Adaptability of UAVs to improve the accuracy and efficiency of cost management practices in road construction projects in Sri Lanka

Purpose Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are an emerging global trend, increasingly integral to road construction projects for monitoring, yet their use in cost management (CM) remains limited, especially in developing countries. Thus, this study aims to explore the potential of UAV technology to improve the accuracy and efficiency of CM in road projects in Sri Lanka. Design/methodology/approach The research adapted interpretivism paradigm using qualitative research choice to collect and analyse data. Consequently, two rounds of semi-structured interviews were conducted, with 12 experts using Delphi technique. Manual content analysis was used to analyse data collected. Findings Findings revealed that road projects primarily rely on conventional human-based CM practices. This has led to critical issues in cost data collection, particularly in terms of accuracy, reliability and novelty. UAVs offer precise, real-time CM through data accuracy, site access and rapid deployment. However, they face high costs, regulatory gaps and technical limitations, requiring financial support, regulatory improvements, awareness programs and R&D for effective adoption. Practical implications Therefore, this study streamlines conventional CM practices with effective UAV integration to optimise spending and reduce financial strain on public budgets, emphasising the stakeholders to ensure proper training, regulatory compliance and adoption strategies. Originality/value While studies have explored the adaptability of UAVs for CM, the contribution of this study lies in its investigation on improving the accuracy and efficiency of CM practices in road construction using UAVs. Importantly, this study explores the role of UAVs to mitigate the prevailing challenges in current practices while proposing strategies to overcome barriers of adapting UAVs.