Sabah Suhail, Mubashar Iqbal, Rasheed Hussain, Saif Ur Rehman Malik · 5 authors
Cyber–physical systems (CPSs) are being increasingly adopted for industrial applications, yet they involve a dynamic threat landscape that requires CPSs to adapt to emerging threats during their operation. Recently, digital twin (DT) technology (which refers to a virtual representation of a product, process, or environment) has emerged as a suitable candidate to address the security challenges faced by dynamic CPSs. DT has the capability of strengthening the security of CPSs by continuously mapping the physical to twin counterparts to detect inconsistencies. The existing DT-based security solutions are constrained by untrustworthy data dissemination as well as limited data sharing among the involved stakeholders, which, in turn, limit the ability of DTs to run accurate simulations or make valid decisions. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a modular framework called TR usted and I ntelligent cyber- P hysica L syst E m (TRIPLE), that leverages blockchain , DTs, and threat intelligence (TI) to secure CPSs. The blockchain-based DT components in the framework provide data integrity, traceability, and availability for trusted DTs. Furthermore, to accurately and comprehensively model system states, the framework envisions fusing process knowledge for modeling DTs from system specification-based and learning-based information and other sources, including infrastructure-as-code (IaC) and knowledge base (KB). The framework also integrates TI for future-proofing against emerging threats, such that threats can be detected either reactively by mapping the behavior of physical and virtual spaces or proactively by TI and threat hunting. We demonstrate the viability of the framework through a proof of concept . Finally, we formally verify the TRIPLE framework to demonstrate its correctness and effectiveness in enhancing CPS security.
Christos Roumeliotis, Minas Dasygenis, Vasilis Lazaridis, Michael Dossis
The Fourth Industrial Revolution has transformed industries and supply chains by integrating advanced operations, tools, and logistics services. Despite these advancements, challenges persist, particularly in ensuring data dependability, security, and operational efficiency. Digital twins (DTs), which replicate real-world components and processes, have emerged as essential tools for enhancing predictive analytics, simulation, and product lifecycle management in Industry 4.0. However, traditional DT development relies on centralized systems, which are vulnerable to data tampering and security breaches, especially in the management of transaction logs and historical data. To address these challenges, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of integrating blockchain with DTs. Using a qualitative research methodology, including desk research, case studies, and interviews with industry experts, we analyze various blockchain-based DT applications across industries and specifically in supply chain management. The findings reveal that blockchain-enhanced DTs can significantly improve data integrity, traceability, and security, thus boosting operational efficiency and quality control in supply chains. Additionally, this study identifies key integration techniques and the role of blockchain in automating processes through smart contracts. This review provides insights into the practical implications of blockchain-based DTs, highlighting their potential to enhance the reliability and scalability of Industry 4.0 operations.
This review proposes a comprehensive framework that integrates data fusion with Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT) to enhance sustainability in supply chain management. In today’s global supply chains, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and environmental responsibility is critical, yet the lack of real-time visibility and data fragmentation presents significant challenges. The framework addresses these issues by merging data from multiple sources, including IoT devices, operational databases, and external environmental factors, using advanced data fusion algorithms. DLT, with its decentralized, immutable, and transparent nature, ensures the integrity and security of the data, allowing all stakeholders to access accurate and tamper-proof information. The fusion of data within a DLT infrastructure not only improves traceability and accountability but also enables the automation of sustainability checks via smart contracts. These contracts can trigger actions based on predefined sustainability metrics such as carbon emissions, energy consumption, and resource efficiency. Furthermore, predictive analytics and machine learning algorithms integrated into the system provide real-time monitoring and optimization of sustainability performance throughout the supply chain. The proposed review offers numerous benefits, including enhanced transparency, reduced operational costs, improved sustainability outcomes, and risk mitigation. It also addresses challenges such as scalability, data privacy, and regulatory compliance, offering solutions to overcome these hurdles. By exploring case studies of successful implementations, this review demonstrates the practical applications and future potential of combining DLT and data fusion for sustainable supply chain management, positioning it as a critical tool for organizations aiming to meet environmental and regulatory demands in an increasingly digital and eco-conscious world.
