Blockchain-Enabled Digital Twins in the Built Environment: Socio-Technical Barriers to Post-Construction Integration

Abstract

Blockchain-enabled Digital Twins (BC-enabled DTs) offer transformative potential for enhancing the post-construction management of a building’s lifecycle through real-time monitoring, improved data accessibility, and more effective decision-making, ultimately fostering trust and collaboration among stakeholders. However, the successful integration of BC-enabled DTs in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Facilities Management (AEC-FM) sector is hindered by a complex interplay of barriers. This study employs a socio-technical lens in synthesising insights from academic literature and stakeholder perspectives to identify key barriers categorised across four interconnected dimensions: policy, people, process, and technology. Policy challenges include a lack of clear standards, guidelines, and regulatory clarity. People-related issues encompass insufficient awareness, limited digital skills, and resistance to change. Process barriers point to high implementation costs, lack of validated use cases, and unresolved data ownership. Technological obstacles such as inadequate system integration, energy-intensive infrastructure, and cybersecurity risks further complicate adoption. The study's contribution lies in providing an integrated, multi-dimensional framework that highlights where targeted interventions are most needed. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers aiming to adopt BC-enabled DTS to promote a more sustainable, intelligent, and data-driven post-construction phase.