Building information modeling (BIM) plays a critical role in the integration of different parties by acting as a centralized database defining their responsibilities and contractual obligations. However, resolution of conflicts among stakeholders remains a shortcoming of BIM. Blockchain is on a path to disrupt many aspects of businesses that deal with the coordination of information and trust to enable a single source of truth model with multiple control entities. The purpose of this study is to analyze construction supply chain (CSC) data delivery challenges to provide a rationale for the integration of BIM and blockchain enabling a reliable digital deliverable (RDD) for operation. Three systematic reviews and a focus group discussion are used in this study. This is the first study to develop a compelling rationale systematically for the integration of BIM and blockchain and propose an RDD model, paving the way for a single source of truth system. The study enables blockchain to be set in context of both theoretical value transfer and its practical application for CSC data delivery in the form of BIM.

In the Australian construction industry, effective supply chain risk management (SCRM) is critical due to its complex networks and susceptibility to various risks. This study explores the application of transformer models like BERT, RoBERTa, DistilBERT, ALBERT, and ELECTRA for Named Entity Recognition (NER) in this context. Utilizing these models, we analyzed news articles to identify and classify entities related to supply chain risks, providing insights into the vulnerabilities within this sector. Among the evaluated models, RoBERTa achieved the highest average F1 score of 0.8580, demonstrating its superior balance in precision and recall for NER in the Australian construction supply chain context. Our findings highlight the potential of NLP-driven solutions to revolutionize SCRM, particularly in geo-specific settings.

Purpose: Despite a large amount of BIM data at the handover stage, it is still difficult to identify and effectively isolate valuable construction supply chain (CSC) data that need to be reliably handed over for operation. Moreover, the role of reconciling disparate data is usually played by one party. The integration of blockchain and BIM is a plausible framework for building a reliable digital asset lifecycle. This paper proposes a BIM single source of truth (BIMSSoT) data model using blockchain for ensuring a reliable CSC data delivery.Design/methodology/approach: This paper utilises a blended methodology, the foundation of which is ingrained in business and management research with elements of information and communication technology (ICT) research wherever required. Knowledge elicitation case studies utilising novel interventions such as a data flow diagram (DFD), taxonomy and entity-relationship diagram (ERD) were used in this paper to develop the BIMSSoT data model. The model was validated using an expert forum, and its technological feasibility was established by developing a proof of concept.Findings: The practical contribution of this research leads to the progression of BIM towards digital engineering to go beyond object-based 3D modelling by building structured and reliable datasets, transitioning from project-centric records to a digital ecosystem of linked databases by utilizing blockchain's potential for ensuring trusted data.Originality/value: To the best of the author's knowledge, prior to this paper, no research had investigated a detailed data model development leveraging blockchain and BIM to integrate an immutable and complete record of CSC data as another dimension of BIM for operations.

Blockchain is becoming a game-changer for many sectors, noted for its tamper-proof nature that boosts data structures' integrity, auditability, and transparency. It provides the pragmatics within which data exchange between construction supply chain (CSC) stakeholders notably addresses its fragmented character. However, the construction industry is lagging compared to other sectors regarding the share of blockchain business activities. On the other hand, Building Information Modelling (BIM) is globally recognized as the primary catalyst for digital transformation within the construction industry to expedite coordination and data exchange between CSC stakeholders. Even though some existing researchers propose software prototypes to establish the technological feasibility of BIM integration with blockchain, there is a lack of a management model that CSC stakeholders can follow to help the industry manage change and obtain maximum value from the technology to put processes in motion. The philosophy behind the sensing-shaping-seizing framework is used in this paper to reflect what is required to propel companies towards integrating BIM and Blockchain in the Construction Supply Chain through a stakeholder's development stack, drivers and barriers to adoption, and potential disruption points. The research approach was an induction involving two construction enterprises in Australia selected for the knowledge elicitation case studies. The primary contribution of this research to knowledge is the translation of the blockchain technology stack, consisting of the application, protocol, and networking layers, into a holistic understanding of the roles played by each CSC data stakeholder and their motivation to adopt the potential solution at each layer.

Blockchain can be introduced to use cases in the built environment where reliability of transaction records is paramount. Blockchain facilitates decentralised, cryptographically secure, trustworthy, and immutable recordkeeping of transactions. However, more research is urgently required to understand the process and complications in implementing blockchain solutions in the built environment. This paper demonstrates a methodology for developing a blockchain system starting from problem analysis, selection of blockchain platform, system modelling, prototype development, and evaluation. The evolutionary prototyping model was selected as the software development methodology for the use case of property transactions. A systematic process protocol involving the multi-criteria decision-making method, Simple Multi Attribute Rating Technique (SMART), was used to select Hyperledger Fabric as the most suitable blockchain platform for the prototype. The system architecture facilitates a simplified, lean property transaction process implemented through chaincode (smart contract) algorithms and graphical user interfaces. System evaluation through test cases allowed iterative improvements, leading to an incubation-ready software prototype. The contribution to knowledge of this paper is in the demonstration of the process to follow to implement a blockchain solution for a specific domain. The findings provide the foundation for developing proofs of concept for other potential applications of blockchain in the built environment.

A business model represents an organisation’s value logic with a value proposition as the central dimension. The construction industry has been categorised as fragmented, slow to move and destructively competitive, idealising only cost-based perceptions of performance; however, recent trends indicate a paradigm shift in the sector emphasising value-based perspectives such as early engagement, design for manufacture and assembly, and a lifecycle approach by promoting a conscious discourse on business model innovation. This paper presents a systematic review and integration of research on business models in the construction industry. The findings illuminate the potential of business models as creative tools for strategy formulation, the importance of strategic partnerships in novel business models, and the bridging role that business models play between technology integration and strategy formulation. Based on the findings, the paper proposes future research directions, including understanding how managers can steer conflicts towards cooperative competition (coopetition), exploring various pathways (leaping and drifting) for business model innovation and project-based business model innovation. The paper establishes that using a business model approach to facilitate strategic transformation can help construction firms resolve some of the most pressing challenges, such as customer dissatisfaction, fragmentation, and slow technology uptake.