In the evolving landscape of technological discourse, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have risen as pivotal instruments, notably within gaming and digital art. However, their implications are broader, touching upon real-world applications such as land titles and supply chain management. As the Web 3.0 architecture evolves, the role of NFTs in domain nomenclature and email addresses is increasingly significant. Yet, with the existence of alternate methods for these operations, a pertinent question emerges: Why opt for NFTs or blockchain-based solutions? Despite uncertainties surrounding adoption, many early adopters are zealously securing addresses on these avant-garde networks. This chapter delves into the conditions and reasons for considering this nascent technology.
Senay A. Gebreab, Ahmad Musamih, Haya R. Hasan, Khaled Salah · 7 authors
Digital twins and digital artifacts have become integral components of metaverse platforms, providing users with a rich, immersive, and interactive digital experience through the deployment of diverse digital twins and digital artifacts such as 3D avatars, images, and objects. To date, a significant challenge persists in the lack of practical mechanisms to enable seamless teleportation and cross-metaverse interoperability for these digital twins and digital artifacts. There is also a lack of trusted monetization methods that facilitate trading and leasing of digital twins and digital artifacts. To address these important challenges, this paper proposes a blockchain and Non-Fungible Token (NFT)-based solution that facilitates the integration and teleportation of these digital twins and digital artifacts by providing trusted metadata, verifying ownership, and ensuring the authenticity of digital creations in the virtual world. Key to our solution is the introduction of a bridging mechanism that enables cross-metaverse interoperability, allowing for the portable transfer of NFTs across decentralized metaverse platforms. In addition, our solution focuses on empowering original digital creators by enabling the monetization of their creations through the ownership management capabilities offered by NFTs. To reliably and securely store the metadata and content of tokenized digital twins and digital artifacts, we integrate into our solution the Interplanetary File System (IPFS), a decentralized storage system. To demonstrate the feasibility of our solution, we have developed and deployed all necessary smart contracts that govern the main functionalities and interactions of the proposed system on the Ethereum Goerli Testnet. We present our proposed system architecture, accompanied by informative sequence diagrams, algorithms, and testing details. We discuss how our proposed solution attains the main objectives outlined in the paper. We evaluate our proposed solution in terms of cost and security. We have made the complete source code of our smart contracts publicly available on GitHub.
David F. Bucher, Jens Hunhevicz, Ranjith K. Soman, Pieter Pauwels · 5 authors
The field of construction informatics is fragmented and lacks clarity in understanding the interconnection of different data management strategies. This makes it challenging to address industry-specific data management issues. Using a critical interpretive synthesis, this study reviews and integrates both present and emerging data management approaches in construction informatics. The review is meant to be comprehensive, encompassing technologies and concepts such as Open Schema, Information Container, Common Data Environments, Linked Data, as well as cutting-edge Web3 technologies such as blockchain and decentralized data protocols. The different approaches are identified and classified into five categories and mapped into a two-dimensional framework that considers data storage and data processing modes. The systematic categorization provides a simple, but comprehensive understanding of data management strategies in construction informatics. Moreover, the framework allows to identify the state of the art and trends of data management approaches, providing guidance for future research perspectives, especially in the intersection with Web3 technologies.
Yongshun Xu, Ming Chi, Heap‐Yih Chong, Cen-Ying Lee · 5 authors
Building information modeling (BIM) and blockchain applications have introduced significant benefits to the architecture, engineering, construction, and operation (AECO) industry in recent years. Although publications on BIM and blockchain integration have been increasing, no systematic examination of the present status and managerial implications of integrated BIM and blockchain has been conducted. To bridge this gap, this paper conducts a state-of-the-art review of the development of integrated BIM and blockchain in a built environment. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was adopted to synthesize and analyze the research evidence. The results revealed five key managerial implications of BIM integration with blockchain at the project level: design and collaboration, financial management, construction management, information management, and integration management (with other cutting-edge technologies). Challenges and opportunities are outlined and articulated from both technological and managerial perspectives, such as stakeholder management, impact assessment, real-time project management, information redundancy, and incompatibility.
