Mapping Blockchain Research in Construction: Bibliometric Study

Abstract

Technology usage in construction has increased since the beginning of the twenty-first century through the transformation in personal computer hardware and software, as well as the development of standards for information exchange. Breakthroughs in the telecommunication industry have resulted in faster, more stable and affordable networks which have allowed new collaborative work practices. The combination of a reliable internet connection and affordable, powerful computers has enabled new technologies to emerge, such as cloud storage, cloud computing or Blockchain. Blockchain is a broad term that refers to using a distributed file system to manage, distribute and protect data. As a technology, Blockchain provides solutions for different industries regarding trust, transparency, and traceability. Blockchain technology provides the construction industry with solutions to improve the construction projects' workflow and address broken trust issues between project participants. This paper attempts to identify which fields are currently being investigated by the built environment and construction researchers to implement Blockchain in the industry through a bibliometric study. This study aims to clarify three aspects: (1) Blockchain uses in construction, (2) research methods used in the literature, and (3) construction technologies that could be empowered with Blockchain. Blockchain in construction is an emerging research field, and there is a limited amount of literature available about the topic. Therefore, no restriction was applied to the reviewed literature, such as journals impact factor or articles citations number. Conference proceedings are also included. This review can serve as a guide for researchers who are interested in Blockchain applications in construction.