Assessing the usability of blockchain for sustainability: Extending key themes to the construction industry

Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) emerged as an innovative computer technology capable of ensuring information security through encryption algorithms. In recent years, this technology has been discussed in different industries, including the construction sector. Although the advantages of applying DLT in construction projects are numerous, several barriers and limitations are associated with its application. The difficulties are even more exacerbated when examining the uses of DLT for achieving more sustainable buildings. In this context, this article conducts a comprehensive literature review on blockchain, the most discussed DLT technology nowadays, for sustainability, focusing on extending key applications discussed in various fields to the construction industry and real estate. The novelty of this review paper is the presentation of an in-depth discussion of what the next steps in blockchain research should be in order to integrate its applications for achieving a sustainable construction environment with cleaner production and resource use efficiency. A conceptual framework is also proposed to showcase the integration of blockchain with other applications for facilitating the goal of achieving sustainable buildings, including Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA).

Automated summary

This article conducts a comprehensive literature review on blockchain, focusing on extending key applications to the construction industry and real estate. It also proposes a conceptual framework for integrating blockchain with other applications to achieve sustainable buildings.