Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Blockchain in the Construction Sector: A Socio-technical Systems Framework for the Construction Industry

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Advances in Informatics and Computing in Civil and Construction Engineering

Abstract

Distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) including blockchain are increasingly being investigated as a potential solution to address many of the challenges hindering the construction industry’s performance such as collaboration, information sharing and intellectual property rights. Existing studies addressing blockchain applications within construction and the built environment have ignored the interrelation of social and technological dimensions. To address this gap, this paper proposes a multi-dimensional emergent framework for DLT adoption within the construction sector. The framework was developed following a focus group discussion and took a socio-technical systems approach that encompasses three dimensions: political, social and technical. The framework was overlaid with an extensive set of construction-related challenges and opportunities and identified a number of associated agents across the dimensions. The structured and inter-connected dimensions provided by the framework can be used by field researchers as a point of departure to investigate a range of research questions from political, social or technical perspectives.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 349.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 449.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 449.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Barima, O.: Leveraging the blockchain technology to improve construction value delivery: the opportunities, benefits and challenges. In: Hall, K. (ed.) Construction Projects, pp. 93–112. Nova Science Publishers Inc, New York, USA (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Cardeira, H.: Smart contracts and possible applications to the construction industry. In: New Perspectives in Construction Law Conference on New Perspectives in Construction Law Conference, Bucharest (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Mason, J., Escott, H: Smart contracts in construction: views and perceptions of stakeholders. In Proceedings of FIG Conference, Istanbul May 2018. [In Press], Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/35123 (2018)

  4. Merschbrock, C.: Unorchestrated symphony: the case of inter-organizational collaboration in digital construction design. Electron. J. Inf. Technol. Constr. 17, 333–350 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Oesterreich, T.D., Teuteberg, F.: Understanding the implications of digitisation and automation in the context of Industry 4.0: a triangulation approach and elements of a research agenda for the construction industry. Comput. Ind. 83, 121–139 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Neely, A.: Carrying the Torch for Digital Built Britain. http://www.bimplus.co.uk/people/carrying-torch-digital-built-britain/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

  7. Succar, B., Kassem, M.: Macro-BIM adoption: conceptual structures. Autom. Constr. 57, 64–79 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Mathews, M., Robles, D., Bowe, B.: BIM + Blockchain: a solution to the trust problem in collaboration? In: CITA BIM Gathering 2017, Dublin, Ireland (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Heiskanen, A.: The technology of trust: how the internet of things and blockchain could usher in a new era of construction productivity The technology of trust: how the internet of things and blockchain could. Constr. Res. Innov. 8, 66–70 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Christidis, K., Devetsikiotis, M.: Blockchains and smart contracts for the internet of things. IEEE Access. 4, 2292–2303 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Nakamoto, S.: Bitcoin: a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. Www.Bitcoin.Org. 9 (2008)

  12. Mengelkamp, E., Gärttner, J., Rock, K., Kessler, S., Orsini, L., Weinhardt, C.: Designing microgrid energy markets: a case study: The Brooklyn Microgrid. Appl. Energy 210, 870–880 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Azaria, A., Ekblaw, A., Vieira, T., Lippman, A.: MedRec: using blockchain for medical data access and permission management. In: Proceedings of the 2016 2nd International Conference on Open Big Data, OBD 2016, pp. 25–30 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kogure, J., Kamakura, K., Shima, T., Kubo, T.: Blockchain technology for next generation ICT. Fujitsu Sci. Tech. J. 53, 56–61 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Turk, Ž., Klinc, R.: Potentials of blockchain technology for construction management. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85030479533&doi=10.1016%2fj.proeng.2017.08.052&partnerID=40&md5=4878dacb604a1adffad4e389b518d155 (2017)

