【Abstract】The critical role of blockchain technology in ensuring a proper level of traceability and visibility along supply chains is increasingly being explored in the literature. This critical examination must focus on the factors that either encourage or hinder (i.e. the drivers or barriers) the implementation of this technology in extended supply chains. On the assumption that the blockchain will need to be adopted at the supply chain level, the enabling factors and the contingent variables of different supply chains must be identified and analysed. The appropriate identification of supply chain partners is becoming a critical factor of success since the globalization of supply chains makes their management and control increasingly difficult. This is particularly true of the fashion industry. Five blockchain providers and seven focal companies working in the fashion industry were interviewed to compare their different viewpoints on this topic. The results highlight which drivers, barriers, and supply chain variables impact the implementation of the blockchain and specific research propositions are formulated.
【Abstract】Onsite assembly is a critical stage for modular construction. Its success or failure depends on accurate information sharing among numerous stakeholders who, unfortunately, often possess unsynchronized information. Owing to its decentralized consensus mechanism, blockchain has the potential to improve information-sharing accuracy on construction sites. However, little research has documented how this can be done. Adopting a design science research (DSR) method, this study aimed to explore the use of blockchain technology to improve information-sharing accuracy in the onsite assembly of modular construction (OAMC). First, an OAMC business process analysis was conducted to understand the issues leading to information sharing, in particular its accuracy. Then, a blockchain-based conceptual model was developed. Its components, such as membership registration, information sharing-request, ordering service, consensus mechanism, and distributed storage, were described. Finally, a prototype system was developed and validated in a mock-up OAMC. The results show that the prototype system can improve the accuracy of information sharing in OAMC by allowing project participants to endorse information about the modules and their assembly through the blockchain's consensus mechanism. This study explores and implements blockchain technology in a specific construction area. It can serve as a valuable reference for future endeavors in harnessing the power of blockchain technology, particularly for mobilizing information endorsement mechanisms for various value-added applications.
【Abstract】The Kyoto Protocol established the emissions-trading system (ETS), which encourages carbon reductions through market mechanisms and has been implemented in a variety of industries. Despite its large admitted carbon emissions, the construction industry was not included in the embryo ETSs. Furthermore, the current generation of ETS in the construction industry focuses more on the operation phase, ignoring carbon emissions from the materialization phase, which consumes labor, energy, and carbon-intensive materials such as cement. This paper proposes an innovative type of ETS, which could also handle carbon emissions within the materialization phase of a typical project. Besides, the proposed system is also powered by blockchain technology under the industry 4.0 framework, i.e., decentralized, open, and autonomous. The proposed system consists of two interactive systems: Blockchain-enhanced construction product-trading system and Blockchain-enhanced emission-trading system. The structure and operations of these systems are described in detail. Moreover, smart contracts are used to boost the efficiency and dependability of the proposed system. The pseudo-code for implementing smart contracts is provided. Finally, multi-criteria analysis is used to evaluate the superiorities of the proposed systems. The results show that the proposed system has better emission reduction effect and policy acceptance over other ETSs. The average total score of the presented system is 7.8, which is 16.6%, 8.8%, and 21.5% higher than those of the traditional ETS for non-specific industries, Blockchain-enabled Reputation-based Emission-Trading Scheme, and the traditional ETS in the construction industry, respectively. [GRAPHICS]
【Abstract】This study aims to develop a mobile time-banking system on blockchain (MTBB), which can track service transaction records for community elderly care via mutual service exchange. The MTBB was developed to enable organizations, either corporate-social-responsibility organizations or nonprofit organizations to issue proprietary time tokens to members who participate in the organizations' volunteer activities. Database applications with smartphone apps integrated with MultiChain blockchain technology were developed. Metadata with the service transaction information are stored in the MultiChain blocks so that the transaction records are immutable and can be analyzed in the future. Cahn's time-banking guidelines were applied in developing this MTBB with MultiChain blockchain technology integrated for tracking service transaction records. The study also combines one-to-one mutual service exchange with organizations which offer volunteer activities and issue proprietary time tokens. With the blockchain transaction tracking mechanism, all elderly care service records via or within organizations can be tracked and analyzed to show their alignment with some of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
【Abstract】Edge computing (EC) is very useful and particularly promising for many practical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications. Integrating the blockchain to this technology strengthens privacy protection and data integrity and also prevents data from being easily leaked. However, the required operations in the blockchain are computationally heavy because a blockchain requires devices to solve a complicated proof-of-work (PoW) puzzle to add new data (i.e., a block) to the blockchain. Solving a PoW requires substantial amounts of time and energy, which are big concerns for UAVs. In this article, we suggest a synergetic solution to address this issue based on multiple competing miners in a blockchain. Specifically, we present two novel frameworks for combining the blockchain and EC to effectively overcome several critical limitations when applying the blockchain to UAV and EC tasks, respectively. The goal of both of these proposed frameworks is to reduce both the time spent on mining and the energy consumption for the EC. We first look at the fundamentals of the blockchain with competing miners. Then, our proposed frameworks are described with experimental results, through which important insights are drawn. We finally discuss application scenarios for our proposed frameworks, the related technical challenges, and future research directions.
