Presently, majority of car-pooling services depend on a central third party which makes these platforms susceptible to data privacy, security concerns, and a single point of failure. Moreover, drivers and passengers are charged with different services fees by the electric mobility service provider. The emergence of emerging technologies such as Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT) can foster trust, boost electric car-pooling business models. Hence, DLT is utilized to store electric car-pooling trips, drivers, and passengers’ information to ensure user privacy and maintain security. Similarly, social practice theories such as Community of Practice (CoP) is progressively considered as a significant structure within societies as it aids the development and sharing of resources across groups. But very little attention has been devoted to examined how CoP can be employed to support the design of decentralized on-demand electric car-pooling. Leveraging CoP and DLT, this paper proposes a decentralized community of practice-based model that enables drivers to publish electric car-pooling services and passengers to be matched to a driver without depending on a trusted third party. A systematic literature review was adopted to collect data and a case study of a decentralized on-demand electric car-pooling was presented. Findings from this study highlights conceptualization of CoP for improving decentralized on-demand electric car-pooling and provide insights on efficient decentralized mechanisms for electric car-pooling. Theoretically, this article identifies the current problems, state-of-the-art of decentralized electric car-pooling. For policy implications this study provides guidelines to effectively govern and manage the development of on-demand electric car-pooling for sustainable public transportation.
Chuyi Liu, Jianxiong Wan, Leixiao Li, Bingbing Yao
Sharding technology, which divides a network into multiple disjoint groups so that transactions can be processed in parallel, is applied to blockchain systems as a promising solution to improve Transactions Per Second (TPS). This paper considers the Optimal Blockchain Sharding (OBCS) problem as a Markov Decision Process (MDP) where the decision variables are the number of shards, block size and block interval. Previous works solved the OBCS problem via Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL)-based methods, where the action space must be discretized to increase processability. However, the discretization degrades the quality of the solution since the optimal solution usually lies between discrete values. In this paper, we treat the block size and block interval as continuous decision variables and provide dynamic sharding strategies based on them. The Branching Dueling Q-Network Blockchain Sharding (BDQBS) algorithm is designed for discrete action spaces. Compared with traditional DRL algorithms, the BDQBS overcomes the drawbacks of high action space dimensions and difficulty in training neural networks. And it improves the performance of the blockchain system by 1.25 times. We also propose a sharding control algorithm based on the Parameterized Deep Q-Networks (P-DQN) algorithm, i.e., the Parameterized Deep Q-Networks Blockchain Sharding (P-DQNBS) algorithm, to efficiently handle the discrete–continuous hybrid action space without the scalability issues. Also, the method can effectively improve the TPS by up to 28%.
Dec 1, 2023·International journal of intelligent computing and information sciences/International Journal of Intelligent Computing and Information Sciences
Mohamed A. Abo-Soliman, Eman shaaban, Mirvat Al-Qutt, Karim Emara
The use of distributed ledger technology for industrial IoT devices is increasing recently to ensure network security and data protection. Factories and manufacturing plants inclined lately to deploy both Industrial IoT and DLT applications in order to enable autonomous secure operations. IoT helps in simplifying business processes, improving user’s experience and leading to better cost efficiencies, while DLT ensures security, transparency and trust. DLT-based IoT supports secure automation for industrial systems and fosters transformation into the industry 4 age. However, DLT still faces several challenges such as scalability, high cost and security. Moreover, there is no clear understanding about DLT-IoT architecture by a wide range of the industrial community. This work introduces DLT as a major key component of industrial IoT systems that benefits the industry with high level of protection and trust. It also surveys different DLT consensus with regard to industry in order to construct a comparative analysis between the most common algorithms. The study concludes by a selection criteria chart for building integrated DLT-IoT solution suitable for different types of businesses.
Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology relies on wireless communication and coordination, aiming to improve road safety and traffic efficiency by orchestrating the interaction among the vehicles, infrastructures, and various entities. However, existing organizational and operational forms of V2X infrastructures encounter significant challenges, such as the capability to guarantee communication security, privacy, and efficiency especially when a centralized management system is used. The emerging Decentralized Autonomous Organizations and Operations (DAOs) present a solution to these challenges. DAOs embed managerial and operational protocols within a blockchain via smart contracts, facilitating smooth and efficient management of organizations without the necessity for centralized oversight. This letter introduces DAOs into the coordination of V2X infrastructures. Through a tripartite functional architecture including organization, coordination, and execution, we can achieve intelligent collaborative management among road infrastructures and vehicles. The DAO-secured V2X infrastructures are anticipated to augment the safety and efficiency of vehicular management in complex road scenarios, holding applicable potential for developing the intelligent roadways of tomorrow.
