Tran, Quang VanDoan, Dat TienYun, Geun Young2026-04-012026-04-012024-06-27International Journal of Modelling and Simulation, ISSN: 0228-6203 (Print); 0228-6203 (Online), Taylor and Francis Group.0228-62030228-6203http://hdl.handle.net/10292/20860Indoor environmental quality is crucial for human health and comfort, necessitating precise and efficient computational methods to optimise indoor climate parameters. Recent advancements in machine learning (ML) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are promising. However, applying ML to complex building airflow presents challenges. This research aims to investigate the integration of ML with CFD in the context of built environment applications using a systematic review approach. It highlights a critical knowledge gap: the need to synthesise innovative approaches that address the limitations of indoor modelling using data-driven ML methods. The review examines contemporary literature, identifying current developments and suggesting potential future directions. It delves into the innovations in combining ML with CFD to predict thermal comfort and indoor air quality, uncovering key limitations such as the lack of high-quality experimental data for training and validation, the computational complexity of detailed CFD simulations, and the interpretability issues of ‘black-box’ ML models. The emergence of data-driven techniques in fluid mechanics offers promising prospects for modelling in the built environment. Future research should focus on incorporating physics-based rules in ML models, adapting turbulence closure models for indoor flows, and enhancing model validation using real-world datasets. The research emphasises the synergistic relationship between ML and CFD; it proposes pathways to overcome current limitations, aiming to enhance the precision and efficiency of indoor environment modelling through their integration.This is the Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in the International Journal of Modelling and Simulation by Taylor & Francis. The Version of Record can be found at DOI: 10.1080/02286203.2024.23716820802 Computation Theory and Mathematics0803 Computer Software1702 Cognitive SciencesIndustrial Engineering & Automation4602 Artificial intelligence4901 Applied mathematicsBuilt environmentindoor environment qualitythermal comfortmachine learningcomputational fluid dynamicsturbulence modelingJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.1080/02286203.2024.2371682