Bridging policy and practice: understanding civil engineers’ adoption of biophilic development in Thailand using the Theory of Planned Behavior and explainable AI

Purpose Biophilic development enhances human well-being and environmental sustainability by integrating natural elements into the built environment. However, its adoption in Thailand remains limited, particularly among civil engineers, who play a crucial role in infrastructure planning. While architects increasingly embrace biophilic principles, engineers’ lack of familiarity and behavioral resistance hinder widespread implementation. This study examines factors influencing civil engineers’ awareness and intention to adopt biophilic principles using the Theory of Planned Behavior. Design/methodology/approach A survey of 195 engineers from five major government agencies evaluates the impact of attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC) and knowledge on adoption intention. A mixed-methods approach integrates statistical analysis with Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) techniques, including random forest models and Shapley Additive Explanations, to interpret decision-making patterns. Findings Findings reveal that positive attitudes and professional norms promote adoption, while PBC strongly influences engineers’ intentions. However, knowledge alone is insufficient without regulatory and institutional support. Practical implications This study offers data-driven insights for integrating biophilic design into Thailand’s urban development, providing a replicable framework for promoting sustainable infrastructure. Civil engineers will gain practical guidance to support biophilic design adoption in their projects; government agencies can leverage the findings to develop supportive regulations and targeted training programs; and urban planners and policymakers can apply the insights to foster sustainable and biophilic urban infrastructure development. Originality/value To advance biophilic infrastructure, fostering organizational backing, targeted training and leveraging social influence is essential.