The adoption of blockchain in the public electrical vehicle charging market has yet to be realized to its full potential, despite existing proof-of-concept. A positive outlook for blockchain is suggested by contemporary research, as well as the need for empirical studies to fully identify blockchain’s barriers to adoption. Through qualitative methods, a focused literature review, and in-depth interviews with subject matter experts, this thesis investigated which barriers to blockchain adoption exist in the public electrical vehicle charging market. The results indicated that the main barrier to blockchain adoption was the structure of the public electrical vehicle charging market itself, since it is an immature market experiencing constant change. This was followed by: coordination, norms and cultures, business process, incumbent technological solutions, regulations and legislations, shared infrastructure, and distributed ledger technology. These barriers were not shown individually, but were affected by each other. It is concluded that blockchain technology is not needed by the market in its current state, as its key defining attributes of privacy, security and decentralization are not deemed worth the cost of its own implementation. This research contributes to, and updates, the knowledge of blockchain utilization for the public electrical vehicle charging market. The results can be used by private and public organizations and scholars as reference material with regards to blockchain adoption for public electrical vehicle charging.
Innovative solutions addressing product anti-counterfeiting and record provenance have been deployed across today's internationally spanning supply chain networks. These product anti-counterfeiting solutions are developed and implemented with centralized system architecture relying on centralized authorities or any form of intermediaries. Vulnerabilities of centralized product anti-counterfeiting solutions could possibly lead to system failure or susceptibility of malicious modifications performed on product records or various potential attacks to the system components by dishonest participant nodes traversing along the supply chain. Blockchain technology has progressed from merely with a use case of immutable ledger for cryptocurrency transactions to a programmable interactive environment of developing decentralized and reliable applications addressing different use cases globally. In this research, so as to facilitate trustworthy data provenance retrieval, verification and management, as well as strengthening capability of product anti-counterfeiting, key areas of decentralization and feasible mechanisms of developing decentralized and distributed product anti-counterfeiting and traceability ecosystems utilizing blockchain technology, are identified via a series of security and threat analyses performed mainly against NFC-Enabled Anti-Counterfeiting System (NAS) which is one of the solutions currently implemented in the industry with centralized architecture. A set of fundamental system requirements are set out for developing a blockchain-enabled autonomous and decentralized solution for supply chain anti-counterfeiting and traceability, as a secure and immutable scientific data provenance tracking and management platform in which provenance records, providing compelling properties on data integrity of luxurious goods, are recorded and verified automatically, for supply chain industry.
Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a major advancement in the digitization of manufacturing and production operations. Additive manufacturing uses three dimensional digital design, software and hardware equipment to precisely deposit layered materials for on-demand product manufacturing. The distinct advantages in enabling additive manufacturing includes cost efficiency, reduced time-to-market, flexibility and precise customization. However, several challenges such as trusted traceability, certification for quality compliance, and protecting intellectual property need to be addressed. Blockchain-based distributed ledgers provide tremendous advantages for product traceability and ensure trust among participating stakeholders. In this paper, we propose a blockchain-based solution for product traceability produced using additive manufacturing, guaranteeing secure and trusted traceability, accessibility, and immutability of transactions, and data provenance among supply chain stakeholders. Our proposed solution utilizes Ethereum smart contracts to govern and trace transactions initiated by participants involved in the manufacturing process. Decentralized storage of Inter-Planetary File Systems is used to store and share design files, IoT device records, and additional product specifications. We provide the system architecture, implementation, and detailed algorithms that demonstrate the working principles of our proposed solution for secure AM. Furthermore, we present detailed security and cost analysis of the solution highlighting its efficiency with respect to key security and performance requirements.
Blockchain-based product traceability systems are receiving increasing attention from both industry and academia. Existing systems make full use of the traceability and non-modification characteristics of blockchain technology and realize the openness and transparency of product traceability information in the entire supply chain. However, existing systems do not consider government regulation, cannot protect enterprise sensitive private data effectively, and have performance bottlenecks. To address these problems, this paper proposes a product traceability scheme based on the permissioned blockchain within a double-layer framework. We introduce the double-layer framework and describe its advantages in detail. We also describe the smart contracts (chain code) in the double-layer framework. Finally, we test the performance of the proposed scheme through simulation experiments. The simulation results demonstrate the performance of nodes in the main layer, which is very important for consumers to obtain product traceability information, is optimized.
