The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry is a cornerstone of the global economy, yet it remains one of the least digitized and most heavily fragmented sectors. Construction projects are characterized by complex supply chains, temporary multi-party organizations, and intricate hierarchical contracting. This fragmentation naturally breeds data silos, paper-based administrative burdens, and a chronic lack of operational transparency. Consequently, the industry frequently suffers from delayed payments, contractual disputes, and inefficiencies in tracing material provenance. Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) have emerged as vital innovations to modernize the built environment. By providing an immutable, decentralized ledger and automating agreements through smart contracts, blockchain offers a structural paradigm shift. It transitions the AEC sector from relying on centralized, low-trust interactions to a cryptographically secure framework where data integrity, financial transactions, and project milestones can be instantly and securely verified by all stakeholders.
The primary goal of this Research Topic is to bridge the gap between theoretical blockchain capabilities and practical, scalable implementation within the construction industry. While the theoretical benefits of blockchain are well-documented, the sector struggles with technical interoperability, legal and regulatory uncertainty, and the integration of decentralized ledgers with existing digital workflows, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM).
We aim to address these deeply entrenched bottlenecks by compiling cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research that designs, tests, and evaluates blockchain solutions specifically tailored for construction management. To achieve this, this collection seeks original research, methodological frameworks, and real-world case studies that operationalize DLTs on active projects. We invite contributions that demonstrate how smart contracts can automate milestone-based payments to eliminate disputes, how tokenization can incentivize sustainable material tracking for the circular economy, and how cryptographic protocols can secure intellectual property within collaborative BIM environments. Ultimately, this Research Topic will provide a concrete roadmap for embedding trust, efficiency, and transparency across the entire construction lifecycle.
This Research Topic focuses on the technical advancements, practical applications, and socio-economic impacts of blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) across the entire construction lifecycle. We invite contributors to address key themes, including (but not limited to):
– Automated smart contracts for payment and compliance
– Blockchain integration with Building Information Modeling (BIM) and IoT
– Supply chain traceability and material provenance
– Decentralized material passports for a circular economy
– The tokenization of infrastructure assets
We are particularly interested in interdisciplinary contributions that bridge the gap between computer science and construction management to solve real-world deployment bottlenecks. We welcome a diverse range of manuscript types, including Original Research presenting empirical data or new protocols, comprehensive Reviews mapping the state-of-the-art, Case Studies highlighting lessons from active pilot projects, and Methods papers detailing novel software architectures and interoperability frameworks.
