Abstract:This paper systematically examines the application value and pathways to realizing economic benefits of AI inspection technology in highway and waterway engineering. It traces the three-stage evolution of AI inspection from initial exploration to full lifecycle management, and analyzes its technical application solutions across three core scenarios: construction quality control, operational structural monitoring, and safety risk early warning. A three-dimensional economic benefit analysis framework is developed, structured around "direct cost savings - indirect risk mitigation - long-term strategic value". Validated through typical cases, AI inspection is shown to enhance construction efficiency, reduce rework rates, and cut down overall lifecycle costs. The paper also examines application challenges such as adaptation to complex environments and high initial investment costs, and proposes optimization strategies including technology integration and model innovation, providing practical guidance for large-scale industry adoption.