Ovaj diplomski rad istražuje primjenu blockchain tehnologije za sigurno pohranjivanje i praćenje građevinskih dozvola. Tradicionalni postupci registracije nekretnina često su složeni i skloni greškama, dok blockchain nudi digitalna i automatizirana rješenja koja mogu značajno pojednostaviti ove procese. U radu su obrađeni temeljni koncepti i evolucija blockchaina, uključujući Peer-to-Peer komunikaciju, različite vrste blockchaina, te mehanizme konsenzusa poput Proof-of-Work i Proof-of-Stake koji osiguravaju valjanost transakcija. Posebna pažnja posvećena je pametnim ugovorima na Ethereum platformi koji omogućuju automatsko izvršavanje bez potrebe za posrednicima. Razrađene su njihove funkcionalnosti i korištenje programskog jezika Solidity za njihovu implementaciju, kao i integracija InterPlanetary File Systema (IPFS) za čuvanje metapodataka. Također, analizirana je primjena Moralis Event API-ja za indeksiranje i lakše pretraživanje podataka, budući da je direktno pretraživanje blockchaina složeno i često neučinkovito. Praktični dio rada uključuje razvoj decentralizirane aplikacije koja koristi pametni ugovor i IPFS za sigurno praćenje građevinskih dozvola. Demonstrirano je kako blockchain tehnologija, poznata po svojoj sigurnosti, transparentnosti i decentralizaciji, može unaprijediti industriju nekretnina smanjenjem troškova, ubrzanjem transakcija i povećanjem ukupne pouzdanosti sustava.
Wahyu Nur Hidayat, Oktafian Sultan Hakim, Sritrusta Sukaridhoto, Muhammad Agus Zainuddin · 8 authors
The integration of 3D innovation, Mixed Reality (MR), and blockchain in smart buildings has revolutionized the IoT sector. Visualization using 3D technology and immersive interfaces allows users to control and interact with devices within smart building environments. Users can use hand gestures or controllers in a 3D environment to adjust lighting, monitor energy consumption, or manage other smart devices. When combined with MR, the capabilities of 3D technology are enhanced with virtual elements overlaying onto the real-world environment. Within smart buildings, MR can visualize real-time sensor data, display device statuses, and provide intuitive visual feedback. The integration of blockchain in this ecosystem adds layers of security, transparency, and trust by securely recording and verifying device data, control commands, and user interactions. Blockchain technology enables secure peer-to-peer communication and smart contracts for automated device interactions and control. User testing results for controlling smart buildings with Mixed Reality (MR) technology showed high user satisfaction with an average score of 4.48. Users appreciated the performance and functionality of the system, as well as the new experience provided by the natural and immersive MR interface for interacting with smart building controls.
In the rapidly growing consumer electronics industry, continuous innovation drives increasing demand for smart devices and advanced gadgets. However, this sector faces changing demands and complex supply chains due to the management of rapid technological advancements and consumer expectations. Seamless communication between suppliers and consumers is essential to optimize production processes, minimize waste, and enhance overall customer satisfaction. In response to these demands, this paper presents a solution that combines Digital Twins (DT) and blockchain to improve security and efficiency in metaverse-inspired consumer-oriented supply chains. Herein, DT is used to represent products in virtual spaces and blockchain secures sensitive information using encryption and access controls. Our objective is to create a transparent, secure, and user-friendly system where consumers and suppliers can interact in real-time to verify product details and access important information of featured tasks like warranties and payment settlement. Smart contracts automates these tasks to make processes faster and more reliable. Through experiments, we tested how well the system maintains product integrity, authenticates transactions, and supports consumer-oriented supply chain (CSC) operations. Comparative analysis shows that our approach improves security, performance, and scalability over existing methods. Furthermore, the proposed system not only enhances security, trust, and transparency in CSC but also sets a higher standard for consumer demands and satisfaction. The findings point to the potential solution for future innovations in metaverse-driven CSC management systems.