Efficient energy management of Distributed Re-newable Energy Resources (DRER) enables a more sustainable and efficient energy ecosystem. Therefore, we propose a holistic Energy Management System (EMS), utilising the computational and energy storage capabilities of nearby Electric Vehicles (EVs), providing a low-latency and efficient management platform for DRER. Through leveraging the inherent, immutable features of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and smart contracts, we create a secure management environment, facilitating interactions between multiple EVs and energy resources. Using a privacy preserving load forecasting method powered by Vehicular Fog Computing (VFC), we integrate the computational resources of the EVs. Using DLT and our forecasting framework, we accommodate efficient management algorithms in a secure and low-latency manner enabling greater utilisation of the energy storage resources. Finally, we assess our proposed EMS in terms of monetary and energy utility metrics, establishing the increased benefits of multiple interacting EVs and load forecasting. Through the proposed system, we have established the potential of our framework to create a more sustainable and efficient energy ecosystem whilst providing measurable benefits to participating agents.
In an era of global commerce and digital interconnectedness, the inefficiencies and complexities of cross-border payment systems have become a significant hindrance to seamless international transactions.This project explores the transformative potential of blockchain technology, specifically focusing on the utilization of smart contracts, Solidity programming language, and the Ethereum platform, to revolutionize cross-border payments.This research delves into the core concepts of decentralized transactions, shedding light on how blockchain technology can disintermediate traditional financial intermediaries, mitigate transactional inefficiencies, and enhance the transparency, security, and trust in cross-border financial transactions.The utilization of smart contracts as self-executing, tamper-proof digital agreements offers a novel approach to automate and streamline cross-border payments, reducing the risk of fraud and errors while eliminating the need for intermediaries.By evaluating the benefits and challenges of decentralized transactions, this offers insights into the potential for latest technologies to disrupt the status quo of international payments and foster financial inclusion on a global scale.
Son Nguyen, Aengus Leman, Zhe Xiao, Xiuju Fu · 10 authors
Efficiency and sustainability are undisputedly the most critical objectives for modern ports. Current exercises for port services still lack performance profiling for arriving vessels regarding their arrival punctuality and compliance with port resource schedule for Just-in-time (JIT) service, as well as their efforts contributing towards less emission through reduced turnaround time within port. As a result, a performance-based incentive is missing. Bringing in the incentive component may facilitate the objectives of achieving both port efficiency and sustainability. Blockchain technology, owning to its intrinsic features like immutability, traceability, governance and provenance, and in-built tokens (for most public chain platforms), allow for the establishment of system solutions to record key performance indicators (KPIs) and distribute incentives to good performers. This paper is the first to propose a blockchain-based system to incentivize JIT and green operations in ports. The platform system design and operating mechanisms are elaborated in detail, and a prototype system has been implemented based on the Solana blockchain to demonstrate the core features. The current system’s potential is substantial, considering the industry’s increasing awareness about its environmental footprint. Continuous developments can be facilitated by connecting to market-based measures such as carbon pricing and emission trading in the maritime sector.
Urban growth sometimes leads to rigid infrastructure that struggles to adapt to changing demand. This paper introduces a novel approach, aiming to enable cities to evolve and respond more effectively to such dynamic demand. It identifies the limitations arising from the complexity and inflexibility of existing urban systems. A framework is presented for enhancing the city's adaptability perception through advanced sensing technologies, conducting parallel simulation via graph-based techniques, and facilitating autonomous decision-making across domains through decentralized and autonomous organization and operation. Notably, a symbiotic mechanism is employed to implement these technologies practically, thereby making urban management more agile and responsive. In the case study, we explore how this approach can optimize traffic flow by adjusting lane allocations. This case not only enhances traffic efficiency but also reduces emissions. The proposed evolutionary city offers a new perspective on sustainable urban development, highliting the importance of integrated intelligence within urban systems.
Nii Osae Osae Dade, Margaret Lartey-Quaye, Emmanuel Teye-Kofi Odonkor, Paul Ammah
Programming has always been at the heart of technological innovation in the 21st century. With the advent of blockchain technologies and the proliferation of web3 paradigms of decentralised applications, smart contracts have been very instrumental in enabling developers to build applications that reside on decentralised blockchains. Despite the huge interest and potential of smart contracts, there is still a significant knowledge and skill gap that developers need to cross in order to build web3 applications. In light of this, we introduce MazzumaGPT, a large language model that has been optimised to generate smart contract code and aid developers to scaffold development and improve productivity. As part of this research, we outline the optimisation and fine-tuning parameters, evaluate the model's performance on functional correctness and address the limitations and broader impacts of our research.
