Consortium blockchain integrated with industrial IoT devices to perform a real-time detection of air and water pollution

Abstract

The interest in blockchain for Industry 4.0 applications and the integration of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has grown considerably. This is due to the unique characteristics of blockchain, including the immutability of the distributed ledger, transparency, traceability of transactions, and security based on cryptographic techniques that certify the integrity of the data. So, the integration of blockchain can enhance data integrity, transparency, and security while eliminating trusted third parties. However, these characteristics make blockchains difficult to scale and typically involve high costs for a large number of transactions. It makes it difficult to manage large amounts of data, which are generally produced in IIoT environments. Some recent results have demonstrated how the use of private blockchains can improve the issues of scalability and transaction costs. This paper addresses the following research question: Can blockchain technology, in its current state, be suitable for implementing industrial monitoring applications that use IIoT devices? Our objective is to propose a blockchain-based application integrated with IIoT devices in order to control the air and water pollution produced by industrial activities. The application we propose complies with current European regulations. Finally, we perform an empirical evaluation of the solution's performance to understand its applicability in real-world scenarios.