Chip off the new block: Blockchain and the building sector

How did your interest in the applications of blockchain to the construction industry begin?

Dermott McMeel (DM): It is partly because, before being a researcher, I was an architect. My father was a builder and quite passionate about the sector in general. At the time, I was watching out for the Building Research Association of New Zealand’s funding prospectus. One of the things they were looking for people to research was blockchain; we applied with what we thought was an interesting idea and have received the funding. Now, we are reaching out to the construction and design community.

To what end?

DM: We’re offering to host a series of workshops this year to help people understand blockchain. We do this by having them build a blockchain out of Lego; this might sound strange but it’s a really good way to see what this new technology lets us do. We are holding a workshop in April in Wellington. It starts off with everybody having some Lego and some trading cards. We trade these cards between us for Lego; as you trade,