  16. Mason, J.: Intelligent contracts and the construction industry. J. Leg. Aff. Dispute Resolut. Eng. Constr. 9, 4517012 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Zheng, Z., Xie, S., Dai, H.N., Wang, H.: Blockchain challenges and opportunities: a survey. Work Pap.–2016 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Danilin, P.I., Lukin, A.A., Reshetova, E.N.: Assessment organization service based on Ethereum platform. In: Cavalli, A.R., Petrenko, A., Pozin, B. (eds) Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Actual Problems of System and Software Engineering, pp. 291–294, Moscow, Russia (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Li, J., Greenwood, D.J., Kassem, M.: Blockchain in the built environment: analysing current applications and developing an emergent framework. In: Creative Construction Conference 2018 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Catlow, R.: Artists Re: thinking the blockchain introduction. In: Catlow, R., Garrett, M., Jones, M., Skinner, S. (eds.) Artists Re: Thinking the Blockchain, pp. 21–37. Liverpool University Press, Liverpool (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kiviat, T.I.: Beyond bitcoin: issues in regulating blockchain transactions. Duke Law J. 65, 569–608 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Atzori, M.: Blockchain technology and decentralized governance: is the state still necessary? SSRN Electron. J. (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Hamida, E.B., Brousmiche, K.L., Levard, H., Thea, E.: Blockchain for enterprise: overview, opportunities and challenges. In: Thirteenth International Conference on Wireless and Mobile Communications (ICWMC 2017), pp. 83–88 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Kypriotaki, K.N., Zamani, E.D., Giaglis, G.M.: From bitcoin to decentralized autonomous corporations: extending the application scope of decentralized peer-to-peer networks and blockchains. Presented at the (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Swan, M.: Blockchain: Blueprint for a New Economy. O’Reilly Media Inc, Sebastoplo, CA (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Karafiloski, E., Mishev, A.: Blockchain solutions for big data challenges: a literature review. In: IEEE EUROCON 2017–17th International Conference on Smart Technologies, pp. 763–768, Ohrid, Macedonia (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Biswas, K., Muthukkumarasamy, V.: Securing Smart Cities Using Blockchain Technology <Go to ISI>://WOS:000401700900187 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Tapscott, D., Tapscott, A.: Blockchain Revolution: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin is Changing Money, Business, and the World. Penguin, New York (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Yermack, D.: Corporate governance and blockchains. Rev. Financ. 21, 7–31 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Nofer, M., Gomber, P., Hinz, O., Schiereck, D.: Blockchain. Bus. Inf. Syst. Eng. 59, 183–187 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Boucher, P., Nascimento, S., Kritikos, M.: How Blockchain Technology Could Change Our Lives: In-depth Analysis. European Parliament (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Mylrea, M., Gourisetti, S.N.G.: Blockchain for smart grid resilience: exchanging distributed energy at speed, scale and security. Resilience Week (RWS). 18–23 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Ølnes, S., Ubacht, J., Janssen, M.: Blockchain in government: benefits and implications of distributed ledger technology for information sharing. Gov. Inf. Q. 34, 355–364 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Sun, J., Yan, J., Zhang, K.Z.K.: Blockchain-based sharing services: what blockchain technology can contribute to smart cities. Financ. Innov. 26 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Maupin, J.: The G20 countries should engage with blockchain technologies to build an inclusive, transparent, and accountable digital economy for all. Economics Discussion Papers (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  36. NEO: NEO White paper: a distributed network for the smart economy. http://docs.neo.org/en-us/index.html

  37. Szabo, N.: Smart Contracts. http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/rob/Courses/InformationInSpeech/CDROM/Literature/LOTwinterschool2006/szabo.best.vwh.net/smart.contracts.html

  38. The Economist: The Facebook scandal could change politics as well as the internet. https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21739167-even-used-legitimately-it-powerful-intrusive-political-tool-facebook-scandal

  39. Shin, D.: A socio-technical framework for internet-of-things design: a human-centered design for the internet of things. Telematics. Inform. 31, 519–531 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Baxter, G., Sommerville, I.: Socio-technical systems: from design methods to systems engineering. Interact. Comput. 23, 4–17 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Geels, F.W.: From sectoral systems of innovation to socio-technical systems. Res. Policy 33, 897–920 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Kshetri, N.: Will blockchain emerge as a tool to break the poverty chain in the Global South? Third World Q. 38, 1710–1732 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Ammous, S.H.: Blockchain technology: what is it good for? SSRN Electron. J (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  44. Kovic, M.: Blockchain for the people: blockchain technology as the basis for a secure and reliable e-voting system. Zurich, Switzerland (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  45. Pieroni, A., Scarpato, N., Di Nunzio, L., Fallucchi, F., Raso, M.: Smarter city: smart energy grid based on blockchain technology. Int. J. Adv. Sci. Eng. Inf. Technol. 8, 298–306 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Hou, H.: The application of blockchain technology in e-government in China. In: 26th International Conference on Computer Communication and Networks (ICCCN), 2017, pp. 1–4. IEEE, Vancouver, BC, Canada (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  47. Yuan, Y., Wang, F.-Y.: Towards blockchain-based intelligent transportation systems. In: 2016 IEEE 19th International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC), 2663–2668. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  48. Kang, J., Yu, R., Huang, X., Maharjan, S., Zhang, Y., Hossain, E.: Enabling localized peer-to-peer electricity trading among plug-in hybrid electric vehicles using consortium blockchains. IEEE Trans. Ind. Inform. 13, 3154–3164 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Wang, J., Wu, P., Wang, X.Y., Shou, W.C.: The outlook of blockchain technology for construction engineering management. Front. Eng. Manag. 4, 67–75 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Kinnaird, C., Geipel, M.: Blockchain technology: how the inventions behind bitcoin are enabling a network of trust for the built environment. https://www.arup.com/publications/research/section/blockchaintechnology (2018)

  51. Tapscott, D., Tapscott, A.: How blockchain will change organizations. MIT Sloan Manag. Rev. 58, 9–13 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northumbria University, Newcastle, NE1 8ST, UK

    Jennifer Li, David Greenwood & Mohamad Kassem

Authors
  1. Jennifer Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. David Greenwood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mohamad Kassem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer Li .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. CAEE, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA

    Ivan Mutis

  2. Institute of Civil Engineering, TU Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Timo Hartmann

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Li, J., Greenwood, D., Kassem, M. (2019). Blockchain in the Construction Sector: A Socio-technical Systems Framework for the Construction Industry. In: Mutis, I., Hartmann, T. (eds) Advances in Informatics and Computing in Civil and Construction Engineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00220-6_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00220-6_7

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-00219-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-00220-6

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation