This paper addresses the tension between blockchain’s technical potential and the need for legal compliance in highly regulated property markets. Drawing on Institutional Cryptoeconomics, we propose a hybrid governance architecture for real estate transactions in Belgium that complements, rather than replaces, existing legal frameworks. The system combines smart contracts for automated escrow and settlement, an AI-based assistant to reduce ex ante coordination costs, and civil notaries as institutional oracles for legal validation. By embedding algorithms within mandated structures, this “trustworthy” governance model aims to reduce transaction costs while ensuring regulatory alignment, offering a scalable template for adoption in real estate.
Scotland’s construction industry operates at a circularity rate of just 1.3%, despite construction accounting for approximately 50% of all material consumption. The European Union’s Construction Products Regulation and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation mandate Digital Product Passports (DPPs) for construction materials, assuming linear supply chains, with no governance model for reclaimed materials re-entering circulation. This paper addresses this gap by applying Ostrom’s principles for commons governance to a blockchain-based digital marketplace for construction material reuse. We employ hybrid methods to propose a prototype architecture of seven smart contracts designed for EU DPP compliance
3D Concrete Printing (3DCP) adoption is limited by prescriptive standards that cannot accommodate interdependent process parameters (e.g., nozzle speed, layer height, curing) affecting mechanical performance. Current approaches lack a tamper-proof, end-to-end linkage between production parameters and mechanical outcomes. We propose a blockchain-verified 3D-Printed Concrete specimen passport, defining its data schema, smart-contract logic, and integration with performancebased standardisation. The passport records production process, mechanical profile, and a 28-day compressive strength grade. Blockchain’s immutable ledger and smart contracts automatically verify performance claims and assign 3DCP grades, enabling flexible, auditable certification. This provides a foundational reference for data-driven 3DCP compliance, fostering industrial adoption.
Deep learning–based segmentation is widely used for construction work-area recognition. But it may lead to mask boundary misalignment, degrading work quality in processes requiring precise work-area recognition, such as fireproofing spray. To address this limitation, we present a pipeline for accurate work-area recognition of steel structures. It uses deep learning for segmentation and edge detection, followed by computer vision for line extraction and work-area segmentation. Experiments show mean Intersection over Union (mIoU) gains of 4.47 pp before spraying and 4.51 pp during spraying over the segmentation model. These results indicate our pipeline enables more accurate work-area segmentation
Achieving precise thickness is essential for fireproofing performance. Insufficient thickness fails to secure the required fire resistance, whereas excessive thickness causes material waste and rework. This study proposes a simulation framework that combines a Gaussian accumulation model with a kinematic nozzle motion model. As a result of tests on a fixed raster path, kinematic constraints suppressed excess accumulation, increasing the within range area from 87.55% to 91.16% and reducing the over thickness area from 6.83% to 0%. These results show that spray quality should be evaluated using CV with under/over coverage, within range area to help ensure the required thickness.
Embodied carbon (EC) assessments are slowed by fragmented information handover, requiring extensive information-retrieval effort. This study decomposes EC workflows for windows across four building projects by categorizing recurring life cycle assessment (LCA) tasks. Results show that 71-81% of tasks involve data extraction and data wrangling rather than requiring EC expertise. Standardized EC property sets and consolidating data into one information source could reduce EC workflow tasks by 41-67%, improving assessment speed and consistency.
European craftsmanship suffers from shrinking apprenticeships and skill shortages while project demands continue to grow. High tech, hands on workflows can both modernize existing practices and renew interest among potential future workers. We present and evaluate an endto-end framework that couples Parametric Modeling, Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the form of Computer Vision (CV), and Mixed Reality (MR) to support real time assistive quality control in stone paving, serving as a representative, under-digitized craft domain. The work also demonstrates how the core CV pipeline can be embedded in a course format for students or craftspeople to cultivate practical AI skills, highlighting the demand for high-tech integration in craftsmanship and related education.
Recent advances in generative AI have enabled Text-toBIM systems that generate building models from naturallanguage prompts; however, these systems typically lack
automated verification, requiring manual inspection and
iterative error correction. To improve the reliability
of LLM-generated BIM outputs, we propose a Text-toBIM workflow with integrated self-verification. For each
prompt, the system derives two complementary validations: an Information Delivery Specification (IDS) for
rule-based checking, and LLM-driven code-based verification for requirements beyond IDS. The resulting feedback is used to refine the IFC model in a closed loop. The
framework is implemented and evaluated through a case
study, demonstrating improvements in model quality
Buildings significantly contribute to global energy consumption, especially in France and Europe, making their optimization crucial for addressing climate change. Integrating Building Performance Simulations (BPS) with Internet of Things (IoT) systems offers a promising solution for efficient energy management. While IoT systems enable real-time monitoring and control, they often miss complex physical phenomena like thermal dynamics. BPS fills this gap using mathematical models. However, interoperability is essential for effective collaboration. This paper presents the Web of Simulations Ontology (WoSO) to address these challenges, demonstrating its application in a pilot office building in France for the European BuildON project.
