BLOCKCHAIN | REAL-LIFE APPLICATIONS involved to access relevant data through the internet. Linking blockchain to materials or products allows reliable, effective and transparent tracking of the entity throughout its life-cycle. Engineers can view data related to the life-cycle of a product, and have better information about a buildings life-cycle analysis, carbon footprint, and use of newly obtained raw materials. The concept of buildings as material banks (BAMB) is a circular one. The BAMB project, funded by the European Union, emphasises this, and instead of materials used in buildings being directed as waste after its life-cycle, BAMB encourages reuse of these resources. This reduction in waste leads to fewer virgin resources being used, lowering the environmental costs and, in the current situation, alleviating risks of resource scarcity. Having blockchain as a base platform enables BAMB to function properly. Material lifespans can be viewed to see how long something has been in operation; its production source can be looked at to see the ethics of its manufacture, and previous refurbishments examined to gauge its integrity and physical condition plus an array of other data. The IoT and blockchain The IoT generally refers to the network of devices that can connect to a wider network, such as the internet, and exchange data. With IoT devices becoming popular, they can allow significant performance enhancements in the built environment, from smart buildings to city-wide infrastructure management. On a smaller scale, IoT devices integrated with blockchain can enable things such as a fixed track record of parts or systems in the building. Blockchain data can be viewed by relevant parties, and may contain data on the expected remaining operation lifespan of components. On a larger scale, IoT and blockchain can transform the way we interact and manage city infrastructures. Transportation, water resources, energy and residents can all benefit from IoT. Commuters can pay for public transportation with smart devices rather than with cards or cash; and public infrastructure can be maintained or Hikari, in Lyon, achieved net positive generation of electricity thanks to its microgrid newly built with fully transparent data for anyone to look at, ensuring no misused funds. There are many uses of blockchain and IoT that can assist towards an evolving digital future. Nokia delved into this sector by launching the Nokia Data Marketplace in 2021. This sets out to provide a blockchain framework to enable secure and trusted exchanges of data. According to Nokia, the data marketplace has been used with Equinix data centres to allow organisations to securely share data and algorithms globally at more than 240 locations. This provided insight that even large data producers and consumers, such as artificial intelligence or machine-learning devices, can use blockchain. Nokia describes the platform as being used for predictive maintenance of equipment, supply chain automation, predictive traffic management, data exchange between government agencies, and environmental data monetisation in agriculture. While blockchain may be nascent in the construction industry, it clearly has many applications, with some pioneering companies already taking advantage of the technology. If you have seen examples of blockchain in building services, please let CIBSE Journal know at editor@cibsejournal.com. CJ SAMREET SINGH is an environmental engineer at IN2 Engineering 36 September 2022 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Sept 22 pp34-36 Blockchain.indd 36 26/08/2022 18:31