From Data to Value: Introducing an NFT-Powered Framework for Data Exchange of Digital Twins in the AEC Industry
Publication: Construction Research Congress 2024
ABSTRACT
Digital Twins (DTs) have recently drawn considerable attention in the AEC industry and academia. Despite their applications, most models typically represent an isolated DT without considering how they can connect to other DTs, where they can share data. Blockchain-based solutions, and specifically Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), have provided various features that can be seen as a promising solution to build the lost bridge for data sharing between different stakeholders in DTs. This study capitalizes the advantages of NFTs to propose a framework for DT knowledge sharing. This framework is followed by providing future prospects of data management in the DT field. Our solution enables the ownership of various DT components, leading to the establishment of a secure data marketplace within the context of the AEC virtual world. This study can also serve as a fundamental source for further investigation by researchers and practitioners to develop an interoperable built Metaverse, where all DTs, in all Levels of Details, can exchange knowledge.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this chapter.
REFERENCES
Atlam, H. F., Alenezi, A., Alassafi, M. O., and Wills, G. B. (2018). Blockchain with Internet of Things: Benefits, challenges, and future directions. Int J Intell Syst Appl 10:40–48. https://doi.org/10.5815/IJISA.2018.06.05.
Azhar, S. (2011). Building Information Modeling (BIM): Trends, Benefits, Risks, and Challenges for the AEC Industry. Leadersh Manag Eng 11:241–252. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)LM.1943-5630.0000127.
Cong, L. W., Li, Y., and Wang, N. (2021). Tokenomics: Dynamic Adoption and Valuation. Rev Financ Stud 34:1105–1155. https://doi.org/10.1093/RFS/HHAA089.
Connolly, G. (2021). Overcoming the obstacles to implementing blockchain technology. In: Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2021/09/29/overcoming-the-obstacles-to-implementing-blockchain-technology/?sh=618dbcb5d0ea. Accessed 12 Apr 2023.
Deng, M., Menassa, C. C., and Kamat, V. R. (2021). From BIM to digital twins: a systematic review of the evolution of intelligent building representations in the AEC-FM industry. J Inf Technol Constr 26:58–83. https://doi.org/10.36680/j.itcon.2021.005.
Egnyte. (2022). Egnyte’s AEC Data Insights Report. Middlefield.
Ellis, S., Juels, A., and Nazarov, S. (2017). ChainLink A Decentralized Oracle Network.
Entriken, W., Shirlye, D., Evans, J., and Sachs, N. (2018). ERC-721: Non-Fungible Token Standard. In: Ethereum Found. https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-721. Accessed 14 Apr 2023.
Ethereum Foundation. (2018). Ethereum Improvement Proposals. https://eips.ethereum.org/. Accessed 14 Apr 2023.
Euromoney. (2023). Blockchain Explained: How does a transaction get into the blockchain? | Euromoney Learning. In: Euromoney. https://www.euromoney.com/learning/blockchain-explained/how-transactions-get-into-the-blockchain. Accessed 13 Feb 2023.
Freni, P., Ferro, E., and Moncada, R. (2020). Tokenization and Blockchain Tokens Classification: A morphological framework. Proc - IEEE Symp Comput Commun 2020-July: https://doi.org/10.1109/ISCC50000.2020.9219709.
Glaessgen, E. H., and Stargel, D. S. (2012). The Digital Twin Paradigm for Future NASA and U.S. Air Force Vehicles.
Grieves, M., and Vickers, J. (2017). Digital Twin: Mitigating Unpredictable, Undesirable Emergent Behavior in Complex Systems. Transdiscipl Perspect Complex Syst New Find Approaches 85–113. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-38756-7_4.
Hamledari, H., and Fischer, M. (2021). Construction payment automation using blockchain-enabled smart contracts and robotic reality capture technologies. Autom Constr 132:103926. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2021.103926.
Han, D., Zhang, C., Ping, J., and Yan, Z. (2020). Smart contract architecture for decentralized energy trading and management based on blockchains. Energy 199:117417. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENERGY.2020.117417.
Hunhevicz, J. J., Motie, M., and Hall, D. M. (2022). Digital building twins and blockchain for performance-based (smart) contracts. Autom Constr 133:103981. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2021.103981.
Jiang, F., Ma, L., Broyd, T., and Chen, K. (2021). Digital twin and its implementations in the civil engineering sector. Autom Constr 130:103838. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2021.103838.
Kräussl, R., and Tugnetti, A. (2022). Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs): A Review of Pricing Determinants, Applications and Opportunities *. 1–29.
Kritzinger, W., Karner, M., and Traar, G. (2018). Digital Twin in manufacturing: A categorical literature review and classification. IFAC-PapersOnLine 51:1016–1022. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IFACOL.2018.08.474.
Lee, D., Lee, S. H., and Masoud, N. (2021). Integrated digital twin and blockchain framework to support accountable information sharing in construction projects. Autom Constr 127:103688--. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2021.103688.