【Abstract】Purpose Blockchain technology is one of the emerging innovative technologies making waves globally, and it has been adjudged to have the capability to transform businesses. With the different capabilities of the technology, such as immutability of information and decentralisation of authority attributes, the built environment is slow in its adoption. This study aims to explore the barriers to the implementation of blockchain technology in the construction using a principal component analysis (PCA) approach. Design/methodology/approach This research took a post-positivist philosophical stance, which informed a quantitative research approach through a questionnaire survey. From the South African built environment and information technology sector, 79 respondents were drawn through a snowballing sampling technique. The built environment professionals include architect, construction project manager, construction manager, quantity surveyor and engineer. Retrieved data were screened and analysed by adopting the descriptive analysis and PCA while Cronbach alpha evaluated the reliability. Also, Kruskal-Wallis H non-parametric test was used to determine the differences in the opinion of the respondent groups. Findings The analysis revealed that all the identified barriers ranked above the average mean with lack of clarity, scalability risks and lack of skills or knowledge ranking top three. PCA clustered the identified barriers into three components: organisational barriers, social barriers and technological barriers. Research limitations/implications This study was carried out in the Gauteng province of South Africa, leaving out other provinces due to accessibility, cost and time constraints. Practical implications Built environment organisations need to be kept abreast of the capabilities of blockchain technology as the major barrier observed was the lack of clarity of blockchain technology. Also, the technological barriers identified from this study need to be addressed by information technology experts to give consumers the desired value for money in implementing blockchain technology for the built environment. Originality/value The blockchain technology capabilities are incomparable to any other invention thus far. Therefore, it is very important that the numerous stakeholders in the built environment be made aware of the blockchain technology capabilities while formulating a solution to the identified barriers. This will aid its implementation in the built environment and help the industry measure up with its counterparts.
【Abstract】Flexible and distributed energy markets are a reality that is progressively reaching many regions. Despite their clear benefits, they should be accepted by the prosumers. Additionally, blockchain technology and smart contracts have been characterised as a technological enabler for the energy sector and P2P Energy Markets (PEM). However, little research has been done to explore blockchain's user-centred perspective. Therefore, this paper analyses the reluctance and/or concerns of prosumers regarding smart contracts, and investigates their perception on blockchain within PEMs. The authors present the results of a survey conducted across several European countries addressing the implementation of automated trading systems and analysing the adoption of smart contracts. Considering that the main survey outcomes are related to the regulation and legislation uncertainty around blockchain usage, this paper explores also the fit of smart contracts from a legal perspective. Additionally, a set of recommendations to be used as the basis for the design and development of PEMs is delivered, aiming to adopt blockchain and smart contracts. As a key take-away, the authors confirm the crucial role that blockchain will play in the deployment of fair, secure, flexible and distributed energy markets by ensuring transparency in the exchange of information between prosumers and energy stakeholders.
