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Blockchain for Smart Cities: A review of Architectures, Integration Trends and Future Research Directions
Abstract
In recent years, smart city has emerged as a new paradigm to provide high quality facilities to the citizens by dynamically optimising the city resources. Smart cities can offer finest services for boosting the daily life of citizens on healthcare, transportation, energy consumption, and education. However, the concept of smart city is still evolving and despite its potential vision, there are proliferating security challenges. Blockchain has the potential to promote the development of smart cities owing to its good properties such as auditability, transparency, immutability and decentralization. Therefore, this paper presents the state-of-the-art blockchain technology to solve the security issues of smart cities. Initially, the paper throws light on the background knowledge and then surveys the utility of blockchain in various smart communities such as healthcare, transportation, smart grid, supply chain management, financial systems and data center networks. Finally, some future research directions are identified through extensive literature survey on blockchain based smart city systems.
... Regulation brings a number of risks for supply chains when related to urbanisation. For example, in the adoption of block chain technologies, the lack of regulation represents a serious issue in understanding how to manage them [259], [260] while in using drones for last-mile delivery the current regulation restricts their full exploitation as a means to decrease transportation costs [261]. Moreover, the growth of densely populated areas also requires ad-hoc policies and related regulations. ...
... Moreover, common to both urbanisation-related trends are the complexities generated in managing and sharing information in the network. On the one hand, in densely populated areas this determines risks such as missing information sharing between companies [263], [265], [267] and lack of transparency [270]; on the other hand, in smart cities numerous risks related to technologies integration emerge, such as interoperability [259]. • Security and privacy issues. ...
... • Security and privacy issues. Nowadays, risks related to the security of stored and shared data [272], and privacy issues [259], [260] are growing with the increase of technology adoption. Among these, there are risks related to cyber-attacks [273], and risks related to the openness of data which may affect technology adoption for not sharing confidential data [272]. ...
... To achieve advanced security measures for data protection, integrating encryption algorithms focusing on widely accepted standards into data management workflows would serve as an important feature in securing sensitive information (Bhushan et al., 2020). To ensure transparency and tamper-resistant records while ensuring data integrity, the capabilities of blockchain technology should be utilized. ...
... To adopt the recommended improvements, the first requirement would be to strengthen the system's infrastructure by investing in high-performance computing resources including specialized hardware, software, and cloud computing services (Mateescu et al., 2011). Another necessity includes sourcing expertise in blockchain development, smart contract programming, and cryptographic protocols for upgrades in networks, and security measures (Bhushan et al., 2020). ...
... Peneliti menggunakan data sekunder untuk menjawab pertanyaan penelitian tanpa perlu mengumpulkan data baru dari lapangan. Teknik ini dapat dilakukan dengan memanfaatkan data yang sudah ada dari lembaga pemerintah, lembaga swadaya masyarakat (LSM), atau organisasi internasional untuk menganalisis tren dan pola yang berkaitan dengan komunitas nonterdaftar di Jakarta (Bhushan, 2020;Lim, 2022). ...
... Pemetaan Partisipatif Pemetaan partisipatif merupakan metode yang melibatkan anggota komunitas dalam proses pembuatan peta atau identifikasi ruang dan sumber daya di lingkungan sekitar. Teknik ini dapat dilakukan dengan melibatkan komunitas dalam memetakan akses ke layanan dan sumber daya di lingkungan mereka (Bhushan, 2020;Tan, 2021). Teknik ini bertujuan mengungkap ketimpangan dan area yang membutuhkan intervensi kebijakan. ...
Buku "Analisis Kebijakan Interseksional dalam Pelayanan Komunitas Non-Terdaftar Perkotaan" menyajikan sebuah kajian mendalam mengenai bagaimana kebijakan publik mempengaruhi komunitas non-terdaftar di wilayah perkotaan Jakarta. Penulis mengeksplorasi berbagai aspek kebijakan dengan pendekatan interseksional, yang mempertimbangkan berbagai faktor seperti gender, kelas sosial, etnis, dan status migran yang saling berpengaruh.
Melalui tinjauan kritis, buku ini mengungkapkan tantangan yang dihadapi oleh komunitas non-terdaftar, termasuk akses terhadap layanan dasar seperti kesehatan, pendidikan, dan perumahan. Penulis juga membahas bagaimana kebijakan saat ini seringkali gagal untuk mengakomodasi keragaman dan kompleksitas kebutuhan komunitas ini, serta memberikan rekomendasi untuk perbaikan kebijakan yang
lebih inklusif dan adil.
Ditulis dengan gaya yang informatif dan analitis, buku ini ditujukan bagi pembuat kebijakan, akademisi, dan aktivis sosial yang tertarik pada isu-isu keadilan sosial dan kebijakan publik. Dengan memadukan teori dan studi kasus nyata, buku ini menawarkan wawasan berharga tentang pentingnya pendekatan interseksional dalam merumuskan kebijakan yang efektif dan manusiawi. Sebagai tambahan, buku ini juga menyoroti berbagai inisiatif lokal dan upaya komunitas dalam memperjuangkan hak-hak mereka, memberikan inspirasi bagi pembaca tentang potensi perubahan positif yang dapat dicapai melalui kolaborasi dan advokasi.
... 2) Integration of Blockchain with IoT: Blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies will work together to increase security and transparency in IoT devices, enabling safe data exchange and better smart contract administration [33]. 3) Enhanced Privacy Solutions: Improvements in cryptographic methods like homomorphic encryption and zero-knowledge proofs will give consumers more security and privacy while engaging on blockchain platforms as worries about data privacy increase [38]. 4) Tokenization of Assets: The tokenization of real-world assets, including real estate and art, is anticipated to streamline ownership transfer and create new investment opportunities, driving further adoption of blockchain technology [39]. ...
... 7) Sustainable Blockchain Solutions: There is a growing emphasis on developing eco-friendly blockchain technologies that minimize energy consumption, leveraging proof-of-stake and other sustainable consensus mechanisms to address environmental concerns [33]. 8) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Integration: Blockchain and AI integration may boost data analytics capabilities, streamline decision-making procedures, and produce automated insights in a number of industries, including healthcare, supply chain, and finance [38]. 9) Advanced Consensus Mechanisms: Innovations in consensus algorithms will likely lead to more efficient and secure blockchain networks, addressing scalability issues and enhancing transaction speeds [39]. ...
The rise of blockchain technology and cryptography has transformed industries by enhancing security, transparency, and trust. This paper provides a comparative analysis of traditional systems and emerging solutions, focusing on the advances in blockchain and cryptography. Key innovations, challenges, and future trends are discussed. The review leverages research from multiple sources, offering a broad perspective on these fields.This paper explores the rapid advancements in blockchain technology and cryptography, comparing traditional systems with cutting-edge solutions. It highlights the evolution of consensus mechanisms, encryption methods, and their impact on scalability, security, and efficiency. By analyzing key innovations such as zero-knowledge proofs and homomorphic encryption, the study offers insights into overcoming existing limitations like high energy consumption and interoperability issues. The paper provides a comparative analysis of emerging solutions against conventional approaches, showcasing their potential to revolutionize industries. Finally, it outlines the challenges that must be addressed for mainstream adoption.
... Blockchain shows the possibility of enhancing the security of the grid system and allows adequate sharing and dissemination of the data. In this way, blockchain helps to evolve into a distributed smart grid system framework [4]. More than a simple disruption within the traditional supply chain, the blockchain technology is the perpetual revolution. ...
... A supply chain comprises various entities involved in the product and service life cycle from both upstream and downstream markets, and blockchain technology can ensure safe and transparent data sharing for supply chain management [14]. However, smart grid technology introduces new challenges related to security and intelligence [4]. Blockchain, known for its openness and transparency, utilizes decentralized database technology. ...
With the advancement in Internet technology and Cloud computing, the energy burden has increased and so has the risk exposure. Presently Smart Grid is the best alternate solution that can provide consumers with the finest energy consumption optimization by adjusting the consumption schedule through parameters salient to a particular situation, such as the price and the user preferences. Implementing renewable energies like solar and wind accompanied by the reasonable use of electricity are also among the matters that need to be considered in the smart grid. A blockchain is a distributed, dispersed, and consensus ledger of transactions and it is owned by each user and maintained by all participants in a peer-to-peer protocol. The integration of digital agreements, that are referred to as ‘smart contracts', allow people to share energy. The proposed study focuses on the peer to peer interactions in smart grids which are secured using blockchain technology. This study introduces a peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading model using blockchain technology integrated with a grid-connected inverter, enhancing smart grid operations through a sustainable supply chain. Simulated in MATLAB and implemented in Python, the model outperforms traditional systems in efficiency and security. The research uses ISM and Fuzzy-DEMATEL methods to analyze the economic, social, and environmental impacts of blockchain on smart grids, advocating for further verification with advanced analytical techniques.
... Implementing such a decentralized system requires addressing complexities related to data security, the authenticity of incident reports, ensuring users' (i.e., residents') privacy, and seamlessly integrating with existing emergency response infrastructures [19]. These challenges are significant, but incorporating cutting-edge technologies, particularly blockchain, offers a viable solution to overcome them [10]. ...
... C server = C peer × N + C ordering + 0. 10 While a significant budget would be needed to deploy the proposed IRS, the benefits include increased transparency, reduced errors, and enhanced collection of statistics, leading to better Quality of Service (QoS). Additionally, the potential integration of sophisticated AI for incident media analysis could further justify the deployment costs by significantly improving performance and efficiency. ...
This paper introduces an innovative response to the pressing challenge of rapid and effective incident detection and management in urban settings. The proposed solution is a decentralized incident reporting system (IRS) harnessing blockchain technology and decentralized data storage systems. By empowering residents to report incidents, the proposed IRS enables seamless real-time monitoring and intervention by relevant departments. Built on a blockchain foundation, the proposed solution ensures immutability, transparency, security, and auditability, enhancing data resilience and comprehensive applicability. The proposed system leverages the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) for the storage of incident proofs to manage the blockchain size effectively. Through the proposed IRS, transparency is upheld, enabling complete auditability of incident details and required interventions by citizens, societal bodies, and governmental bodies. Moreover, an incentive model is introduced to encourage active participation in incident reporting, thereby enhancing the system’s overall effectiveness and long-term sustainability. The proposed IRS integrates mobile technology to facilitate user engagement and data submission, essential for urban emergency management. Empirical validation using the Quorum–Raft blockchain demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed approach in terms of system throughput, incident reporting delay, blockchain size, and deployment cost. Specifically, the system maintains a latency of under 15 s even at high transaction rates, can handle up to 200 incidents per second, and is cost-effective, with deployment estimates for 16 organizations over five years being under 1.99 million USD. The method involves extensive testing with simulated incidents and user interactions to ensure robustness and scalability, showcasing the system’s potential for effective emergency management in urban environments.