Li, J., Greenwood, D., and Kassem, M. (2019). Blockchain in the built environment and construction industry: A systematic review, conceptual models and practical use cases. Autom Constr 102:288–307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2019.02.005.
Liu, S., Xie, B., Tivendal, L., and Liu, C. (2015). Critical Barriers to BIM Implementation in the AEC Industry. Int J Mark Stud 7:162. https://doi.org/10.5539/IJMS.V7N6P162.
Ma, Z., Lu, N., and Wu, S. (2011). Identification and representation of information resources for construction firms. Adv Eng Informatics 25:612–624. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AEI.2011.08.008.
Naderi, H., and Shojaei, A. (2022). Civil Infrastructure Digital Twins: Multi-Level Knowledge Map, Research Gaps, and Future Directions. IEEE Access. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3223557.
Naderi, H., and Shojaei, A. (2023). Digital twinning of civil infrastructures: Current state of model architectures, interoperability solutions, and future prospects. Autom Constr 149:104785. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AUTCON.2023.104785.
Nofer, M., Gomber, P., Hinz, O., and Schiereck, D. (2017). Blockchain. Bus Inf Syst Eng 2017 593 59:183–187. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12599-017-0467-3.
Oliveira, L., Bauer, I., Zavolokina, L., and Schwabe, G. (2018). To token or not to token: Tools for understanding blockchain tokens. Int Conf Inf Syst 2018, ICIS 2018.
Perera, S., Nanayakkara, S., and Rodrigo, M. N. N. (2020). Blockchain technology: Is it hype or real in the construction industry? J Ind Inf Integr 17:100125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jii.2020.100125.
Pilkington, M. (2016). Blockchain technology: Principles and applications. In: Research Handbooks on Digital Transformations. Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd., pp 225–253.
Qi, Q., and Tao, F. (2018). Digital Twin and Big Data Towards Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0: 360 Degree Comparison. IEEE Access 6:3585–3593. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2018.2793265.
Radomski, W., Cooke, A., and Castonguay, P., (2018). ERC-1155: Multi Token Standard. In: Ethereum Found. https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-1155. Accessed 14 Apr 2023.
Rosen, R., Von Wichert, G., Lo, G., and Bettenhausen, K. D. (2015). About The Importance of Autonomy and Digital Twins for the Future of Manufacturing. IFAC-PapersOnLine 48:567–572. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IFACOL.2015.06.141.
Sacks, R., Brilakis, I., and Pikas, E. (2020). Construction with digital twin information systems. Data-Centric Eng 1:. https://doi.org/10.1017/dce.2020.16.
Schleich, B., Anwer, N., Mathieu, L., and Wartzack, S. (2017). Shaping the digital twin for design and production engineering. CIRP Ann 66:141–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CIRP.2017.04.040.
Scott, D. J., Broyd, T., and Ma, L. (2021). Exploratory literature review of blockchain in the construction industry. Autom Constr 132:103914. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2021.103914.
Shojaei, A., Flood, I., and Moud, H. I. (2019). An Implementation of Smart Contracts by Integrating BIM and Blockchain. Adv Intell Syst Comput 1070:519–527. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32523-7_36.
Stapleton, J., and Poore, R. S. (2011). Tokenization and Other Methods of Security for Cardholder Data. http://dx.doi.org/101080/193935552011560923 20:91–99. https://doi.org/10.1080/19393555.2011.560923.
Tang, S., Shelden, D. R., and Eastman, C. M. (2019). A review of building information modeling (BIM) and the internet of things (IoT) devices integration: Present status and future trends. Autom Constr 101:127–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2019.01.020.
Uhlemann, T. H. J., Lehmann, C., and Steinhilper, R. (2017). The Digital Twin: Realizing the Cyber-Physical Production System for Industry 4.0. Procedia CIRP 61:335–340. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PROCIR.2016.11.152.
Wang, Q., Li, R., Wang, Q., and Chen, S. (2021). Non-Fungible Token (NFT): Overview, Evaluation, Opportunities and Challenges.
Wang, Y., Singgih, M., Wang, J., and Rit, M. (2019). Making sense of blockchain technology: How will it transform supply chains? Int J Prod Econ 211:221–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJPE.2019.02.002.
Wang, Z., Wang, T., and Hu, H. (2020). Blockchain-based framework for improving supply chain traceability and information sharing in precast construction. Autom Constr 111:103063. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AUTCON.2019.103063.
Wu, H., Zhong, B., and Li, H. (2022). On-site safety inspection of tower cranes: A blockchain-enabled conceptual framework. Saf Sci 153:105815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2022.105815.
Yongfang, J., Lin, L., and Khatri-Chhetri, A. (2022). Financing Public-Private Partnership Infrastructure Projects through Tokenization-enabled Project Finance on Blockchain. IOP Conf Ser Mater Sci Eng 1218:012027. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/1218/1/012027.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Construction Research Congress 2024
Pages: 299 - 308
History
Published online: Mar 18, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.