Blockchain of Things and Deep Learning Applications in Construction: Digital Construction Transformation

This book significantly contributes the digital transformation of construction. The book explores the capabilities of deep learning to provide smart solutions for the construction industry, particularly in areas of managing equipment, design optimization, energy optimization and detect cracks for buildings and highways. It provides conceptual solutions but also practical techniques. A new deep learning CNN-based highway cracks detection is demonstrated, and its usefulness is tested. The resulting deep learning CNN model will enable users to scan long distance of highway and detect types of cracks accurately in a very short time compared to traditional approaches.

The book explores the integration of IoT and blockchain to provide practical solutions to tackle existing challenges like the endemic fragmentation in supply chain, the need for monitoring construction projects remotely and tracking equipment on the site. The Blockchain of Things (BCoT) concept has been introduced to exploit the advantages of IoT and blockchain, and different applications were developed based on this integration in leading industries such as shared economy and health care. Workable potential use cases to exploit successful utilization of BCoT for the construction industry are explored in the book's chapters.

This book will appeal to researchers in providing a comprehensive review of related literature on blockchain, the IoT and construction identify gaps and offer a springboard for future research. Construction practitioners, research and development institutes and policy makers will also benefit from its usefulness as a reference book and collection of case studies on the application of these new approaches in construction.

這本書在建築行業的數位轉型方面做出了重大貢獻。該書探討了深度學習在建築行業中提供智能解決方案的能力，特別是在設備管理、設計優化、能源優化和建築物和公路的裂縫檢測方面。它提供了概念性解決方案，也提供了實用技術。書中展示了一種基於深度學習卷積神經網絡（CNN）的公路裂縫檢測方法，並測試了其實用性。這種深度學習CNN模型將使用戶能夠在非常短的時間內準確掃描長距離的公路並檢測出各種裂縫，相比傳統方法更加高效。

該書探討了物聯網（IoT）和區塊鏈的整合，以提供解決現有挑戰的實用解決方案，例如供應鏈中的分散性問題、遠程監控建築項目和跟踪工地上的設備。引入了物聯網和區塊鏈的物聯網區塊鏈（BCoT）概念，並基於這種整合在共享經濟和醫療保健等領域開發了不同的應用。書中的章節探討了利用BCoT在建築行業中成功利用的可行潛在用例。

這本書將吸引研究人員，提供了有關區塊鏈、物聯網和建築的相關文獻的全面回顧，並確定了差距，為未來的研究提供了跳板。建築從業人員、研發機構和政策制定者也將從它作為參考書和建築中這些新方法應用的案例研究集的有用性中受益。

Prof. Farzad Rahimian is Professor of Digital Engineering and Manufacturing, with a robust research track-record delivering more than 150 quality publications and more than 1600 citations. His research career has been developed through 1) ten years high-quality education in Architecture, Digital Design and Innovative Construction Technologies (from 1996-2002+2007-2010), 2) 20 years' academic work experience, including research-informed teaching and teaching supported research on different areas related to Digital Architecture and IT integrated design and construction (Since 2002), 3) 15 years intensive industry engagement as a full member of Chartered Institute of Building (MCIOB-UK) and a First Class Registered Architect (in Iran), and 4) variety of hands-on virtual modelling and development skills and knowledge of different qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. These support his research on various aspects of Construction 4.0 including Digital Twins, Smart Contracts, Building Information Management/Modelling (BIM), Distributed Ledger Technology, Big Data, IA/Machine-Learning, Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), Smart Homes, IoT, Cybernetics and use of Smart Agents within the built environment, Virtual Prototyping and use of VR/AR/MR interfaces for building simulation, automation and integration of design, Offsite Construction, Lean and Six Sigma thinking and development of new business models for integrated construction. Farzad has also successfully led several high profile research projects - from InnovateUK, through to Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), European Regional Development Funds (ERDF), Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC), Scottish Funding Council (SFC), Data Lab, and Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC). This expertise and standing are also recognised through a number of high profile bodies, including the International Council for Building (CIB) and buildingSMART International. Dr Rahimian has more than 10 years experience of leading international journals as editor, co-editor, guest editor and editorial board member. He is the Editor in Chief for the Emerald Journal of Smart and Sustainable Built Environment; ISSN: 2046-6099.

Dr. Faris Elghaish is a lecturer in Construction Project Management at the School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast (QUB). He is endorsed as exceptional promise in the field of the built environment from the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2021. Faris has carried out extensive research in the field of BIM, Artificial Intelligence, cost optimisation/automation, and decentralised systems (i.e., Blockchain and smart contracts). Faris has developed many workable solutions to automate processes and tasks based on integrating emerging technologies into BIM. For example, Faris has developed a decentralized cost management system using blockchain and BIM; BIM-based web management system to enable sharing risk/reward automatically for Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) approach; and Circular Supply Chain solution-based blockchain.

Faris has intensive experience in computational design-based BIM through using visual programming tools such as Autodesk Dynamo in integration with Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly, deep learning in order to automate implementing BIM tasks. For example, developing an automated 3D BIM model based on client requirements through integrating deep learning into BIM. Furthermore, Faris has participated in a project to develop an automated maintenance system using AI (deep learning).

Faris has also published more than 20 journal articles in top-ranked journals and served as a guest editor for special issues about digital construction.

In addition to the academic experience, Faris was working as a site engineer and site manager. For example, he was responsible to manage a refurbishment of a hospital with a budget of $ 15 million.