... Blockchain is another advanced technology that is a decentralised, shared database that has transformed the way users automate payments, communicate, and monitor transactions without requiring central administration to manage the transactions [115]. Through implementing distributed management of data and decentralised peer-to-peer connection among IoT devices, blockchain technology provides reliable, transparent, strong, and validated data transmission in smart cities [116]. ...
This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of digital transformation for developing smart net-zero cities, highlighting the significance of systems thinking and the key components of digital transformation including people, data, technology and process. Urban areas are experiencing increasing challenges from rapid growth and climate issues, making digital transformation a crucial strategy for enhancing sustainability and efficiency. In this context, systems thinking is essential, as it provides a holistic perspective that acknowledges the interdependence of urban sectors which can facilitate a more comprehensive, adaptable, and strategically integrated approach. This review examines findings from 22 sources and proposes a framework to investigate and represent the necessity of a digital transformation approach that effectively balances these elements and promotes a systems thinking approach. Also, by examining the findings from a systems thinking perspective, this research analyses the potential of effective digital transformation to support the complex needs of smart net-zero city developments. The findings indicate a widespread recognition of the digital transformation potential as a practical implementation strategy. It is imperative to formulate digital transformation strategies that are practical and comprehensively incorporate all elements: people, technology, processes, and data. Additionally, the review highlights the critical role of systems thinking in the development of these digital transformations as it facilitates the integration of interdependent urban sectors, including energy, transformation, and building, to achieve a holistic and integrated transformation.
... IoT also enhances public transportation systems by improving their reliability and accessibility. Real time tracking of buses, trains, and other modes of public transport allows commuters to plan their journeys more effectively [4]. Moreover, predictive analytics powered by IoT can help transportation agencies anticipate demand patterns, optimize schedules, and allocate resources efficiently. ...
This research highlights the critical role of Internet of Things (IoT) technology and data analytics in fostering sustainable mobility within the Smart City concept. The primary objective is to examine how IoT sensors and real-time data analysis can optimize transportation efficiency while promoting environmental sustainability. The proposed Method involves integrating IoT sensors across urban infrastructure to collect realtime data on traffic patterns, air quality, and travel behavior, which is then analyzed using advanced data analytics techniques. The gap addressed in this study lies in the limited empirical evidence regarding the practical implementation of IoT and data analytics in improving urban mobility and environmental outcomes. The novelty of this research is in developing a predictive model that leverages IoT data to optimize public transportation routes, reduce congestion, and lower carbon emissions. Preliminary results suggest significant benefits, including a 25% reduction in emissions and a 40% increase in travel efficiency, demonstrating the potential of IoT-driven analytics in transforming urban mobility. The findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of sustainable transportation solutions within smart cities, offering a data driven approach to enhance public transportation networks and minimize environmental impact, ultimately paving the way for a more efficient and eco friendly urban ecosystem
... Blockchain holds great potential for solving real-world problems, simply due to its decentralized nature and ability to provide secure, transparent, and immutable records. Over the past few years, the blockchain has advanced beyond cryptocurrencies in different fields like finance, supply chain, healthcare, and smart cities [60,61]. ...
Several multiserver authentication protocols have recently been proposed that require one-time user registration at a dedicated registration server to access multiple servers securely. However, due to centralized architecture, most of these protocols are susceptible to various attacks and do not address the threat of a single-point failure. This paper presents a novel authentication protocol based on blockchain technology, enabling secure access to distributed services in a multiserver environment. The proposed protocol ensures robust security and flexibility by integrating a multi-factor authentication mechanism and supporting additional features, such as realizing user impersonation attacks, enhancing server scalability, access control, service revocation, and re-registration. Furthermore, the protocol provides enhanced security by enabling the revocation of compromised credentials, resistance to single-point failure, and secure addition of new servers. The automated ProVerif tool and thorough security analysis demonstrate that our protocol defends against a variety of attacks, including replay, insider, impersonation, password guessing, server spoofing, and stolen smartcard attacks. The protocol is evaluated based on its computational cost, communication overhead, and security strength. Our comparative study reveals that the protocol significantly reduces communication overhead to 1728 bits compared to existing protocols, while maintaining an optimal balance between security and efficiency. Although the computational cost is higher at 112.06 ms, this is justified by the enhanced security features and flexibility offered. Overall, our protocol addresses critical security concerns and boosts user trust in distributed services by guaranteeing secure and effective user authentication in a decentralized environment.
... Numerous studies have investigated innovative approaches and structures to boost the capabilities of permissioned blockchains. 25 A noteworthy strategy is the two-tiered framework suggested for product tracking systems. 15 This model, grounded in permissioned blockchain, tackles concerns related to governmental oversight, corporate data security, and performance constraints. ...
This study investigates the development and deployment of TrustChain, a private blockchain framework designed for secure data exchange within a decentralized peer-to-peer network. The research evaluates the system's performance in 3-node and 10-node configurations, focusing on data synchronization efficiency and latency. Asymmetric encryption (RSA) was implemented to ensure message confidentiality and integrity. Results demonstrate system stability and efficient data synchronization with low latency. While the framework lacks transaction processing capabilities, it proves robust for secure data transfers. The architecture provides a foundation for potential enhancements in secure messaging and file sharing. The findings suggest TrustChain's applicability in sectors prioritizing secure communication, such as healthcare, finance, and supply chain management. This research emphasizes the importance of scalability and robust data management in blockchain systems, particularly for real-time applications, and highlights the need for efficient blockchain solutions in data-sensitive industries.
... Numerous studies have investigated innovative approaches and structures to boost the capabilities of permissioned blockchains. 25 A noteworthy strategy is the two-tiered framework suggested for product tracking systems. 15 This model, grounded in permissioned blockchain, tackles concerns related to governmental oversight, corporate data security, and performance constraints. ...
This study investigates the development and deployment of TrustChain, a private blockchain framework designed for secure data exchange within a decentralized peer-to-peer network. The research evaluates the system's performance in 3-node and 10-node configurations, focusing on data synchronization efficiency and latency. Asymmetric encryption (RSA) was implemented to ensure message confidentiality and integrity. Results demonstrate system stability and efficient data synchronization with low latency. While the framework lacks transaction processing capabilities, it proves robust for secure data transfers. The architecture provides a foundation for potential enhancements in secure messaging and file sharing. The findings suggest TrustChain's applicability in sectors prioritizing secure communication, such as healthcare, finance, and supply chain management. This research emphasizes the importance of scalability and robust data management in blockchain systems, particularly for real-time applications, and highlights the need for efficient blockchain solutions in data-sensitive industries.
... Numerous studies have investigated innovative approaches and structures to boost the capabilities of permissioned blockchains. 25 A noteworthy strategy is the two-tiered framework suggested for product tracking systems. 15 This model, grounded in permissioned blockchain, tackles concerns related to governmental oversight, corporate data security, and performance constraints. ...
This study investigates the development and deployment of TrustChain, a private blockchain framework designed for secure data exchange within a decentralized peer-to-peer network. The research evaluates the system's performance in 3-node and 10-node configurations, focusing on data synchronization efficiency and latency. Asymmetric encryption (RSA) was implemented to ensure message confidentiality and integrity. Results demonstrate system stability and efficient data synchronization with low latency. While the framework lacks transaction processing capabilities, it proves robust for secure data transfers. The architecture provides a foundation for potential enhancements in secure messaging and file sharing. The findings suggest TrustChain's applicability in sectors prioritizing secure communication, such as healthcare, finance, and supply chain management. This research emphasizes the importance of scalability and robust data management in blockchain systems, particularly for real-time applications, and highlights the need for efficient blockchain solutions in data-sensitive industries.
... Despite its promising potential, the governance of smart communities faces several challenges and limitations that need to be addressed to ensure effective development and operation [22]. These challenges include the need for more quantitative research, the lack of clear definitions of smart governance concepts, and the difficulties in integrating technology with governance processes. ...
This study constructs an analytical framework to assess the effectiveness of collaborative governance in smart communities, focusing on six key elements: collaborative subjects, funding sources, community participants’ literacy, community-specific systems, community culture, and supporting facilities. Using fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) on 20 typical cases of community governance, the study identifies that collaborative subjects and supporting facilities are necessary conditions for achieving effective community governance. Community culture and community participants’ literacy are recognized as sufficient conditions for effective collaborative governance involving multiple subjects in smart communities. The study also identifies several pathways to enhance the effectiveness of collaborative governance in smart communities, including the subject-–culture-embedded pathway, technology–resource-driven pathway, and system–talent-led pathway. These pathways highlight the integration of community-specific cultural elements and the leveraging of modern technologies to foster stakeholder engagement, enhance decision-making processes, and improve service delivery. The findings suggest that robust community culture and literacy, combined with advanced technological infrastructure and diverse funding sources, significantly contribute to the success of collaborative governance initiatives. By providing a comprehensive analysis of the interplay between these factors, the study offers valuable insights into the construction of smart communities and proposes strategies for enhancing the effectiveness of collaborative governance. This research contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable urban development and the knowledge economy, emphasizing the crucial role of innovation, technology, and community engagement in shaping the future of smart cities.
... • Future Directions and Emerging Trends: Some literature was identified with several emerging trends and future directions in the field of blockchain-based QR verification. The works of literature discuss the advancements in consensus to the algorithms to improve scalability and efficiency, the development of interoperability standards to facilitate seamless integration with existing systems, and the exploration of specific use cases in emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and decentralized finance (DeFi) [26]. ...
Counterfeit products pose a significant threat to global economies, undermining consumer trust and damaging brand reputations. Traditional verification methods often prove ineffective in combating the proliferation of counterfeit goods. This research explores the integration of QR codes and Ethereum blockchain technology to enhance product verification within supply chains, offering a more secure and transparent solution. The proposed research aims to foster trust, transparency, and consumer confidence by generating unique QR codes linked to digital counterparts on the blockchain. The system enables dynamic interactions between consumers and the authentication process through a user-friendly mobile interface, where QR codes serve as secure anchors for product information verified against blockchain entries. The research encompasses the development of smart contracts, a user-friendly interface, and comprehensive testing to ensure the system's scalability and reliability. Overall, this research demonstrates the potential of combining QR codes and blockchain technology to revolutionise product verification within supply chains, providing a more secure, efficient, and reliable means of combating counterfeiting.