Blockchain is an emerging technology that has been widely hyped for addressing many business issues. Blockchain's disruptive technological capabilities have the potential to revolutionize global supply chain management processes, and impact green supply chain initiatives. Blockchain technology incorporates four major characteristics: transparency, reliability, smart execution, and tokenization. Blockchain characteristics have implications for green practices in the upstream supply chain, focal company, and downstream supply chain. This chapter provides insights, exemplary practices, and use cases on how blockchain features can enhance green supply chain activities. Research concerns and directions are proposed to advance the discussion and research on this emergent field.
Supply chain management or logistics is a crucial aspect of any business, be it agriculture, food, healthcare, and more. However, it also involves a communication among a host of actors performing different roles in the chain. Integration of these actors in a transparent yet secure way is needed, which blockchain technology has the potential to do so. In this article, different models of blockchain application in logistics are discussed and how the permissioned blockchains can be used in realizing the business case. An overview of different frameworks which enable permissioned blockchains are discussed in this article. Based on this, the authors propose an asset transfer model which can be employed to enhance supply chain trackability using permissioned blockchain.
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide This study estimates the environmental impact of mining Bitcoin, the most well-known blockchain-based cryptocurrency, and contributes to the discussion on the technology’s supposedly large energy consumption and carbon footprint. The lack of a robust methodological framework and of accurate data on key factors determining Bitcoin’s impact have so far been the main obstacles in such an assessment. This study applied the well-established Life Cycle Assessment methodology to an in-depth analysis of drivers of past and future environmental impacts of the Bitcoin mining network. It was found that, in 2018, the Bitcoin network consumed 31.29 TWh with a carbon footprint of 17.29 MtCO 2 -eq, an estimate that is in the lower end of the range of results from previous studies. The main drivers of such impact were found to be the geographical distribution of miners and the efficiency of the mining equipment. In contrast to previous studies, it was found that the service life, production, and end-of-life of such equipment had only a minor contribution to the total impact, and that while the overall hashrate is expected to increase, the energy consumption and environmental footprint per TH mined is expected to decrease.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to show the feasibility of blockchain technology to perform as an infrastructure for improving built asset sustainability by providing all the necessary information for better decision making at all the stages of its life cycle. Design/methodology/approach Blockchain technology can be used as a tool to build a reliable and secure decentralized information system to capture and disseminate all the data required for different sustainability assessment models. A model is designed and tested through a synthetic scenario to substantiate the research objective with empirical work. Findings It is shown that blockchain can revolutionize the current state of knowledge for long-term sustainability thinking and provide necessary information in different stages of the life cycle of a built asset. With the proposed decentralized, transparent and comprehensive database using blockchain, the life cycle assessment methods can become much more inclusive and reliable. The new holistic analysis of the built asset sustainability enables better decision making in design, build, operation and demolition of each asset. Originality/value This paper proposes and tests a model for using blockchain as an infrastructure to support built asset sustainability. Practitioners from different backgrounds at different stages of a built asset life cycle can use such a network to make better decisions and better assess the sustainability of their built assets.
Abstract This paper aims to identify, and analyze how the use of blockchains technology can support sustainable supply chain management strategies. This support is seen from environmental, economic, and social aspects. In addition, it explains the various advantages of using Blokchain technology to reduce the use of transportation and other resources that have the potential to damage the environment. From an economic aspect, this technology has the potential to increase the efficiency of cost and time. Blockchain technology also has the potential to provide social benefits for the companies involved because of the increasingly good reputation of the organization. Three examples of implementation of the blockchain in three different industries are also provided in this paper. This paper also points out the potential disadvantages of using this technology for supply chains that can threaten supply chain sustainability.