Dr. Sepehr Abrishami is a senior lecturer and programme leader for BIM-related postgraduate courses at the University of Portsmouth, UK. He is an Architect and researcher with experience working in Europe and the Middle East. He began his international career with the creation of the AA Design Studio, where he executed multiple architectural and interior design projects, winning several architectural design projects including hotels, residential complexes, and a bank. Research experience embraces several novel and innovative areas, from BIM, automation in design and construction though to: prefabrication and Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA); Blockchain and Smart Contracts, and environmental design. Specialisms include: generative and parametric evolutionary design; digital design and construction; IT integrated architectural design; and the application of Blockchain technology to promote the digital transformation of AEC.

Dr. Tara Brooks is a senior lecturer at Queen's University with 20 years' construction industry experience. She qualified as a chartered Architect at UCL in 2000 and worked in London for companies including Foster and Partners as an Architect and then Associate. She moved to Belfast and in 2010 started working as a Bid Manager in the contracting sector. She has been the programme director for the MSc in BIM Project Management at Queen's since 2018.

Returning to university as a mature student, she studied part time for an MSc in Construction Project Management at Queen's, completing in 2014. She seeks to bridge academic research, teaching and practice, as exemplified by her participation in successful KTP Projects, including those looking at BIM implementation, digital tool exploitation, and BIM automation. She gained her PhD in 2020. Tara's areas of research interest include construction quality management, procurement, and BIM and emerging digital technology.

Professor Nashwan Dawood is a specialist in project construction management and the application of IT in the construction process including whole Information Life Cycle of Buildings, BIM technologies and processes, sustainability, Information Technologies and Systems. He has extensive experience of leading internationally recognised research work in BIM technology and processes and in the application of 5D modelling in construction processes and has successfully generated peer reviewed funded projects from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Technology Strategy Board, and EU / Framework Programme. Professor Dawood also has significant and long-standing experience of working with major industrial partners in the UK and internationally to develop and apply research results as part of further collaborative projects. In particular he is currently running international research and development projects in the areas of 5D modelling, serious game engine technology application to training and ICT (for energy efficient buildings Professor Dawood has published over 180 research papers and sits on the editorial board of a number of journals and conferences. His work has been recognised outside of the academic sphere, for the Constructing Excellence.

Prof. Farzad Rahimian是數位工程和製造的教授，擁有豐富的研究成果，發表了150多篇優質論文，引用次數超過1600次。他的研究生涯包括：1）十年的高質量建築、數位設計和創新建築技術教育（1996-2002+2007-2010年），2）20年的學術工作經驗，包括研究教學和教學支持的研究，涉及數位建築和IT整合設計和施工的不同領域（自2002年以來），3）15年的密集行業參與，擔任特許建築師學會（MCIOB-UK）的正式會員和一級註冊建築師（在伊朗），以及4）各種實踐虛擬建模和開發技能，以及對不同定性和定量研究方法的了解。這些支持他對建築4.0的各個方面進行研究，包括數位孿生、智能合約、建築信息管理/建模（BIM）、分散式帳本技術、大數據、IA/機器學習、集成項目交付（IPD）、智能家居、物聯網、控制論以及在建築環境中使用智能代理人、虛擬原型和使用VR/AR/MR界面進行建築模擬、自動化和設計整合、離場施工、精益和六西格瑪思維以及發展整合建築的新商業模式。Farzad還成功領導了幾個重要的研究項目，從InnovateUK到藝術與人文研究委員會（AHRC），再到歐洲區域發展基金（ERDF），Construction Scotland Innovation Centre（CSIC），蘇格蘭資助委員會（SFC），Data Lab和Advanced Forming Research Centre（AFRC）。這些專業知識和地位也得到了國際建築委員會（CIB）和buildingSMART International等多個重要機構的認可。Rahimian博士擔任國際期刊的編輯、副編輯、客座編輯和編輯委員會成員已有超過10年的經驗。他是Emerald Journal of Smart and Sustainable Built Environment的主編，ISSN：2046-6099。

Dr. Faris Elghaish是皇后大學貝爾法斯特校區（QUB）自然與建築環境學院的建築項目管理講師。他在2021年獲得了英國皇家工程學院對建築環境領域的卓越承諾認可。Faris在BIM、人工智能、成本優化/自動化和分散式系統（如區塊鏈和智能合約）等領域進行了廣泛的研究。Faris開發了許多可行的解決方案，通過將新興技術整合到BIM中來自動化流程和任務。例如，Faris開發了一個使用區塊鏈和BIM的分散式成本管理系統；基於BIM的網絡管理系統，以實現集成項目交付（IPD）方法的風險/回報自動共享；以及基於區塊鏈的循環供應鏈解決方案。

Faris在計算設計基於BIM方面具有豐富的經驗，使用視覺編程工具如Autodesk Dynamo與人工智能（AI）相結合，特別是深度學習，以自動化實施BIM任務。例如，通過將深度學習整合到BIM中，開發基於客戶需求的自動化3D BIM模型。此外，Faris還參與了一個使用AI（深度學習）開發自動化維護系統的項目。

Faris還在頂級期刊上發表了20多篇論文，並擔任數字建設特刊的客座編輯。

除了學術經驗外，Faris還曾擔任現場工程師和現場經理。例如，他負責管理一個預算為1500萬美元的醫院翻新項目。

Dr. Sepehr Abrish