Wu, H; Zhang, P; Li, H; Zhong, B; Fung, I W H and Lee, Y Y R (2022) Blockchain technology in the construction industry: Current status, challenges, and future directions. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 148(10): 03122007, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
The construction industry is becoming increasingly interested in blockchains, and relevant publications have blossomed in recent years. This study provided a state-of-the-art review of blockchain research in the industry in order to better comprehend the fast-evolving technology. A systematic method integrating quantitative and qualitative analyses was used to capture the research status, challenges, and future directions based on 141 publications published between 2017 and 2021. The distributions of 141 papers were quantitatively analyzed in terms of chronology, geography, journal, and research type. The majority of blockchain applications focused on the construction stage, while progress payment management and supply chain management were the top two topics. Different blockchain applications throughout the entire lifecycle of building projects were also introduced through qualitative analyses. Finally, this research indicated the challenges and future directions of blockchain research in the construction industry. This review provides valuable information to help construction researchers and practitioners understand blockchain research advances and better determine research opportunities.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | blockchain; building projects; smart contracts; systematic review |
| Index terms: | blockchain, journal, becoming, construction industry, systematic literature review, smart contract, publication, state of the art, practitioner, chronology, qualitative analysis, lifecycle |
| Subjects: | computing systems, philosophical process, research dissemination and communication, research evaluation and metrics, time analysis, industry analysis, digital technology, practitioner, research design and methodology, project delivery |
| Topics: | Time Control, Information Management, Digital Applications, Research Practice, Project Management, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here