The rapid integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) into logistics and supply chain management (SCM) marks a significant transformation towards enhanced efficiencies, security, and sustainability. Through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 2680 publications from the Scopus database, this study charts the evolution of IoT within logistics and SCM and reveals a shift from foundational explorations to mature implementations. The research unfolds a complex thematic structure, highlighting the revolutionary impacts of IoT and related technologies such as RFID, the synergy of Industry 4.0 with SCM through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), the strategic role of blockchain for enhanced traceability and security, and the advent of novel communication and encryption technologies for secure data exchanges. Further, the analysis categorizes the scholarly discourse into critical areas including big data and IoT optimization in SCM, IoT-driven innovation in the food supply chain, applications of blockchain and smart contracts, digital transformation through Industry 4.0, security advancements with intelligent systems, and the exploration of advanced technologies for Industry 4.0 and 5.0. This review not only delineates the intellectual landscape of IoT applications in logistics and SCM but also identifies emerging research areas such as blockchain integration, 5G potential, and AI-driven optimizations, suggesting pathways for future research to broaden the understanding in this dynamically evolving field. It serves as an essential resource for academics and practitioners, providing insights into the transformative role of IoT in logistics and SCM and proposing directions for future technological and academic endeavors.
Abstract Although Industry 4.0 plays the role of a catalyst in the transition from a linear economy to a circular economy (CE), some sustainability goals are neglected by prioritizing machines over humans. Industry 5.0 insists on combining technology with human values to achieve sustainable development goals. Therefore, the integration of CE and Industry 5.0 leads to sustainable synergy in various industries, especially in manufacturing industries. However, their integration is always associated with challenges and barriers. This study identifies a set of these barriers in the electric vehicle battery production industry from the financial, technical, supply chain, cultural, and regulatory and processes perspectives through a deep literature review. The fuzzy weighted influence non‐linear gauge system method is used to analyze the relationship between identified barriers and their prioritization. Finally, we leverage the knowledge of four experts from an electric vehicle battery manufacturing company in Southeast Asia to validate the proposed approach and to rank the barriers. The results demonstrate that immature technology providers are the biggest obstacle in the integration of blockchain‐based CE and Industry 5.0 in the electric vehicle battery manufacturing industry.
Xuling Ye, Ningshuang Zeng, Xingyu Tao, Daguang Han · 5 authors
With the digital transformation of the construction industry, the need to improve construction business process collaboration and automation is increasing. However, as construction projects usually involve many stakeholders with complex relationships and insufficient mutual trust, the existing technologies cannot fulfill the requirements of the construction industry. This paper explores the integration of blockchain, smart contracts, and process automation technologies into construction business processes, shedding light on both managerial and technical challenges. The study introduces a comprehensive technical framework meticulously designed to align with the intricate nature of construction practices while focusing on the resolution of legal complexities associated with smart contract applications and the facilitation of process collaboration and automation. The framework comprises three core modules: (1) action definition and extension to process models, (2) standardized mapping for automatic smart contract generation, and (3) smart contract visualization for reliable process collaboration and automation. This multifaceted approach caters to the specific needs of construction management, standardization, interoperability, and visualization. The framework’s practicality is further evaluated through real-world testing within a construction payment case, effectively showcasing its efficacy and applicability in tangible business scenarios. While this paper represents a significant step forward in addressing construction business process collaboration and automation challenges, it acknowledges the necessity for ongoing research and development to refine and expand these innovative solutions to meet the evolving demands of construction management.
Diana Paola Amaya Amado, Fabian Andrés Cárdenas Diaz, Roció del Pilar Cabrera Pantoja, Lina María Bastidas Sanchez
This article reviews the advances, benefits and contributions of artificial intelligence to business organizations, without ignoring the need for skilled human labor and talent that companies have always required and which is essential for the economic development of a company. The implementation of legal frameworks and regulations that will in turn address issues such as organizational privacy, cybersecurity and liability are important aspects to be addressed in this article. Thus, this paper focuses on the compilation of scientific articles, books and other texts in which important topics were evidenced such as (i). - Innovation and invention, (ii). - Big Data, (iii). -Implementation of artificial intelligence in organizations, and (iv). -legality and responsibility of decisions, likewise, it examines the legal challenges of AI and highlights that smart contracts are a technological innovation that allows secure, fast and low-risk transactions using blockchain technology, this is why the literature review aims to explore how technology, artificial intelligence and communication tools can facilitate the work of the population, decreasing the time spent on some activities