Blockchain, BIM, and Built Environments

Public Domain Image Courtesy of the MET

According to researchers at the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, blockchain technologies could resolve issues surrounding intellectual property rights when 3D printing. In the May-June 2018 issue of TME, they note that blockchain methods (or distributed ledger technologies) establish ledger systems that would help to securely log every 3D print. Such systems would ensure those with the intellectual property rights for that 3D print (no matter where it’s printed) are appropriately paid for it.

As large scale 3D printing technology, and robotic construction come of age and enter the built environment industries, designers can be appropriately paid for their contribution to built environment improvements wherever they are implemented. This could be possible whenever 4D BIM model content is generated as live interconnected transaction records using blockchain methods. Automated payment would occur whenever 3D printing and robotic construction task completions are executed using their respective BIM content.

Blockchain methods could add value to built environment ventures beyond construction execution too. Utility systems can also be made more resilient through distributed ledger technology applications as well. For example, LO3 Energy’s Brooklyn Microgrid uses a blockchain enabled peer-to-peer energy transaction system to support the continued functioning of a small utility grid even during an outage of the standard utility grid.

Think about where blockchain methods can add value in your next Built Environment Innovation Challenge. It’s an open source, project based learning challenge curricula, hosted on a GitHub repository, that fosters innovative built environment venture planning and project development.