Overview
Background
Smart healthy buildings aim to improve the coordination between the digital world with precise coordination with human-centric computing. Having sustainable, reliable, coordinated, and resilient activities will be critical to effective healthy building control. Such requirements can be empowered using NFT, Blockchain and Digital Twin (DT). A blockchain is a digitally distributed, decentralised database that chronologically and securely records transactions. Given its data is resistant to modification, blockchains are being explored in a digital platform and smart building industries due to their high security performance.
On the other hand, smart healthy buildings solutions (e.g., digital artworks, personalised therapeutic displays, lighting and HVAC, and therapeutic arts) need to be protected by using Non-Fungible Token (NFT). NFTs are digital files ranging from a piece of digital art, digital drawings, 3D model from a building, or a video clip. The NFT are available for sale on a digital transaction ledger known as the blockchain, where they can be minted, bought, and sold using cryptocurrency. Unlike how each instance of bitcoin has the same value at a given time, every NFT is a unique digital version of a certificate of authenticity and has a different value. It is argued that the value of digital art and digital drawing has been overlooked, and now with the increasingly lucrative NFT market, popularity, there seems to be more attention paid to the actual value of digital artwork. The initial use of blockchain/NFT in the construction sector might be in contract document authentication, it has applications in real estate speculation, deeds, pro forma’s, and crowdfunded development (Hamledari & Fischer, 2021; Xu et al., 2022). On the other hand, ethical considerations of NFT need to be explored in detail, e.g. materials and energy consumptions and potential money Laundering issues. Currently, developing digital twins blockchains and obtaining NFT for digital works are complicated and there is a lack of a platform to create and display NFT for new designers and architects.
Research Aim:
The aim of this PhD programme is to develop a user friendly, easy to use blockchain/NFT platform to allow new designers to create, display and trade NFTs in an NFT marketplace built upon secure public or private blockchain networks, such as Opensea. Key stakeholders’ (e.g., buyers, designers, architects, property developers, commercial firms) acceptances will be studied. We expect this programme will have a huge impact on the future digital transformation of the smart healthy building industry.
We are currently funded by Innovate UK and an industrial partner - Allsee Technologies to develop “Therapeutic digital displays system”. Our excellent partnership has resulted in this proposal. The research direction identified for this project, require more in-depth investigation which is not within the scope of the KTP project. This PhD programme will create new business opportunities for our industrial partner and interdisciplinary research collaboration between computer science, digital displays and healthy buildings. This PhD programme will be based in Allsee Technologies, and supported by multiple disciplinary academic supervision team
Blockchain and NFT technology will play a dominant role in future smart building sectors. However, it is a complex phenomenon. Therefore, this proposal is to develop an energy efficient blockchain/NFT platform to enable new designers, architects and artists to engage with the emerging digital markets to develop secure smart healthy building solutions.
Specific qualifications/subject areas required of the applicants for this project
Entrants must have…
- Blockchain/NFT programming skill using the following frameworks and programming languages, including and not limited to Opensea, Quorum, P5.js, JavaScript, Solidity
- Data analysis skills
- Team working skills
- Interpersonal skills
Application enquiries:
Email:Yangang.xing@ntu.ac.uk
Tel: +44 115 84 86440
Application Deadline
1 October 2022
Staff profiles
Entry qualifications
Specific qualifications/subject areas required of the applicants for this project
Entrants must have…
- Blockchain/NFT programming skill using the following frameworks and programming languages, including and not limited to Opensea, Quorum, P5.js, JavaScript, Solidity
- Data analysis skills
- Team working skills
- Interpersonal skills
An applicant should normally hold a Master’s degree at distinction or merit level of a UK university or an equivalent qualification. International students will also need to meet the English language requirements - IELTS 6.5 (with minimum sub-scores of 6.0). Applicants who have taken a higher degree at a UK university are normally exempt from the English language requirements.
How to apply
How to apply
Please visit our how to apply page for a step-by-step guide and make an application.
Application enquiries:
Email:Yangang.xing@ntu.ac.uk
Tel: +44 115 84 86440
Application Deadline
1 August 2022
Fees and funding
Find out about fees and funding for PhD projects.
Guidance and support
Further information on guidance and support can be found on this page.