... Replacing these sources with clean, renewable alternatives to supply energy is key to this equation. Our old energy system based on fossil fuels is the source of air pollution, greenhouse gasses and burning through our planetary capital [4], [5]. On the other side of the scale, renewable sources like solar, wind, hydro and biomass can solve many of these issues by delivering clean, plentiful energy solutions. ...
The 21st century has seen a race of urbanization, one that is rapidly increasing energy demands and leading to environmental degradation as well as climate change due to the dependency on fossil fuels. While the shift to urban sustainability is a major solution to this issue, how renewable energy systems may fit into well-orchestrated urban planning remains an open question. Our goal is to explore approaches, tools and governance frameworks for cities to transition towards renewable energy given the optimal economic, social,, and environmental impact. A summary of key findings states, "As this paper demonstrates, the integrated use of renewable energy significantly curtails greenhouse gases, achieving 1.2 million tons of CO₂ reductions per year and providing renewables for a full 35% of urban energy demand." It also points to economic advantages, such as $200 million in annual energy savings and 5,000 direct jobs created in renewable energy. Social equity is also a part of the study, with 10,000 households receiving clean energy. These findings constellate around the relevance of the inclusion of renewables in urban planning as an alternative solution to climate change but also a driver of urban resilience and sustainable development more generally. We urge all stakeholders to implement inclusive policies, invest in innovative technologies and mobilize communities in order to accelerate the transition towards renewable energy systems for cities.
... Blockchain technology is gaining widespread attention in smart city work as a tool for safeguarding data and transactions [69,70]. Utilizing a decentralized consensus system, the blockchain maintains records in an open and immutable ledger, discouraging unauthorized changes [71]. Blockchain's features are particularly well-suited in areas sensitive to concerns about identity, payments, and supplies, as the data being processed must remain accurate and secure. ...
This study investigates the critical factors influencing smart city program success through a comprehensive data-driven analysis of 140 urban centers. Advanced machine learning techniques, specifically random forest algorithms, in conjunction with regression analysis, were employed to examine the correlations between 45 distinct attributes and respective smart city rankings. The findings reveal that the human development index (HDI) is a key predictor of smart city performance. Furthermore, the regression analysis revealed that elements such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and digital services significantly enhance achieving higher HDI scores. Similarly, factors like education, sanitation, healthcare, and government transparency are closely associated with successfully implementing sharing platforms. These findings highlight the importance of investing in human capital, developing digital infrastructure, and promoting community engagement to create sustainable and resilient smart cities. Policymakers can utilize these findings to prioritize investments and devise effective strategies to improve their city's ranking.
... Replacing these sources with clean, renewable alternatives to supply energy is key to this equation. Our old energy system based on fossil fuels is the source of air pollution, greenhouse gasses and burning through our planetary capital [4], [5]. On the other side of the scale, renewable sources like solar, wind, hydro and biomass can solve many of these issues by delivering clean, plentiful energy solutions. ...
The 21st century has seen a race of urbanization, one that is rapidly increasing energy demands and leading to environmental degradation as well as climate change due to the dependency on fossil fuels. While the shift to urban sustainability is a major solution to this issue, how renewable energy systems may fit into well-orchestrated urban planning remains an open question. Our goal is to explore approaches, tools and governance frameworks for cities to transition towards renewable energy given the optimal economic, social,, and environmental impact. A summary of key findings states, "As this paper demonstrates, the integrated use of renewable energy significantly curtails greenhouse gases, achieving 1.2 million tons of CO₂ reductions per year and providing renewables for a full 35% of urban energy demand." It also points to economic advantages, such as $200 million in annual energy savings and 5,000 direct jobs created in renewable energy. Social equity is also a part of the study, with 10,000 households receiving clean energy. These findings constellate around the relevance of the inclusion of renewables in urban planning as an alternative solution to climate change but also a driver of urban resilience and sustainable development more generally. We urge all stakeholders to implement inclusive policies, invest in innovative technologies and mobilize communities in order to accelerate the transition towards renewable energy systems for cities
... To fortify security within smart city infrastructures, cutting-edge technologies like blockchain are harnessed. Blockchain, known for its pseudoanonymous nature, serves as a reliable security provider, ensuring secure transmission of vast amounts of data within the smart city environment [2]. Its architecture promotes trustless transactions, minimizing fraudulent activities by eliminating the need for third-party involvement [3]. ...
The susceptibility of smart equipment to sophisticated cyber threats, such as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) assaults, makes anomaly detection in smart cities essential in the current era of information technology. A machine learning-driven method is presented to tackle this problem, which makes use of the power consumption patterns of Internet of Things (IoT) devices to spot unusual activity in smart home settings. The training model is implemented near IoT layer devices by utilizing a distributed fog network. To gather statistics on power utilization during daily activities, a Raspberry Pi prototype smart camera has been constructed. To produce power consumption patterns suggestive of DDoS assaults, the study also investigates anomaly identification using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approaches. ANNs are used to simulate DDoS attacks on an experimental setup. With an average detection accuracy of 78.67% across a range of assault situations, the results demonstrate that a deep feed-forward neural network model works better than previous models. This strategy puts less demand on Internet of Things devices with limited resources, which qualifies it for use in smart city applications.
... Security and privacy concerns further complicate the landscape of data sharing within DT systems [61]. Blockchain technology has emerged as a leading solution, offering a secure and decentralized platform for data exchange, crucial for protecting sensitive [62] information in interconnected urban environments [63]. Innovative privacy models [64] leveraging blockchain enable selective data sharing, enhancing the security of the Internet of Vehicles [65] (IoV) and other edge network applications [66]. ...
This review paper explores Urban Digital Twins (UDTs) and their crucial role in developing smarter cities, focusing on making urban areas more sustainable and well-planned. The methodology adopted an extensive literature review across multiple academic databases related to UDTs in smart cities, sustainability, and urban environments, conducted by a bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer to identify key research trends and qualitative analysis through thematic categorization. This paper shows how UDTs can significantly change how cities are managed and planned by examining examples from cities like Singapore and Dubai. This study points out the main hurdles like gathering data, connecting systems, handling vast amounts of information, and making different technologies work together. It also sheds light on what is missing in current research, such as the need for solid rules for using UDTs effectively, better cooperation between various city systems, and a deeper look into how UDTs affect society. To address research gaps, this study highlights the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration. It also calls for establishing comprehensive models, universal standards, and comparative studies among traditional and UDT methods. Finally, it encourages industry, policymakers, and academics to join forces in realizing sustainable, smart cities.
... In the event of a particular industry's disruption, alternative industries can swiftly adapt and provide complementary support, collectively mitigating risks and ensuring the stable operation of the city's economy. Moreover, the industrial structure upgrade entails significant adjustments to the city's economic framework, optimizing resource allocation and ultimately boosting economic efficiency [52]. These adaptations enable the urban economy to respond more flexibly to external disturbances, recover promptly, and sustain steady growth [53]. ...
As a key measure to realize Chinese-style modernization, the construction of new urbanization injects new vitality into China ‘s urban economic growth by building a modern industrial system, and it is also of great significance to improve urban economic resilience. This study examines data from 278 Chinese cities spanning the period 2006–2022, utilizing a multi-period Difference-in-Differences model and a moderating effect model to investigate the impact of new urbanization on cities' economic resilience. The findings indicate that the adoption of modern urbanization significantly enhances cities' economic resilience. Notably, when examined from the perspectives of geographical location, urban scale, urban agglomeration, and urban economic development level, the impact of new urbanization is particularly pronounced in the eastern region, small cities, non-urban agglomeration cities, and cities with lower levels of economic development. The mechanism test demonstrates that new urbanization affects cities’ economic resilience by fostering technological innovation and upgrading the industrial structure. Essentially, technological innovation and industrial restructuring serve as intermediaries in fortifying economic resilience through the implementation of new urbanization. As a result, recommendations are formulated to bolster the resilience of urban economies.
... This article combines the IPFS to achieve secure storage of large-scale supervision data, and designs a data fast retrieval framework based on the storage characteristics of supervision data to ensure fast sharing of the entire process of data storage, reading, and execution on the massive engineering supervision chain. (3) There are trust and data security issues among the participating parties in the current application of information management for engineering supervision data. Based on blockchain technology, this article designs a smart contract for the sharing application of supervision data, utilizing the mandatory execution and tamper-proof characteris-tics of smart contracts to ensure the transparency, traceability, and tamper-resistance of supervision data, achieving trustworthy governance of engineering supervision data. ...
Ensuring trust, security, and privacy among all participating parties in the process of sharing supervision data is crucial for engineering quality and safety. However, the current centralized architecture platforms that are commonly used for engineering supervision data have problems such as low data sharing and high centralization. A blockchain-based framework for the secure sharing of engineering supervision data is proposed by utilizing the tamper-proof, decentralized, and traceable characteristics of blockchain. The secure storage of supervision data is achieved by combining it with the IPFS (InterPlanetary File System), reducing the storage pressure of on-chain data. Additionally, a fast data retrieval framework is designed based on the storage characteristics of supervision data. Then, CP-ABE (Ciphertext Policy Attribute Based Encryption) is combined with a data storage framework to ensure the privacy, security, and reliability of supervisory data during the sharing process. Finally, smart contracts are designed under the designed framework to ensure the automatic and trustworthy execution of access control processes. The analysis and evaluation results of the security, encryption and decryption, and cost performance of the proposed blockchain framework show that the encryption and decryption time is completed within 0.1 s, the Gas cost is within the normal consumption range, and the time cost of smart contract invocation does not exceed 5 s, demonstrating good availability and reusability of the method proposed in this article.
