The construction sector is responsible for 37% of global CO₂ emissions related to energy use, making it one of the most critical industries for climate action. Blockchain has emerged as a potential enabler of sustainability in this domain by providing secure, decentralized, and tamper-evident data systems. This work investigates how blockchain can support net-zero transition efforts in civil engineering by aligning its technical capabilities with the SBTi Buildings Criteria. It adopts a theoretical exploratory approach based on literature review and illustrative case signals from Latin America and Europe. The study maps blockchain functionalities—such as traceability, automation, and transparency—to selected SBTi criteria related to emission intensity, material lifecycle, Scope 3 tracking, and digital disclosure. Although no blockchain applications are currently implemented in Latin America, projects in Uruguay and Chile demonstrate enabling conditions and technical readiness for future pilots. The European CertiBlo initiative is also included as a benchmark for blockchain-supported certification systems. As an exploratory effort based exclusively on secondary data, the study provides an analytical framework for understanding the potential role of blockchain in sustainable infrastructure, highlighting both the conceptual opportunities and current barriers to its adoption in the built environment, as well as its potential as a cross-disciplinary enabler in civil engineering projects.

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Blockchain in Civil Engineering Sustainability: Transforming Materials, Processes and Certifications

  • Flavia Fernández,
  • Ana Abreu

摘要

The construction sector is responsible for 37% of global CO₂ emissions related to energy use, making it one of the most critical industries for climate action. Blockchain has emerged as a potential enabler of sustainability in this domain by providing secure, decentralized, and tamper-evident data systems. This work investigates how blockchain can support net-zero transition efforts in civil engineering by aligning its technical capabilities with the SBTi Buildings Criteria. It adopts a theoretical exploratory approach based on literature review and illustrative case signals from Latin America and Europe. The study maps blockchain functionalities—such as traceability, automation, and transparency—to selected SBTi criteria related to emission intensity, material lifecycle, Scope 3 tracking, and digital disclosure. Although no blockchain applications are currently implemented in Latin America, projects in Uruguay and Chile demonstrate enabling conditions and technical readiness for future pilots. The European CertiBlo initiative is also included as a benchmark for blockchain-supported certification systems. As an exploratory effort based exclusively on secondary data, the study provides an analytical framework for understanding the potential role of blockchain in sustainable infrastructure, highlighting both the conceptual opportunities and current barriers to its adoption in the built environment, as well as its potential as a cross-disciplinary enabler in civil engineering projects.