Decentralized Access Control for Smart Buildings Using Metadata and Smart Contracts

Abstract

Large commercial buildings are complex cyber-physical systems containing expensive and critical equipment that ensure the safety and comfort of their numerous occupants. Yet occupant and visitor access to spaces and equipment within these buildings are still managed through unsystematic, inefficient, and human-intensive processes. As a standard practice, long-term building occupants are given access privileges to rooms and equipment based on their organizational roles, while visitors have to be escorted by their hosts. This approach is conservative and inflexible. In this paper, we describe a methodology that can flexibly and securely manage building access privileges for long-term occupants and short-term visitors alike, taking into account the risk associated with accessing each space within the building. Our methodology relies on blockchain smart contracts to describe, grant, audit, and revoke fine-grained permissions for building occupants and visitors, in a decentralized fashion. The smart contracts are specified through a process that leverages the information compiled from Brick and BOT models of the building. We illustrate the proposed method through a typical application scenario in the context of a real office building and argue that it can greatly reduce the administration overhead, while, at the same time, providing fine-grained, auditable access control. CCS Concepts: • Security and privacy → Security services; • Computer systems organization → Embedded and cyber-physical systems; Sensors and actuators.

Applications of distributed ledger technology (DLT) and Blockchain-enabled smart contracts in construction

“…Blockchain secures the data layer for an IoT-equipped university campus where its peer-to-peer nature guarantees security of the IoT network [159]. Automated access throughout a building is also discussed by Bindra et al [160] based on pre-defined access rights and monitored by sensors and actuators. In O'Reilly and Mathews [107], IoT sensors connected to a BIM-based building to monitor energy performance and enable sale of excess energy produced to achieve better than net zero energy buildings (NZEB).…”

“…N/A Belle, 2017 [78] Conference Insight General applications. N/A Bindra et al, 2019 [160] Conference Framework Automated building access. Blockchain Blumberg, 2019 [148] Conference Framework Installation of components manufactured off-site.…”

Smart Buildings menggunakan Hyperledger Fabric Blockchain untuk Manajemen Transaksi dan Pemodelan 3D

“…Teknologi ini untuk menghindari malpraktek terkait dengan sipil karena terdapat transparasi data dengan Kontrol akses gedung, pengelolaan peralatan dan bangunan [16]. Adapun decentralized digunakan untuk akses kontrol meta data dan smart contract pada blockchain yang dimanfaatkan sebagai sistem kontrol karyawan dalam mode kontrol karyawan, Query API dan Simulated BACnet API [17].…”

Enacting the Last Mile: Experiences of Smart Contracts in Courier Deliveries

“…While the specifc use of smart contracts is implied in some design work exploring DLT, there is less that has engaged it overtly. This niche focus on smart contracts has also been driven by collaborative principles and work has explored their potential in charitable giving [20], mediating building access [6], supporting community tool sharing [21] and fnding walking partners [33]. We continue in this vein by exploring the use of smart contracts within delivery services.…”