Smart cities emerged as a solution to simplify the lives of urban citizens by integrating Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) into daily operations and addressing the rapid urbanisation challenge. This article relied on an extensive literature review to explore the role of innovative technologies such as smart traffic management, smart buildings and smart healthcare in the development of smart cities. It further explored the policy, legal, and institutional frameworks that underpin the development and operation, including strategies for protecting and handling citizen data while also addressing both cybersecurity threats from cyberattacks and the privacy of citizens within these intelligent urban environments. The article identified the unique challenges posed by the very nature of smart city networks which include Cybersecurity Risks and Data Privacy Concerns. Despite the promising potential of smart city technologies to create a more efficient, sustainable, and citizen-focused urban environment, the challenges identified in this article should be addressed in order to unlock the full potential of innovative technologies for smart cities. Keywords: Innovative Technologies, Smart Cities, Information And Communication Technologies, Rapid Urbanization.
With the rapid technological advancement, the convergence of the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and machine learning (ML) has a significant revolution across industries, driving them in areas like Industry 4.0, smart cities, and advanced transportation systems. This study presents a comprehensive review of the integration of the IoT, blockchain, and ML technologies, highlighting their transformative impact on diverse industries. It addresses the challenges of scalability, security, and data management posed by the growth of interconnected IoT devices, proposing solutions through advanced algorithms and the integration of blockchain for data security and immutability. By examining real-world applications and reviewing existing literature, this study underscores the potential benefits and complexities of merging these technologies, while also identifying research challenges and future directions. Overall, it offers insights into the innovative constructive collaboration of IoT, blockchain, and ML, which has become the most important of modern technological advances.
This review article explores the potential of blockchain technology (BCT) as a key enabler for fostering transparency, trust, and citizen engagement in smart governance within smart cities. By examining the benefits of BCT in various aspects of smart city systems, such as data security and privacy, the paper highlights the advantages of implementing consortium blockchain architecture and the Proof of Authority (PoA) consensus algorithm and discusses the challenges of scalability and security concerns. Based on the literature showed in this article, we believe that the use of BCT in smart governance could significantly enhance citizen participation and help manage and deliver public services, paving the way for more effective decision-making processes and improved quality of life for citizens.
Smart cities leverage blockchain technology to increase the quality of urban life by effectively tackling the many challenges that arise from the rapid process of urbanization. Recognizing the increasing significance of the subject matter, it becomes essential to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the current state of research in this domain. To do so, 79 articles from top‐tier journals were selected from the Scopus database and studied using a systematic literature review approach to identify the performance of contributing research constituents and underlying themes that map the topic. The findings of the performance analysis indicated that authors associated with American, Chinese, and Indian institutions were the primary contributors in terms of number, whileauthors affiliated with French and American institutions were the primary contributors in terms of impact. Furthermore, the findings of the science mapping analysis revealed the identification of five knowledge clusters: (1) Blockchain‐based urban mobility and transportation; (2) blockchain for secure and transparent urban governance; (3) decentralized and efficient resource management; (4) internet of things integration and data security; and (5) digital identity and access control. Based on a content analysis approach, future research avenues were determined for each of the aforementioned knowledge clusters.
The next 6G technology is expected to change the face of smart cities by offering greater connectivity, faster and higher data transfer rates. A major advantage of using blockchain with 6G networks is the availability of a distributed immutable database to record transactions and data exchange. In the context of smart cities, this feature is very important to ensure the security of data transfer process through many IoT devices and systems. Through implementation of a system in which data cannot be altered or deleted, blockchain increases the credibility and accountability of smart city management. The integration of blockchains with IoT devices especially in the smart cities is therefore helpful. IoT devices which are the foundation for smart cities are prone to cyber threats and malwares. The real-time anomaly detection and the pattern features analysis in machine learning algorithms help to identify the possible risks to safety in no time. Integrated with blockchains, these frameworks help in enhancing intrusion detection, privacy and silence.
The rapid population growth, insecure lifestyle, wastage of natural resources, indiscipline behavior of human beings, urgency in the medical field, security of patient information, agricultural-related problems, and automation requirements in industries are the reasons for invention of technologies. Smart cities aim to address these challenges through the integration of technology, data, and innovative practices. Building a smart city involves integrating advanced technologies and data-driven solutions to enhance urban living, improve resource efficiency, and create sustainable environments. This review presents five of the most critical technologies for smart and/or safe cities, addressing pertinent topics such as intelligent traffic management systems, information and communications technology, blockchain technology, re-identification, and the Internet of Things. The challenges, observations, and remarks of each technology in solving problems are discussed, and the dependency effects on the technologies’ performance are also explored. Especially deep learning models for various applications are analyzed. Different models performance, their dependency on dataset size, type, hyper-parameters, and the non-availability of labels or ground truth are discussed.
Pioneering photovoltaic (PV) glass is reshaping the landscape of smart cities by integrating solar energy unobtrusively into everyday services, revolutionizing how it can meet some of its own power needs in an economically and environmentally sustainable way. The applications are numerous, from turning windows and facades to solar harvesting installations to transforming building surfaces into energy devices that can reduce the production of fossil fuels or carbon footprint. Solar power farm is used in the solar panel and this also helps to reduce the disparate effects of conventional energy sources that contribute air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, promoting cleaner cities with better quality exhaled by people. This chapter focuses on the addition of PV glass in smart cities is a part of the movement to adopt renewable energy around the world, which improves sustainability and reduces waste from natural resources.
“PV Glass generates free and clean electricity thanks to the sun, turning buildings into vertical power generators”. The Sustainable energy infrastructure refers to the development and implementation of energy systems that minimize negative environmental impacts, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote long-term ecological balance. The goal of sustainable energy infrastructure is to transition from traditional, non-renewable energy sources such as- fossil fuels to renewable and clean energy sources like- solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass. Photovoltaic (PV) PV glass is a cutting-edge technology that seamlessly merges solar power generation with architectural design. This specialized glass contains embedded photovoltaic cells that harness solar energy and convert it into electricity. As technology advances and costs continue to decrease, PV glass is expected to become a mainstream solution, playing a crucial role in our transition to a greener and more sustainable future.
Giderek artan kent nüfusu, kaynakların verimli kullanılmasını zorunlu hale getirmiştir. Bunu sağlamak için ise teknolojinin etkin bir şekilde kullanıldığı “akıllı kent” kavramı günümüzde önem kazanmıştır. Akıllı kent kapsamında ekolojik, sosyo-kültürel ve ekonomik parametrelerin etkin yönetimi kentler için artık bir ihtiyaç haline gelmiştir. Akıllı kentlerde bu yönetim ihtiyacını karşılayan akıllı yönetişim hem etkin bir yönetim fırsatı sunmakta, hem de uygulamaları ile kentlerin sürdürülebilirliği ve insani gelişimi açısından da önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Bu çalışmada sürdürülebilirlik açısından akıllı yönetişim uygulamalarının akıllı kentlerdeki rolünün ve insani gelişime olan etkisinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmaktadır. Çalışma kapsamında birer akıllı yönetişim uygulamaları olan e-belediye, akıllı şebeke, coğrafi bilgi sistemleri, akıllı ulaşım yönetim sistemleri ve sosyal medya platformları incelenmiş ve sürdürülebilirliğin üç boyutu olan ekolojik, sosyo-kültürel ve ekonomik açılardan incelenmiştir. Buna göre vatandaşların çoğu hizmet tiplerinde kurumlara fiziki gidiş zorunluluğunu ortadan kaldırdığı, dolayısıyla sağlanan yakıt ve zaman tasarrufu nedeniyle e – belediye uygulaması, kentlerin her geçen gün artan enerji ihtiyaçlarını etkin bir şekilde izleyip yönetilmesini sağlayan akıllı şebeke uygulaması, kentlerin sağlıklı bir şehir planı oluşturulmasına imkân tanıyan ve çevrimiçi uygulamalara altyapı sunan coğrafi bilgi sistemleri, vatandaşların daha rahat ve hızlı yolculuk yapmasına olanak tanıyan akıllı ulaşım yönetim sistemleri, son olarak vatandaşlar ve yerel yönetim arasında şeffaf bir iletişim kanalı kurulmasında önemli bir rol oynayan sosyal medya platformları ekolojik, sosyo-kültürel ve ekonomik açıdan akıllı kentlerin sürdürülebilirliğini ve insani gelişimini etkilemektedir.
With the advent of IoT technology in education, understanding its impact on physical education is crucial. This study investigates how the acceptance of wearable IoT devices influences the physical education results of college freshmen. It posits that user acceptance plays a mediating role in the effectiveness of these devices in enhancing physical performance metrics. The study enrolled 150 first-year students from Guangdong University of Finance & Economics, divided equally into an experimental group and a control group. Participants in the experimental group were provided with ‘Xiaomi 8’ smart bracelets to be worn during physical education classes. The study spanned six weeks, focusing on assessing various physical performance metrics and the acceptance of the wearable technology. The data analysis involved comparing the physical performance of both groups and conducting regression analyses to evaluate the mediation effect of acceptance. Results indicated significant improvements in physical performance metrics in the experimental group, as evidenced by the Standardized Mean Differences (SMD). Notably, enhancements were observed in short-distance speed and aerobic endurance. The direct impact of wearable IoT devices on physical performance accounted for 66.4% variance, which increased to 84.1% upon incorporating acceptance as a mediator. These findings suggest that the effectiveness of wearable technology in physical education is significantly influenced by students’ acceptance. The study concludes that wearable IoT devices can effectively enhance physical education outcomes among college students, with user acceptance playing a crucial mediating role. This underscores the importance of considering user acceptance in the integration of technology in educational settings. The findings provide valuable insights for educators and technologists in designing and implementing technology-integrated curricula.
A smart city is a complex system that combines various technologies to provide services and address urban challenges. It aims to minimize human involvement in management, operations, and finance. Blockchain technology is a key component of this system, simplifying procedures and reducing costs through asset decentralization. It enhances transparency, security, and eliminates data duplication. However, implementing blockchain technology in smart cities can be challenging due to lack of knowledge about governing organizations' physical structures. The chapter discusses current trends and challenges in implementing blockchain technology in smart cities, highlighting its potential to aid modernizing network technology and infrastructure management systems.
Due to the expansion of urban areas and the steady growth of the global population, the management of municipal solid waste has become increasingly complex in recent times. Inadequate handling of waste poses risks to the environment, public health, and exacerbates greenhouse gas emissions. There are various approaches such as the principle of reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover have been introduced to tackle these challenges. However, effectively implementing these strategies remains intricate and challenging. Machine learning stands out as a promising technology with the potential to revolutionize municipal solid waste management. ML can play a pivotal role in streamlining waste sorting and segregation processes, thereby enhancing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of waste management operations. This chapter explores the machine learning enables route optimization, waste categorization, and prediction of waste characteristics, aiming to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and minimize environmental impact solid waste management.
