The potential of integrating blockchain technology into smart sustainable city development

Abstract

The rise of global urbanisation has led to massive pressures on resources such as food, water, infrastructure, and energy demand to support growing populations. It brings adverse impacts on the liveable condition and economic growth of a country if this problem remains unsolved. Smart city is a potential solution to address the challenges of urbanisation by leveraging the technological breakthrough such as internet of things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, big data, and cloud computing to facilitate scarce resources planning and management. With numerous connected devices and vast communication networks, it poses a challenges of security threat which cannot be addressed by the conventional cybersecurity solutions. Blockchain offers a solution in securing the huge numbers of connected devices in smart city network. The application of blockchain technology is leading in the banking and financial industry. However, the uses and implementations in smart city have emerged in recent years. The combination of blockchain technology and smart city has offered a great potential for sustainable development. Thus, it is imperative to discuss the potential of these two elements in making the city safer and sustainable. This paper explores how the blockchain technology application can help in managing smart city and achieve sustainability. The findings revealed that there are five key areas of blockchain application in smart city which are smart governance, smart mobility, smart asset, smart utility and smart logistic. A framework for smart sustainable city with blockchain technology is presented as an outcome of this study. It gives a clear overview for the policy makers and regulators of how blockchain supports within smart city framework. It facilitates the transition towards smart and sustainable cities through the use of blockchain.

Blockchain-based solutions for smart mobility sustainability assurance

“…Figure 2 illustrates a conceptual model for a sustainable smart mobility system that implies the usage of blockchain technology. This model considers the Smart sustainable city-blockchain (SSCB) integration framework proposed in [19] and highlights its benefits in the transportation field. Additionally, energy management for the transportation field has been added as an indicator.…”

A Tertiary Review on Blockchain and Sustainability with Focus on Sustainable Development Goals

“…Combined with IoT, blockchain's ability to improve the monitoring and tracking of products and processes also applies to water quality and consumption. Regarding SDG targets 6.3, 6.4, and 6.5, blockchain can be used to monitor water quality and consumption, and regulate water usage for different areas, with benefits like enhanced security and transparency, reduced operational cost, and overall efficiency [26] [50]. A blockchain-based gaming platform for water consumption efficiency was mentioned in [16], where blockchain mechanisms were utilized to engage users and ensure the correctness and privacy-preserving in water consumption reporting.…”

“…Blockchain has been adopted as countermeasures to cyberphysical attacks, enhancing the power grid's security, privacy, and robustness [6]. Blockchain also guarantees smart meter readings' transparency and data security in Smart Energy Grids [16] [26].…”

“…Blockchain can be applied across multiple stakeholders for the sustainable palm oil industry utilizing blockchain's features related to traceability, cybersecurity, and smart contracts for fair pricing. Regarding SDG VOLUME XX, 2021 target 7.3 (improve energy efficiency), blockchain offers transparency and real-time information and improved traceability, enabling reliable real-time data analysis of energy transactions and strengthening energy resources planning and management [4] [26].…”

Boosting the Decision-Making in Smart Ports by Using Blockchain

“…Real-time control of information exchange and traceability of activities in the supply chain process [68], [70]. Challenges are addressed by taking advantage of IoT, Artificial Intelligence, BC, Machine Learning, Big Data and Cloud Computing [71].…”