Blockchain generation and the Internet of Things are two of the most famous technology these days. IoT is an interconnection of devices which have the usefulness to detect, degree, a strategy the country of natural markers just as themselves and incite dependent on the enter outfitted. It can help make astute arrangements which could enhance the best of ways of life of individuals. In like manner, blockchain is dispensed database structures that guarantee an extreme dimension of wellbeing and accessibility of actualities with least exchange overhead. In this proposal, we endeavor to convey together that two innovation to grow a Smart Waste Management System (SWMS). The SWMS is weight-based for example Clients need to pay for the utilization of administrations as indicated by the measure of waste they produce. Installments are made the use of a custom digital currency controlled by utilizing Smart Contracts and the total SWMS can be supported with the guide of a DAO through a totally computerized, observably secure strategy. Blockchain can help bring down the infiltration and supplier esteem which might be particularly valuable to developing countries in which governments are not exceptionally inventive. This paper tries to set up an evidence of concept thru size of performance and evaluation of the applicability of this type of device.
Seyed Hamidreza Ghaffar, Matthew Burman, Nuhu Braimah
The challenges of sustainable construction, industrial growth and importance of resource efficiency are clearly recognised by the UK government and are now at the forefront of strategy and policy. A critical component of the government’s sustainability strategies concerns way in which construction and demolition waste (C&DW) is managed. In this study a mixed method approach was adopted to investigate current practices of C&DW management and circular construction (re-use, recycle and recovery of materials) concept awareness in the UK. Relevant stakeholders from the construction industry (contracting, demolition and C&DW organisations) were selected and their views solicited on arguments about circular construction to help establish common visions and further encourage sustainable behaviour across the sector. The study revealed that legislation by the government on the re-use and recycling threshold for every new project can substantially improve circularity within the built environment. More specifically, focus should be on smart dismantling of buildings and ways of optimising cost effective processes. This will enable fair competition between stakeholders and eventually lead to investments in innovative approaches for resource recovery from C&DW. Further incentives and appreciations from government should also be given to stakeholders who are innovating and setting benchmarks in circular construction. This can lead to harmonised technological and non-technological solutions, closed-loop material processes and a circular economy.
With the increasing interest in connected vehicles along with electrification opportunities, there is an ongoing effort to automate the charging process of electric vehicles (EVs). However, charging EVs takes time and thus in-advance scheduling is needed. This, however, raises privacy concerns since frequent scheduling will expose the charging pattern of the EV to the service providers. Nevertheless, the EV needs to be authenticated which means some information will need to be provided anyway. While there have been many studies to address the problem of privacy-preserving authentication, such solutions will be void if charging payments are made through traditional means. In this paper, we tackle this problem by utilizing distributed applications enabled by Blockchain and smart contracts. We adapt zero-knowledge proofs to Blockchain for enabling privacy-preserving authentication while removing the need for a central authority. The evaluation indicates that the overhead of this process is affordable to enable real-time charging operations for connected EVs.
This chapter explores cases involving the use of blockchain-enabled technology in the waste management industry, particularly electronic waste management. In order to achieve the goals of a circular economy, adequate investment in waste management is important globally. However, little is known or understood about the role of blockchain technology within the waste management industry. In this chapter, a review of the application of blockchain in the waste management supply chain is presented, and its impact in terms of achieving sustainability goals, in particular the traceability of waste within the closed loop supply chain, is identified. In addition, an overview is provided of companies such as Provenance, Minespider and Bundel, among others applying these technologies. It is recommended that in order to benefit from blockchain technology within the waste management industry, all stakeholders will need to help create ecosystems that can make more effective use of emerging technologies in this sector.
Abstract Prior studies have already predicted that enforcement of IP on the additive manufacturing industry will not be successful due to the widespread use of file-sharing technologies, similar to the entertainment and music industry. This paper discusses the capabilities of Blockchain technology for protecting IP in the design and manufacturing area. A conceptual framework for a digital platform is defined in this paper and further, a survey study of engineering design and manufacturing students has been conducted to identify the main motivation behind developing these platforms and the types of features that should be included in Blockchain-based IP platforms for asset protection, particularly for product design. In addition, respondents provided their opinions about the type of industry that might be affected more by the threat of counterfeiting products and the role of Blockchain-based IP systems on the growth and development of innovation.
Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
The circular economy (CE) is an emergent concept to rethink and redesign how our economy works. The concept recognizes effective and efficient economic functioning at multiple scales—governments and individuals, globally and locally; for businesses, large and small. CE represents a systemic shift that builds long-term resilience at multiple levels (macro, meso and micro); generating new business and economic opportunities while providing environmental and societal benefits. Blockchain, an emergent and critical technology, is introduced to the circular economy environment as a potential enabler for many circular economic principles. Blockchain technology supported information systems can improve circular economy performance at multiple levels. Product deletion, a neglected but critical effort in product management and product portfolio management, is utilized as an illustrative business scenario as to blockchain’s application in a circular economy research context. Product deletion, unlike product proliferation, has received minimal attention from both academics and practitioners. Product deletion decisions need to be evaluated and analyzed in the circular economy context. CE helps address risk aversion issues in product deletions such as inventory, waste and information management. This paper is the first to conceptualize the relationships amongst blockchain technology, product deletion and the circular economy. Many nuances of relationships are introduced in this study. Future evaluation and critical reflections are also presented with a need for a rigorous and robust research agenda to evaluate the multiple and complex relationships and interplay amongst technology, policy, commerce and the natural environment.
Dominik Schmelz, Karl Pinter, Stefan Strobl, Lei Zhu · 6 authors
When it comes to waste management and waste tracking, the main objectives are: prevent and reuse as much waste as possible. In the last decade, there has been a strong shift from the disposal of waste to recycling thereof. Within the EU, EU member states are required to establish waste prevention programs through the "Waste Framework EU Directive" which attempts to turn the EU into a recycling society. Similar endeavors also exist in other countries and regions. With globalization, the disposal of waste became a lucrative business case, often without transparency whether the waste has been disposed of properly and according to regulations or directives installed by each country. Waste flow management is the basis of sustainable waste prevention and recycling. Short-term solutions and financial profit accelerated malpractice in waste disposal and recycling. The currently used systems cannot track waste across borders in a transparent, but data-protected and tamper-proof way. Therefore, solutions to address these concerns have to be found and implemented. Blockchain enables new approaches, especially in ecosystems with distrust in every participating stakeholder, which is the case in waste flow tracking. We introduce and discuss a novel solution for waste tracking, on the basis of blockchain technology and smart contracts, that fulfills the aforementioned requirements.
Adrián E. Coronado Mondragón, Christian E. Coronado Mondragon, Etienne S. Coronado
Distributed ledger/blockchain has emerged as an important technology that can have a significant impact on the management of supply chains. This paper investigates the feasibility of adopting blockchain technology in both manufacturing and perishable goods supply chains. Two cases are used to illustrate the approach proposed in this work. The first case addresses the use of blockchain technology in the supply chain of composite materials in order to facilitate the certification process of components made of carbon fiber employed in the aerospace sector. The second case investigates the feasibility of adopting blockchain technology in the supply chain of live seafood. In the first case blockchain technology has the potential to be used by industry peers to perform experimental validation tests including flammability, crashworthiness, operational, etc. Additionally in both cases blockchain technology can be used for transportation, handling and storage, not to mention tamper proof checks, product history and provenance tracking.
Chandra Narayanaswami, R. Nooyi, S. R. Govindaswamy, Ramesh Viswanathan
Increasing globalization, e-commerce usage, and social awareness are leading to increased consumer demand for variety, value, convenience, immediacy, verifiable authenticity and provenance, ethical materials sourcing and manufacturing, regulatory compliance, and services after sales. Fulfilling this increased complexity of consumer demand has required supply chains to evolve into multienterprise networks with numerous flow paths in production, merchandising, and fulfillment involving many organizational/institutional handoffs, to effectively manage a large number of complex products with shorter life cycles and high transaction volumes. The supply chain management models of today place higher demands on automation and require a transition from the traditional paradigm of planning followed by long-loop execution for a handful of segments to a paradigm of managing a portfolio of end-to-end instrumented data-rich microsegmented supply chains that are monitored and adjusted in near real time. These essential aspects and challenges of supply chain management require the supporting information technology to also evolve. In this paper, we propose a novel reference software architecture to address the complex requirements of modern supply chains that also integrates blockchain into several layers of the stack. We present several examples where this reference architecture is applicable, and then demonstrate through a use case in production that integrating blockchain technology helps with providing visibility, documenting provenance, and allowing permissioned data access to facilitate the automation of many high-volume tasks such as reconciliations, payments, and settlements.