Citation: Karim, A.; Raza, M.A.; Alharthi, Y.Z.; Abbas, G.; Othmen, S.; Hossain, M.S.; Nahar, A.; Mercorelli, P. Visual Detection of Traffic Incident through Automatic Monitoring of Vehicle Activities. World Electr. Veh. J. 2024, 15, 382. https://doi. Abstract: Intelligent transportation systems (ITSs) derive significant advantages from advanced models like YOLOv8, which excel in predicting traffic incidents in dynamic urban environments. Roboflow plays a crucial role in organizing and preparing image data essential for computer vision models. Initially, a dataset of 1000 images is utilized for training, with an additional 500 images reserved for validation purposes. Subsequently, the Deep Simple Online and Real-time Tracking (Deep-SORT) algorithm enhances scene analyses over time, offering continuous monitoring of vehicle behavior. Following this, the YOLOv8 model is deployed to detect specific traffic incidents effectively. By combining YOLOv8 with Deep SORT, urban traffic patterns are accurately detected and analyzed with high precision. The findings demonstrate that YOLOv8 achieves an accuracy of 98.4%, significantly surpassing alternative methodologies. Moreover, the proposed approach exhibits outstanding performance in the recall (97.2%), precision (98.5%), and F1 score (95.7%), underscoring its superior capability in accurate prediction and analyses of traffic incidents with high precision and efficiency.
The deployment of fifth-generation (5G) wireless networks has already laid the ground-work for futuristic smart cities but along with this, it has also triggered the rapid growth of a wide range of applications, for example, the Internet of Everything (IoE), online gaming, extended/virtual reality (XR/VR), telemedicine, cloud computing, and others, which require ultra-low latency, ubiquitous coverage, higher data rates, extreme device density, ultra-high capacity, energy efficiency, and better reliability. Moreover, the predicted explosive surge in mobile traffic until 2030 along with envisioned potential use-cases/scenarios in a smart city context will far exceed the capabilities for which 5G was designed. Therefore, there is a need to harness the 6th Generation (6G) capabilities, which will not only meet the stringent requirements of smart megacities but can also open up a new range of potential applications. Other crucial concerns that need to be addressed are related to network security, data privacy, interoperability, the digital divide, and other integration issues. In this article, we examine current and emerging trends for the implementation of 6G in the smart city arena. Firstly, we give an inclusive and comprehensive review of potential 6th Generation (6G) mobile communication technologies that can find potential use in smart cities. The discussion of each technology also covers its potential benefits, challenges and future research direction. Secondly, we also explore promising smart city applications that will use these 6G technologies, such as, smart grids, smart healthcare, smart waste management, etc. In the conclusion part, we have also highlighted challenges and suggestions for possible future research directions. So, in a single paper, we have attempted to provide a wider perspective on 6G-enabled smart cities by including both the potential 6G technologies and their smart city applications. This paper will help readers gain a holistic view to ascertain the benefits, opportunities and applications that 6G technology can bring to meet the diverse, massive and futuristic requirements of smart cities.
Blockchain Technology (BT) has become widely recognized beyond the financial sector. Various other fields of application for the ground-breaking innovation are discussed by researchers and practitioners alike. One such field is the smart city. Driven by startups, projects aimed at alleviating negative effects of urbanization build on the properties of BT to improve quality of life, administrative processes, and environmental sustainability. Yet, due to the entrepreneurial dynamics and abundant fields of application for BT in smart cities, an integrated and boundary-spanning analysis is lacking. This study aims at developing a multi-layer taxonomy that illustrates how BT is used in different smart city business models. For this purpose, we identified a sample of 80 startups which offer applications for smart cities and examined their business models. The paper explores business model configurations and technological characteristics of blockchain-based smart city applications. We identify BT startup archetypes in several domains: sharing economy, privacy and security, and internet of things (IoT). The paper will be useful for researchers, practitioners, and regulators interested in gaining novel insights about how startups leverage BT to create and capture value.
Intelligent systems are wanting for cities to cope with limited spaces and resources across the world. As a result, smart cities emerged mainly as a result of highly innovative ICT industries and markets, and additionally, they have started to use novel solutions taking advantage of the Internet of Things (IoT), big data and cloud computing technologies to establish a profound connection between each component and layer of a city. Several key technologies congregate to build a working smart city considering human requirements. In this article, our main research question is to raise awareness on the current state of smart city concepts across the world by understanding the key future trends, including floating cities, by motivating researchers and scientists through new IoT technologies and applications. Therefore, we present a survey of smart city initiatives and analyze their key concepts and different data management techniques. We performed a detailed literature survey and review by applying a complex literature matrix including terms, like smart people, smart economy, smart governance, smart mobility, smart environment, and smart living. We also discuss multiple perspectives of smart floating cities in detail. With the proposed approach, recent advances and practical future opportunities for smart cities can be revealed.
While Internet-of-Things (IoT) significantly facilitates the convenience of people’s daily life, the lack of security practice raises the risk of privacy-sensitive user data leakage. Securing data transmission among IoT devices is therefore a critical capability of IoT environments such as Intelligent Connected Vehicles, Smart Home, Intelligent City and so forth. However, cryptographic communication scheme is challenged by the limited resource of low-cost IoT devices, even negligible extra CPU usage of battery-powered sensors would result in dramatical decrease of the battery life. In this paper, to minimize the resource consumption, we propose a communication protocol involving only the symmetric key-based scheme, which provides ultra-lightweight yet effective encryptions to protect the data transmissions. Symmetric keys generated in this protocol are delegated based on a chaotic system, i.e., Logistic Map, to resist against the key reset and device capture attacks. We semantically model such protocol and analyze the security properties. Moreover, the resource consumption is also evaluated to guarantee runtime efficacy.
Internet of Things (IoT) enables the interconnection of physical and virtual objects that are managed by various types of hardware, software, and communication technologies. The large-scale deployment of IoT is actually enabling smart cities, smart factories, smart health and many other applications and initiatives all over the world. Indeed, according to a recent Gartner study, 50 billion connected objects will be deployed by 2020. IoT will make our cities and daily applications smart. However , IoT technologies also open up multiple risks and privacy issues. Due to hardware limitations of IoT objects, implementing and deploying robust and efficient security and privacy solutions for the IoT environment remains a significant challenge. One-Time Password (OTP) is an authentication scheme that represents a promising solution for IoT and smart cities environments. We extend the OTP principle and propose a novel approach of OTP generation that relies on Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) and Isogeny in order to ensure IoT security. We evaluate the efficacy of our approach with a real implementation and compared its performance with two other approaches namely, Hash Message Authentication Code (HMAC-based) One Time Password (HOTP) and Time-based One Time Password (TOTP). The performance results obtained demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of our approach in terms of security and performance.
Since the inception of Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies and the underlying blockchain technology have attracted an increasing interest from both academia and industry. Among various core components, consensus protocol is the defining technology behind the security and performance of blockchain. From incremental modifications of Nakamoto consensus protocol to innovative alternative consensus mechanisms, many consensus protocols have been proposed to improve the performance of the blockchain network itself or to accommodate other specific application needs. In this survey, we present a comprehensive review and analysis on the state-of-the-art blockchain consensus protocols. To facilitate the discussion of our analysis, we first introduce the key definitions and relevant results in the classic theory of fault tolerance which help to lay the foundation for further discussion. We identify five core components of a blockchain consensus protocol, namely, block proposal, block validation, information propagation, block finalization, and incentive mechanism. A wide spectrum of blockchain consensus protocols are then carefully reviewed accompanied by algorithmic abstractions and vulnerability analyses. The surveyed consensus protocols are analyzed using the five-component framework and compared with respect to different performance metrics. These analyses and comparisons provide us new insights in the fundamental differences of various proposals in terms of their suitable application scenarios, key assumptions, expected fault tolerance, scalability, drawbacks and trade-offs. We believe this survey will provide blockchain developers and researchers a comprehensive view on the state-of-the-art consensus protocols and facilitate the process of designing future protocols.
The implementation of smart technology in cities is often hailed as the solution to many urban challenges such as transportation, waste management, and environmental protection. Issues of security and crime prevention, however, are in many cases neglected. Moreover, when researchers do introduce new smart security technologies, they rarely discuss their implementation or question how new smart city security might affect traditional policing and urban planning processes. This systematic review explores the recent literature concerned with new ‘smart city’ security technologies and aims to investigate to what extent these new interventions correspond with traditional functions of security interventions. Through an extensive literature search we compiled a list of security interventions for smart cities and suggest several changes to the conceptual status quo in the field. Ultimately, we propose three clear categories to categorise security interventions in smart cities: Those interventions that use new sensors but traditional actuators, those that seek to make old systems smart, and those that introduce entirely new functions. These themes are then discussed in detail and the importance of each group of interventions for the overall field of urban security and governance is assessed.
The demand for electricity increases rapidly along with the advancement of the industrial age. To ensure efficient distribution of the electricity, maintain low losses and high level of quality, and the security of electricity supply, the smart grid concept was proposed. The concept enables a small, individual scale to generate electricity and sell it to the grid. However, the concept adds complexity to the existing system, such as how a transaction between these generators and consumers are conducted, verified and recorded. This paper proposes the blockchain as a tool to manage transactions in the smart grid. Transactions are performed with smart contracts, and the network acts as a transaction verifier. The blockchain provides immutability of the transactions, which ensure every transaction between generators and consumers will always be executed. It also provides immutability to transaction history, which can be used for audit or solving a transaction dispute.
Since Bitcoin’s debut in 2008, blockchain, the technology behind the cryptocurrency, has been gaining increasing scientific and industrial interest. Due to the technology’s innate distributed and immutable features, the adoption of blockchains on supply chains is one of the most promising recent applications. In this survey, we review academic researches and implementations of distributed ledgers on supply chains. We present the current state of research on the subject and summarize the benefits and the challenges of the distributed organization and management of supply chains. Focusing on industrial practices and use cases, we discuss the technical characteristics and maturity of the various industrial projects. Our goal is to assess the applicability of blockchains in the supply chain domain and to provide a foundation for practitioners and researchers to direct their future projects towards improving the technology and its applications.
