Blockchain technology in the construction industry: Current status, challenges, and future directions

The construction industry is becoming increasingly interested in blockchains, and relevant publications have blossomed in recent years. This study provided a state-of-the-art review of blockchain research in the industry in order to better comprehend the fast-evolving technology. A systematic method integrating quantitative and qualitative analyses was used to capture the research status, challenges, and future directions based on 141 publications published between 2017 and 2021. The distributions of 141 papers were quantitatively analyzed in terms of chronology, geography, journal, and research type. The majority of blockchain applications focused on the construction stage, while progress payment management and supply chain management were the top two topics. Different blockchain applications throughout the entire lifecycle of building projects were also introduced through qualitative analyses. Finally, this research indicated the challenges and future directions of blockchain research in the construction industry. This review provides valuable information to help construction researchers and practitioners understand blockchain research advances and better determine research opportunities.