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Integration of Blockchain and Digital Twins in the Smart Built Environment Adopting Disruptive Technologies—A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Habib Sadri

    (Department of Construction Engineering and Lighting Science, School of Engineering, Jönköping University, Gjuterigatan 5, 551 11 Jönköping, Sweden)

  • Ibrahim Yitmen

    (Department of Construction Engineering and Lighting Science, School of Engineering, Jönköping University, Gjuterigatan 5, 551 11 Jönköping, Sweden)

  • Lavinia Chiara Tagliabue

    (Department of Computer Science, University of Turin, Corso Svizzera 185, 10149 Turin, Italy)

  • Florian Westphal

    (Department of Computer Science, School of Engineering, Jönköping University, Gjuterigatan 5, 551 11 Jönköping, Sweden)

  • Algan Tezel

    (School of Engineering and Applied Science, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK)

  • Afshin Taheri

    (Pythagoras AB, Söder Mälarstrand 27B, 118 25 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Goran Sibenik

    (Institute of Building and Industrial Construction, Integrated Planning and Industrial Construction, Vienna University of Technology, 1040 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

The integration of blockchain and digital twins (DT) for better building-lifecycle data management has recently received much attention from researchers in the field. In this respect, the adoption of enabling technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud and edge computing, Big Data analytics, etc., has also been investigated in an abundance of studies. The present review inspects the recent studies to shed light on the foremost among those enabling technologies and their scope, challenges, and integration potential. To this end, 86 scientific papers, recognized and retrieved from the Scopus and Web of Science databases, were reviewed and a thorough bibliometric analysis was performed on them. The obtained results demonstrate the nascency of the research in this field and the necessity of further implementation of practical methods to discover and prove the real potential of these technologies and their fusion. It was also found that the integration of these technologies can be beneficial for addressing the implementation challenges they face individually. In the end, an abstract descriptive model is presented to provide a better understanding of how the technologies can become integrated into a unified system for smartening the built environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Habib Sadri & Ibrahim Yitmen & Lavinia Chiara Tagliabue & Florian Westphal & Algan Tezel & Afshin Taheri & Goran Sibenik, 2023. "Integration of Blockchain and Digital Twins in the Smart Built Environment Adopting Disruptive Technologies—A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-46, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:4:p:3713-:d:1071776
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Alessio Ferone & Stefano Verrilli, 2025. "Exploiting Blockchain Technology for Enhancing Digital Twins’ Security and Transparency," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-29, January.
    2. Dimitrios Varveris & Vasiliki Basdekidou & Chrysanthi Basdekidou & Panteleimon Xofis, 2025. "Smart Forest Modeling Behavioral for a Greener Future: An AI Text-by-Voice Blockchain Approach with Citizen Involvement in Sustainable Forestry Functionality," FinTech, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-26, September.
    3. repec:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:i:10:p:6724-6738 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Izabela Rojek & Dariusz Mikołajewski & Adam Mroziński & Marek Macko & Tomasz Bednarek & Krzysztof Tyburek, 2025. "Internet of Things Applications for Energy Management in Buildings Using Artificial Intelligence—A Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-28, March.
    5. Charles Okeyia & Nuno Marques de Almeida & Joe Amad-Echendu & Simplice A. Asongu, 2026. "Optimizing the Distributed Telecoms Asset Maintenance Practice Using Blockchain and Digital Twin Technologies," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 27(1), pages 93-113, February.

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