In this paper we survey a number of interesting applications of blockchain technology not related to cryptocurrencies. As a matter of fact, after an initial period of application to cryptocurrencies and to the financial world, blockchain technology has been successfully exploited in many other different scenarios, where its unique features allowed the definition of innovative and sometimes disruptive solutions. In particular, this paper takes into account the following application scenarios: end-to-end verifiable electronic voting, healthcare records management, identity management systems, access control systems, decentralized notary (with a focus on intellectual property protection) and supply chain management. For each of these, we firstly analyse the problem, the related requirements and the advantages the adoption of blockchain technology might bring. Then, we present a number of relevant solutions proposed in the literature both by academia and companies.
To mitigate the problems of demand-supply mismatch in the future grid the solution of renewable energy source (RES) integration results in a bidirectional flow of information and transactions, which are prone to different kinds of cyber attacks, especially in energy trading where the security of financial transactions is of most concern. Electric vehicle (EV) having the advantage of mobility can play a significant role in maintaining demand-supply balance at any location unlike their peers (conventional compensator). For deciding entire system security, securing EVs charging-discharging transactions at all charging stations or connecting points is most important. The system can be made more secure against cyber-attacks with the introduction of the blockchain framework. Hence, in view of secured transactions, the paper focuses on the energy trading process between EVs and distribution network (DN) in a Byzantine based blockchain consensus framework. During peak load period DN initiates the energy trading process by demanding additional power from the EVs. This process of energy trading results in energy and information exchange which needs to be secured through blockchain from vulnerable attacks and threats. Possible scenarios of various cyber-attacks on different nodes of the system are visualized in the form of false data. To highlight the application of blockchain, the Byzantine general problem framework is used which states that for successful attack 33% of information is to be manipulated, in other words, decreasing the probability of attack confirms the system security. Numerical results based on various operating scenarios for the standard IEEE 33 bus system are in agreement with the Byzantine consensus problem indicating improvement in system security.
In the past few years, the implementation of blockchain technology for various applications has been widely discussed in the research community and the industry. There are sufficient number of articles that discuss the possibility of applying blockchain technology in various areas, such as, healthcare, IoT, and business. However, in this article, we present a comparative analysis of core blockchain architecture, its fundamental concepts, and its applications in three major areas: the Internet-of-Things (IoT), healthcare, business and vehicular industry. For each area, we discuss in detail, challenges and solutions that have been proposed from the research community and industry. This research studies also presented the complete ecosystem of blockchain of all the papers we reviewed and summarized. Moreover, analysis is performed of various blockchain platforms, their consensus models, and applications. Finally, we discuss key aspects that are required for the widespread future adoption of blockchain technology in these major areas.
Social sustainability is a major concern in global supply chains for protecting workers from exploitation and for providing a safe working environment. Although there are stipulated standards to govern supply chain social sustainability, it is not uncommon to hear of businesses being reported for noncompliance issues. Even reputable firms such as Unilever have been criticized for production labor exploitation. Consumers now increasingly expect sellers to disclose information on social sustainability, but sellers are confronted with the challenge of traceability in their multi-tier global supply chains. Blockchain offers a promising future to achieve instant traceability in supply chain social sustainability. This study develops a system architecture that integrates the use of blockchain, internet-of-things (IoT) and big data analytics to allow sellers to monitor their supply chain social sustainability efficiently and effectively. System implementation cost and potential challenges are analyzed before the research is concluded.
Integration of blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT) to build a secure, trusted and robust communication technology is currently of great interest for research communities and industries. But challenge is to identify the appropriate position of blockchain in current settings of IoT with minimal consequences. In this article we propose a blockchain-based DualFog-IoT architecture with three configuration filter of incoming requests at access level, namely: Real Time, Non-Real Time, and Delay Tolerant Blockchain applications. The DualFog-IoT segregate the Fog layer into two: Fog Cloud Cluster and Fog Mining Cluster. Fog Cloud Cluster and the main cloud datacenter work in a tandem similar to existing IoT architecture for real-time and non-real-time application requests, while the additional Fog Mining Cluster is dedicated to deal with only Delay Tolerant Blockchain application requests. The proposed DualFog-IoT is compared with existing centralized datacenter based IoT architecture. Along with the inherited features of blockchain, the proposed model decreases system drop rate, and further offload the cloud datacenter with minimal upgradation in existing IoT ecosystem. The reduced computing load from cloud datacenter doesn’t only help in saving the capital and operational expenses, but it is also a huge contribution for saving energy resources and minimizing carbon emission in environment. Furthermore, the proposed DualFog-IoT is also being analyzed for optimization of computing resources at cloud level, the results presented shows the feasibility of proposed architecture under various ratios of incoming RT and NRT requests. However, the integration of blockchain has its footprints in terms of latent response for delay tolerant blockchain applications, but real-time and non-real-time requests are gracefully satisfying the service level agreement.
In order to realize peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions between electric vehicles (EVs) in vehicle-to-grid (V2G) networks, we propose an EV power trading model based on blockchain and smart contract. Firstly, based on the blockchain and smart contract technology, a decentralized power trading model is proposed to realize the information equivalence and transparent openness of power trading. Then, considering the randomness and uncertainty of EV charging and discharging, the EV trading parties use the reverse auction mechanism based on dynamic pricing strategy to complete the transaction matching, which can not only improve the profit of the less competitive power seller, but also it can reduce the cost of the electricity purchaser. Finally, in order to verify the feasibility of our proposed scheme, V2G’s EV power trading smart contract was designed, and the smart contract was released to Ethereum and simulated experiments were carried out. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is verified by simulation experiments and comparison with traditional power trading schemes.
The complexity of the electronics supply chain has grown significantly due to the expansion of globalization in the 21st century. Electronic parts are now manufactured, distributed, and sold globally. Ensuring the security and integrity of the supply chain has become extremely challenging due to the widespread infiltration of untrusted hardware, specifically, counterfeit and cloned parts. Especially, the provenance of microelectronics and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) parts becomes prohibitively difficult to track and calls for immediate solutions. In this paper, we present a non-destructive way of ensuring the traceability of electronic parts in the supply chain. We have implemented a blockchain-based framework, which helps to track and trace every chip while they are circulating in the supply chain. The proposed framework is built upon a permissioned blockchain. Hyperledger is used for implementing this framework. A detailed analysis is carried out to present the feasibility of our proposed approach.
Healthcare data management has been gaining a lot of attention in recent years because of
its high potential to provide more accurate and cost-ef cient patient care. The traditional client-server and
cloud-based healthcare data management systems suffer from the issues of single point of failure, data
privacy, centralized data stewardship, and system vulnerability. The replication mechanism, and privacy
and security features of blockchain have a promising future in the healthcare domain as they can solve
some of the inherent issues of the health management system. However, most of the recent research works
on blockchain in the healthcare domain have primarily focused on the permission-less Bitcoin network that
suffers from drawbacks such as high energy consumption, limited scalability, and lowtransaction throughput.
Consequently, there is a need for a scalable, fault-tolerant, secure, traceable and private blockchain to suit the
requirements of the healthcare domain. We propose a lightweight blockchain architecture for the healthcare
data management that reduces the computational and communication overhead compared to the Bitcoin
network by dividing the network participants into clusters and maintaining one copy of the ledger per
cluster. Our architecture introduces the use of canal, that allows secure and con dential transactions within
a group of network participants. Furthermore, we propose a solution to avoid forking which is prevalent in
the Bitcoin network. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed architecture in providing security
and privacy compared to the Bitcoin network by analyzing different threats and attacks. We also discuss
how our proposed architecture addresses the identi ed threats. Our experimental results demonstrate that
our proposed architecture generates 11 times lower network traf c compared to the Bitcoin network as the
number of blocks increases. Our ledger update is 1.13 times faster. Our architecture shows a speedup of 67%
in ledger update and 10 times lower network traf c when the number of nodes increases.
The design and development of future smart city services will usher with unprecedented creativity, a plethora of functionalities and conveniences to the urban communities. The success of smart city services depends on the assurance that security is maintained and protected to meet community expectations. However, due to the variety of components involved in the design of smart city services and their complex interactions, it becomes challenging to properly assess the overall security of the system throughout the service life cycle. This paper presents a holistic approach to model the security of smart city service infrastructure at a higher level of abstraction. To match realistic security deployments, the proposed model is based on multiple tiers of defense that includes defense at component level, system level, and security operation center. For a given system configuration and component vulnerability vector, the model assesses key security parameters for a variety of attacks. The proposed model is generic and can be used for studying the security of various smart city infrastructures, deployment configurations, and attack vectors.
Computation offloading is one of the important application in Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. Computational offloading provides assisted means of processing large amounts of data generated by abundant IoT devices, speed up processing of intensive tasks and save battery life. In this paper, we propose a secure computation offloading scheme in Fog-Cloud-IoT environment (SecOFF-FCIoT). Using machine learning strategies, we accomplish efficient, secure offloading in Fog-IoT setting. In particular, we employ Neuro-Fuzzy Model to secure data at the smart gateway, then the IoT device selects an optimal Fog node to which it can offload its workload using Particle Swarm Optimization(PSO) via the smart gateway. If the fog node is not capable of handling the workload, it is forwarded to the cloud after being classified as either sensitive or non-sensitive. Sensitive data is maintained in private cloud. Whereas non-sensitive data is offloaded using dynamic offloading strategy. In PSO, the availability of fog node is computed using two metrics; i) Available Processing Capacity (APC), and ii) Remaining Node Energy (RNE). Selection of cloud is based on Reinforcement Learning. Our proposed approach is implemented for smart city applications using NS-3 simulator with JAVA Programming. We compare our proposed secure computation offloading model with previous approaches which include DTO-SO, FCFS, LOTEC, and CMS-ACO. Simulation results show that our proposed scheme minimizes latency as compared to selected benchmarks.
Real-time tracking and tracing are important in providing a unified view of global supply chains consisting of several parties. This paper illustrates the needs and requirements for managing supply chains in multi-company project environments by adopting various tracking and tracing technologies. This kind of tracking and tracing is especially needed within distributed architectures engaged in project-based businesses, where several vendors are involved in a single project. Such tracking and tracing data can be used extensively to generate key performance indicators, which can be used to measure and control supply chain processes. This paper also proposes a pilot system of a cloud-based portal for real-time tracking and tracing of logistics and supply chains. This portal is formed by the combination of RFID, IoT and blockchain technology into an integrated real-time view. RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) and IoT (Internet of Things) provides real-time information or data, while blockchain technology is used to provide a chain of immutable transactions. The architecture of the proposed portal system is connected to transport companies, tracking devices, consolidation points and suppliers. The pilot study also illustrates the benefits and advantages of such a portal system.
