Blockchain in the Construction Industry between 2016 and 2022: A Review, Bibliometric, and Network Analysis

Abstract

In recent years, applications of Blockchain technology (BCT) have been progressing at a galloping rate in miscellaneous fields, such as finance, education, travel, healthcare, and insurance. However, BCT has gained much popularity in the construction industry, especially in developed nations worldwide, as it can solve real-world problems, including poor payments, inadequate cooperation and collaboration, inappropriate data sharing among stakeholders, and poor efficiency. The current research employs a bibliometric and systematic literature review (SLR) on utilizing BCT in the construction industry. Using co-occurrence and co-citation studies, network visualization and other methodologies concerning the Web of Science (WOS) database and the research contacts’ patterns were investigated in 482 academic papers. Notable publications, conferences, significant writers, nations, organizations, and funding organizations have been acknowledged. Our research reveals that the primary study topics are BCT in the construction industry, supply chain management, smart contracts, sustainability, building information modeling (BIM), the Internet of Things (IoT) and energy efficiency. Several possible fields for further research are mentioned, including the use of BCT in: (i) circular economy, (ii) risk management, (iii) smart villages, and (iv) infrastructure construction projects.

Exploring the Impact of Social Media Use on Team Feedback and Team Performance in Construction Projects: A Systematic Literature Review

“…Each checklist item was accompanied by an "explanation and elaboration" section, providing the rationale and additional guidance, along with exemplars to facilitate comprehensive reporting. The approach employed in this review aims to elucidate the relationships among authors, regions, keywords, and journal citations, while also providing a concise evaluation of the current state-of-the-art research fields and potential emerging trends [108].…”

Integration of Blockchain-Enabled Smart Contracts in Construction: SWOT Framework and Social Network Analysis

“…The "trustless" concept in BC means that trust is not required between parties for transactions to be securely executed; BC itself provides the necessary security and verification mechanisms, ensuring the integrity and reliability of transactions. [34].…”

“…These include, for instance, literature reviews [8,[14][15][16][17][18], case studies [19][20][21][22], descriptive analyses [23][24][25][26], and bibliometric and content analyses [27][28][29][30]. Moreover, it is noteworthy to highlight that while some studies focus exclusively on qualitative research [31][32][33], others adopt quantitative methods, using statistical analyses to review the literature without qualitative techniques like interviews or thematic content, as highlighted in Shishehgarkhaneh et al [34] and Ameyaw et al [35]. Meanwhile, a third group integrates both approaches, notably [36][37][38][39][40], highlighting the methodological diversity in the field.…”

A Blockchain-Based Framework for Rural Property Rights Transactions

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