Investigating the barriers to the adoption of blockchain technology in sustainable construction projects

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production 2023-06, Vol.403, p.136840, Article 136840
• Main Authors: Kumar Singh, Atul, Kumar, V.R. Prasath, Dehdasht, Gholamreza, Mohandes, Saeed Reza, Manu, Patrick, Pour Rahimian, Farzad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Blockchain technology; Fuzzy DEMATEL; Social network analysis; Sustainability; Sustainable construction projects
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.136840

Blockchain technology (BT) can execute transactions verifiable and permanently, which can help foster the idea of embracing sustainability pillars within industries. Therefore, BT holds considerable promise for the industrial and service sectors; however, its implementation during the procurement stage in a sustainable construction project (SCP) is a bottleneck because of inherent and unknown barriers. Though some attempts on the identification of these barriers have been carried out, the literature lacks a thorough investigation into the relationships and inner dependencies among the related barriers within the realm of SCP. Thus, a novel combination of fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (fuzzy DEMATEL) and social network analysis (FDSNA) is proposed in this paper to fill this gap; FDSNA uncovers causal relationships among leading barriers that impede the adoption of BT within an SCP, and it determines the most critical barriers by modeling their complex interrelationships in related intricate environments. The obtained results suggest “inadequacies in implementing block chain-based policies” and “unawareness and resistance to BT among customers” as the most significant barriers, and “technology immaturity,” “market uncertainty and competition,” and “technology accessibility” are identified as the most critical. These results present managers and governmental bodies with an inclusive picture regarding the major obstructions to the successful implementation of BT, and it is expected to open avenues to accrue benefits from such leading-edge technologies at a greater pace. [Display omitted] •Barriers to blockchain technology in sustainable construction projects are identified.•The cause-and-effect relationships among the identified barriers are unraveled.•The most critical barriers are determined by modeling their complex interrelationships.•The lack of sagacious policies and end-user's unawareness are the most significant barriers.•Technology immaturity, market uncertainty, and accessibility are the most critical barriers.