Authentication, encryption, signatures, and key agreements are public key cryptography (PKC) services required in certain Internet of Things (IoT) applications (such as healthcare, the government, military, etc). Elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) has been suggested as the best alternative for providing these services with notable efficiency. The scalar multiplication (kP) is the main operation in an ECC-based system and also the costliest. For IoT applications, ECC must be carefully implemented so that it meets the application requirements. In this paper a FPGA-based acceleration engine of main ECC operations using binary Edward curves, suitable for use in constrained devices (e.g. the ones in the IoT ecosystem) is presented. As main findings, the proposed design is lightweight and features generality, using less than 1400 slices of Virtex-5 FPGA while providing a security level equivalent to 128-bits. From the literature review provided of related works, the described design has the smallest FPGA hardware requirements.
Purpose
A blockchain is a shared distributed ledger technology that stores the information of every transaction in the network. The blockchain has emerged with a huge diversity of applications not only in the economic but in the non-economical domain as well. Blockchain technology promises to provide a wide range of solutions to the problems faced during implementation of smart cities. It has the potential to build smart contracts more secure, thus eliminating the need for centralized authority.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents a proof-of-concept for a use case that uses an Ethereum platform to build a blockchain network to buy, sell or rent a property.
Findings
The findings of this study provide an opportunity to create novel decentralized scalable solutions to develop smart cities by enabling paperless transactions. There are enormous opportunities in this distributed ledger technology which will bring a revolutionary change in upcoming years.
Originality/value
The concept of blockchain along with smart contracts can be used as a promising technology for sharing services which is a common requirement in smart cities. All the blockchain transactions are stored in decentralized shared database. The transaction recorded in decentralized system is immutable, it cannot be altered and hence chance of forgery is negligible.
While enjoying the convenience brought by Location Based Service (LBS), the location privacy of vehicles in VANET may be disclosed. Distributed
k
-anonymity, as one of the most popular privacy protection methods, fails to take the trustworthiness of participants into account, resulting in malicious tracing of vehicles, which further leads to the sensitive information leakage, and even the safety threat of personal property. To address this issue, we propose a blockchain enabled trust-based location privacy protection scheme in VANET. Specifically, by analyzing the different requirements of the request vehicle and the cooperative vehicle during the process of constructing the anonymous cloaking region, as well as combining the characteristics of these two roles, we devise the trust management method based on
Dirichlet distribution
, such that both the requester and the cooperator will only cooperate with the vehicles they trust. Moreover, by employing blockchain, we also proposed the data structure to record the trustworthiness of vehicles on publicly available blocks timely, so that any vehicle can access the historical trust information of counterparties whenever necessary. Finally, the construction process of anonymous cloaking region is presented. Security analysis and extensive experiments indicate that the proposal is resilient to various trust model attacks, it can effectively detect the malicious vehicles, and preserve the location privacy of vehicles in the anonymous cloaking region construction, while the required time delay is limited.
Finding a framework that provides continuous, reliable, secure and sustainable diversified smart city services proves to be challenging in today’s traditional cloud centralized solutions. This article envisions a Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) solution that enables node collaboration among IoT devices to provide reliable and secure communication between devices and the fog layer on one hand, and the fog layer and the cloud layer on the other hand. The solution assumes that collaboration is determined based on nodes’ resource capabilities and cooperation willingness. Resource capabilities are defined using ontologies, while willingness to cooperate is described using a three-factor node criteria, namely: nature, attitude and awareness. A learning method is adopted to identify candidates for the service composition and delivery process. We show that the system does not require extensive training for services to be delivered correct and accurate. The proposed solution reduces the amount of unnecessary traffic flow to and from the edge, by relying on node-to-node communication protocols. Communication to the fog and cloud layers is used for more data and computing-extensive applications, hence, ensuring secure communication protocols to the cloud. Preliminary simulations are conducted to showcase the effectiveness of adapting the proposed framework to achieve smart city sustainability through service reliability and security. Results show that the proposed solution outperforms other semi-cooperative and non-cooperative service composition techniques in terms of efficient service delivery and composition delay, service hit ratio, and suspicious node identification.
In recent years, unprecedented work has been done in the area of smart cities. The purpose of developing smart cities is to enhance quality of life factors for people dwelling within them. To achieve that purpose, technologies such as IoT and cloud computing have been utilized. Blockchain technology is also among the promising technologies that can offer countless valuable services to its end users. It is a immutable programmable digital register for the purpose of recording virtual assets having some value and was primarily developed for digital currencies like Bitcoin. To fully utilize the services of blockchain technology within smart cities, characteristics of blockchain technology, and its key requirements and research challenges need to be identified. Hence, in this article, an attempt has been made to identify the characteristics of blockchain technology. Furthermore, indispensable requirements for incorporating blockchain technology within smart cities are enumerated. A conceptual architecture for securing smart city using blockchain technology is proposed and explained using a possible use case study. An overview of a real-world three-blockchain- based smart city case study is also presented. Finally, several imperative research challenges are identified and discussed.
Currently, IoT has become an important carrier of blockchains, which not only makes blockchain more ubiquitous but also improves the security of IoT. Consensus is the core component of blockchains with various forms, which raises the following challenges. Dynamic management and configuration of the consensuses in a blockchain are required because IoT applications have high dynamics. Moreover, an IoT node is usually reutilized by various applications in different blockchains, which means the IoT node should be switched frequently to cross consensuses in different blockchains. To address this, a software-defined blockchain architecture is proposed to realized the dynamic configurations for blockchains. Then a consensus function virtualization approach with application-aware work flow is proposed, which can abstract and manage various consensus resources. Next, a transfer-learning-based intelligent scheme is designed to implement the application- layer packet analysis and perform the efficient management of virtualized consensus resources. Experiment results indicate the feasibility of the proposed scheme. This work is significant in enhancing the flexibility and extendibility of blockchains in IoT.
This paper proposes a general and lightweight PHY-layer authentication framework for the Internet of Things (IoT) devices in smart cities, based on tag embedding and tag verification. More specifically, a tag signal carefully designed to be independent of the message signal of a transmitter (i.e., an IoT device) is encrypted and embedded into the signal of the device, and the tag signal is then retrieved at a receiver based on signal detection techniques to verify if it is from the legitimate IoT device or from an illegitimate adversary. With the help of matrix analysis and composite hypothesis testing theories, analytical models are further developed to depict the authentication performance of the proposed authentication framework under various tag signal models. We then provide numerical results to validate these analytical models and to illustrate how authentication performance against the typical impersonation attack varies with system parameters. Finally, we include discussions to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed authentication solution in resisting against other various attacks like replay, unauthorized detection, tampering, and man-in-the-middle.
Blockchain technology has gained considerable attention for different types of stakeholders due to its stable implementation in the field of digital currency like Bitcoin. Some users use Bitcoin for payment exchanges against any business while others use the Bitcoin network for earning Bitcoins itself, and there is also another type of user who called hackers those flood different types of attacks to illegally earn some Bitcoins or collapsing overall network. There are also numerous uses of blockchain technology, e.g. health, automation industry, energy sector, security and authentication in smart grids. In this study, we have elaborated on different critical aspects of Blockchain technology like its style of working mechanism, possible improvement suggestions by using Proof-of-Stake, and other custom variations, attempting seven types of challenges by different novel techniques. Moreover, we have also explained the current state-of-the-artwork in blockchain’s non-financial applications like Healthcare in which contribution of four-layered custom blockchain models related to precision medicine and the clinical trial was notable. Moreover, a mobile app model called HDG for the automation of medical records without compromising privacy was also a prominent contribution.
The purpose of this study is to solve the problems of large number of iterations, limitations and poor fitting effect of traditional algorithms in predicting the yield rate of blockchain financial products. In this study, bitcoin yield rate is taken as the research object, and data from June 2, 2016 to December 30, 2018 are collected, totaling 943 pieces. The BP neural network, support vector regression machine algorithm and particle swarm optimization least square vector algorithm are respectively adopted to carry out model simulation and empirical analysis on the collected data, and it is concluded that particle swarm optimization least square vector algorithm has the best fitting effect. Subsequently, the Ethereum (ETH) yield rate is selected as the research object, and the model simulation and empirical analysis are carried out on it, which verifies that the optimized algorithm has better prediction and fitting on the time series. The results show that the particle swarm optimization algorithm among the three algorithms mentioned in this research has the best prediction effect. Therefore, the results of this study have a good fitting effect on the prediction of the yield rate of blockchain financial products, have a good guiding effect on the investors of blockchain financial products, and have a good guiding significance for the study of the yield rate of China’s blockchain financial products.
Digitally signed documents must remain stored for many years. In this paper, a scheme that would allow maintaining signature validity without the necessity to use timestamps from trusted third parties is proposed. According to the scheme, after inserting data into a blockchain, a user can store a signed document in his storage without the need to perform any maintenance actions in the future. The Round-based Blockchain Time-stamping Scheme is proposed that is scalable, i.e., it requires embedding a constant number of bytes into a blockchain independent from a number of input documents. The scheme allows to prove that a document existed not only before a certain date, but after a certain date as well. Moreover, the purpose of the scheme is to meet non-repudiation requirements for digitally signed documents. The scheme allows verifying signature validity using a chain model and under some conditions using a modified shell model.
The sharing of government information resources is significant for improving the level of governance and social information. However, due to the existence of cross-domain security and trust islands, government departments are hindering the sharing of government information resources with other organizations and the public. To this end, the blockchain technology is used to construct a decentralized distributed peer-to-peer trust service system, which is integrated with the existing PKI/CA security system to establish a new trust model that supports multi-CA coexistence. Based on this, the structural composition and functional data flow of the blockchain smart city information resource sharing and exchange model designed in this paper. This paper launched a study on the role of the smart big data platform, and selected the development of smart cities in Hefei as an empirical analysis. From the connotation of smart city, block chain and big data technology combined, and the positive effects of relevant information technology summarized on the construction of smart city big data platform. Based on this, the smart city development level evaluation model of TOPSIS method constructed. The evaluation model constructed to make a vertical comparison from 2012 to 2017, the scale of smart cities is growing at an average annual rate of more than 30%, saving 20% of urban resource allocation and becoming a new pillar industry. Therefore, Hefei City should further increase environmental supervision and promote the use of low-carbon environmental protection new energy. The improvement of government management level has a positive effect on the construction of smart Hefei.
