption of IVHM is to place the manager in a central role, supporting their professional judgment while reducing investigative effort.