Blockchain, the underlying technology for Bitcoin, is a distributed digital ledger technology that enables record verification by many independent parties rather than a centralized authority, therefore making it more difficult to tamper with the data. This emerging technology has the potential to enhance various authentication and verification processes in image sharing and data security. It has the potential to promote patient-centered healthcare by giving greater control to patients over their own data. Blockchain can also be utilized for administrative tasks, such as credentialing, claims adjudication, and billing management. It can also be utilized to enhance software supporting research and clinical trials. Blockchain complements artificial intelligence (AI) and these can work synergistically to create better solutions. Although many challenges exist for increased adoption of blockchain within radiology and healthcare in general, it can play a major role in our practice and consequently, it is important for medical imaging professionals to become familiar with the technology.
Precast construction has great potential for driving innovations in clean, safe, high-efficient construction methods in the industry. However, current precast supply chain management often faces challenges such as fragmentation, poor traceability, and lack of real-time information. To address these challenges, this study builds a novel blockchain-based information management framework for a precast supply chain, which extends the applications of blockchain in the domain of construction supply chains. In this study, a blockchain framework and its development processes are presented in detail, and algorithms for smart contracts are developed for the model implementation. Finally, the performance of this framework is validated with a case study in which a visualization system is presented to achieve (1) information sharing management, (2) real-time control of scheduling, and (3) information traceability. The results suggest that the proposed framework facilitates the on-time delivery of precast components (PCs) and tracks the reasons for disputes centered on PCs in the precast supply chain.
Blockchain-based mobile edge computing (BMEC) is an innovative architecture, which is essential in the future fifth-generation (5G) network era. BMEC solves the problem of limited computing resources of devices in the mobile blockchain environment while ensuring the distributed deployment of computing resources and the traceable of transaction data. However, the blockchain technology has many security vulnerabilities, among which attacks against consensus algorithms are particularly serious, i.e., double-spend attacks, long-range attacks, selfish mining. All of these attacks can break the integrity of BMEC, allowing the correct block record to be overwritten with a false one. In this paper, we propose a group signature scheme designed for validating blocks of blockchain to address such issues. Each new block will be regarded as a valid block if it obtains a valid group aggregate signature of the group which the block creator belongs to. We describe in detail the process of authentication and key changes when mobile devices join and leave BMEC. We also provide a more efficient authentication scheme of authenticating mobile devices compared to traditional schemes in BMEC. Lastly, the security analysis is presented to prove that our proposed group signature scheme is effective.
Although a lot of work has been done in the domain, tasks scheduling and resource allocation in cloud computing remain the challenging problems for both industry and academia. Security in scheduling in highly distributed computing environments is one of the most important criteria in the era of personalization of the cloud services. Blockchain became recently a promising technology for integration with the cloud clusters and improvement of the security of cloud transactions and access to data and application codes. In this paper, we developed a new model of the cloud scheduler based on the blockchain technology. Differently to the other similar models, we tried to offload the implementation of the blockchain modules. We developed a novel ’proof–of–schedule’ consensus algorithm (instead of ’proof–of–work’) and used the Stackelberg games for the improvement of the approval of the generated schedules. The developed model has been experimentally simulated and validated by using the new original cloud simulator. The proposed Blockchain Scheduler was also compared with other selected cloud schedulers. The experiments shows that the applied approach improved significantly the efficiency of prepared schedules, in most cases, simulator returns a schedule with better makespan than existing individual scheduling modules.
Modern healthcare systems are characterized as being highly complex and costly. However, this can be reduced through improved health record management, utilization of insurance agencies, and blockchain technology. Blockchain was first introduced to provide distributed records of money-related exchanges that were not dependent on centralized authorities or financial institutions. Breakthroughs in blockchain technology have led to improved transactions involving medical records, insurance billing, and smart con- tracts, enabling permanent access to and security of data, as well as providing a distributed database of transactions. One significant advantage of using blockchain technology in the healthcare industry is that it can reform the interoperability of healthcare databases, providing increased access to patient medical records, device tracking, prescription databases, and hospital assets, including the complete life cycle of a device within the blockchain infrastructure. Access to patients’ medical histories is essential to cor- rectly prescribe medication, with blockchain being able to dramatically enhance the healthcare services framework. In this paper, several solutions for improving current limitations in healthcare systems using blockchain technology are explored, including frameworks and tools to measure the performance of such systems, e.g., Hyperledger Fabric, Composer, Docker Container, Hyperledger Caliper, and the Wireshark capture engine. Further, this paper proposes an Access Control Policy Algorithm for improving data ac- cessibility between healthcare providers, assisting in the simulation of environments to implement the Hyperledger-based eletronic healthcare record (EHR) sharing system that uses the concept of a chain- code. Performance metrics in blockchain networks, such as latency, throughput, Round Trip Time (RTT). have also been optimized for achieving enhanced results. Compared to traditional EHR systems, which use client-server architecture, the proposed system uses blockchain for improving efficiency and security.
Deep learning can achieve higher accuracy than traditional machine learning algorithms in a variety of machine learning tasks. Recently, privacy-preserving deep learning has drawn tremendous attention from information security community, in which neither training data nor the training model is expected to be exposed. Federated learning is a popular learning mechanism, where multiple parties upload local gradients to a server and the server updates model parameters with the collected gradients. However, there are many security problems neglected in federated learning, for example, the participants may behave incorrectly in gradient collecting or parameter updating, and the server may be malicious as well. In this paper, we present a distributed, secure, and fair deep learning framework named \textit{DeepChain} to solve these problems. DeepChain provides a value-driven incentive mechanism based on Blockchain to force the participants to behave correctly. Meanwhile, DeepChain guarantees data privacy for each participant and provides auditability for the whole training process. We implement a DeepChain prototype and conduct experiments on a real dataset for different settings, and the results show that our DeepChain is promising.
In recent years, the growing popularity of Internet of Things (IoT) is providing a promising opportunity not only for the development of various home automation systems but also for different industrial applications. By leveraging these benefits, automation is brought about in the industries giving rise to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). IoT is prone to several cyberattacks and needs challenging approaches to achieve the desired security. Moreover, with the emergence of IIoT, the security vulnerabilities posed by it are even more devastating. Therefore, in order to provide a guideline to researchers, this survey primarily attempts to classify the attacks based on the objects of vulnerability. Subsequently, each of the individual attacks is mapped to one or more layers of the generalized IoT/IIoT architecture followed by a discussion on the countermeasures proposed in literature. Some relevant real-life attacks for each of these categories are also discussed. We further discuss the countermeasures proposed for the most relevant security threats in IIoT. A case study on two of the most important industrial IoT applications is also highlighted. Next, we explore the challenges brought by the centralized IoT/IIoT architecture and how blockchain can effectively be used towards addressing such challenges. In this context, we also discuss in detail one IoT specific Blockchain design known as Tangle, its merits and demerits. We further highlight the most relevant Blockchain-based solutions provided in recent times to counter the challenges posed by the traditional cloud-centered applications. The blockchain-related solutions provided in the context of two of the most relevant applications for each of IoT and IIoT is also discussed. Subsequently, we design a taxonomy of the security research areas in IoT/IIoT along with their corresponding solutions. Finally, several open research directions relevant to the focus of this survey are identified.
In recent years, smart city projects have drawn significant attention as initiatives for enhancing urban development. Many studies have incorporated technical and non-technical enablers to better control the growth of smart cities. However, despite considerable achievements, the direct and indirect effects of smart city enablers on urban performances have not been quantified comprehensively. Thus, due to this lack of in-depth understanding, smart city leaders encounter difficulties in establishing proper development strategies. To address this issue, the present study has used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to identify the critical enablers of smart cities and to quantify their dynamic effects (i.e., direct and indirect effects) on the performances of such cities. More specifically, the authors applied SEM to test and estimate the relationships between four enabler clusters (i.e., technological infrastructure, open governance, intelligent community, and innovative economy) and four performance objectives (i.e., efficiency, sustainability, livability, and competitiveness) using the actual data of 50 smart cities. The statistical results demonstrated that non-technical enabler clusters, as well as the technical drivers, have significant impacts on the performances of smart cities with their highly interrelated, synergetic dynamics. Based on those findings, urban leaders can enhance strategic planning for smart city transitions through proper policy management.
If all vehicles are connected together through a wireless communication channel, vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs) can support a wide range of real-time traffic information services such as intelligent routing, weather monitoring, emergency call. However, the accuracy and credibility of the transmitted messages among the VANETs is of paramount importance as life may depend on it. We introduce a novel framework called blockchain-assisted privacy-preserving authentication system (BPAS) that provides authentication automatically in VANETs as well as preserving the vehicle's privacyat the same time. This design is highly efficient and scalable. It does not require any online registration center (except for system initialization, vehicle registration), and allows conditional tracing and dynamic revocation of misbehaving vehicles. We conduct an in-depth security analysis of our proposed framework and a performance evaluation (built on the hyperledger fabric platform). The results demonstrate that our framework is an efficient solution for the development of a decentralized authentication system in VANETs.
Wireless Service Providers (WSPs) and Content Providers (CPs) charge common data price according to the flat rate, the transmission time, or the data usage, irrespective of the content characteristics. The multimedia compression parameters that determine the multimedia importance diversities among frames have largely been ignored in media pricing research. We establish a new economics-driven resource allocation framework for multimedia transmissions among WSPs, CPs, and End Users (EUs) based on Smart Media Pricing (SMP). The WSPs transmit media streams provided by CPs to the EUs to earn money. However, facing with the transaction security and privacy protection issues, we undertake promising consortium blockchain to improve resource pricing transaction security without reliance on a trusted third party. A novel Stackelberg game with consortium blockchain is firstly established to allocate transmission resources such as Transmission Times’ Limitations (TTLs) from an economic point of view. Then we investigate the utility maximization problems of the leader (WSP and CP) and the follower (EU) in terms of TTLs respectively. Finally, the optimal TTL and the optimal price are non-uniformly determined for each frame according to the game equilibria, by analyzing the payment from EUs, the channel conditions, and the media characteristics in terms of frame importance. Security analysis shows that our proposed scheme achieves better transaction security and privacy protection. Experimental comparison with uniform pricing based on equal TTL or equal frame importance validates the effectiveness of the proposed economic model.