This paper addresses the issue of blockchain protocol risks, a foundational category of risks affecting Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) which underpins digital assets, smart contracts, and decentralised applications. It presents a comprehensive risk management framework developed in collaboration with financial institutions, blockchain development teams and regulators that applies a traditional risk management taxonomy to address certain overlooked blockchain protocol risks. The approach offers a structured way to identify, measure, monitor and report blockchain protocol risks. The paper provides real-world use cases to demonstrate the practicality and implementation of the proposed framework. The findings of this work contribute to the evolving understanding of blockchain protocol risks and provide valuable insights on how these risks affect the adoption of DLT by financial institutions.
In a world where sustainable and collaborative behavior is increasingly important due to climate change, environmental concerns, and social engagement, individual willpower may not be enough to sustain positive behavior for long-term sustainability. To encourage collaborative behavior, many blockchain-based applications are emerging that provide an incentive in the form of fungible tokens, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), or reputation points. Existing services address specific solutions such as waste disposal, peer-to-peer energy management, and sustainable mobility. However, the tokens issued by these services generally can be used only by the services themselves and are not interchangeable with other tokens. This paper proposes a platform that aggregates different blockchain-based services, and that exploits a conversion mechanism enabling the user to convert a given service token with other service tokens. The conversion is not based on a monetary value, rather, it relies on the amount of saved CO2 a service token represents. The platform provides a token (the “sCO2” token) anchored to a fixed amount of saved CO2, that may be converted for token of other services or used to get a discount on various municipal services such as waste tax, parking, public transport, etc. The proposed system aims to increase the engagement and awareness among citizens and end-users, provide an accountable and transparent way to track people’s sustainable behavior, and issue certificates to organizations based on how much CO2 their services have helped save.
Tri Nguyen, Huong Nguyen, Juha Partala, Susanna Pirttikangas
Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) is an advanced Intelligent Transport System (ITS) that integrates various modes of transportation to meet the demands of travellers. The system relies on frequent communication for data exchange between the MaaS provider and transport service providers. Ideally, such communication would utilize trust technologies between these entities. However, current MaaS systems lack transparency and reliability, and their centralized nature creates a single point of failure for the entire service. To address these issues, this paper proposes a blockchain-based MaaS, which includes an architecture and smart contract functionalities. The solutions are built on permissioned and permissionless Hyperledger Fabric and Ethereum blockchain platforms, respectively, for a realistic deployment of network architecture and proposed smart contracts. Additionally, the paper presents a framework derived from comparing these two blockchain platforms. Finally, the framework is evaluated, and open questions and challenges are analyzed.
As smart transportation systems evolve, secure and efficient V2X communication between vehicles and infrastructure becomes crucial. This paper introduces a Vehicle-to-Blockchain (V2B) communication architecture, leveraging blockchain technology for transparent and decentralized interactions. Our work contributes to the integration of blockchain into V2X and IoT for next-generation transportation systems. We propose several novel blockchain use cases, including a blockchain-based vehicle ownership system based on the multi-token standard, a vehicle scoring system, blockchain–IoT integration, and a decentralized ticket management system for transportation services. The architecture addresses key aspects, such as data integration, validity, and secure messaging, and introduces a decentralized payment system and marketplace for transportation in smart cities. We specifically emphasize the technical implementation of smart contracts for these use cases, underscoring their role in ensuring robust and reliable interactions. Through our decentralized approach, we pave the way for a transformative transportation ecosystem that is adaptable, resilient, and capable of meeting the evolving needs of smart cities.
This chapter reviews the developments and initiatives driven by distributed ledger technology (DLT) or blockchain technology within the insurance industry. In order for the insurance industry to capitalise on the very real benefits, however, progress towards standardisation (of practices, systems and databases) is required along with a willingness for intra-market cooperation to foster ecosystems. If achieved, the prospects for the insurance industry in utilising this technology to help embed itself as part of the wider digital economy, are bright. Broadly, the activities undertaken by insurers and reinsurers to date fall into three camps. First are more prosaic initiatives designed to improve efficiency, lower the costs of transaction processing and improve data quality and transparency. Second, fraud detection, risk prevention and “smart” contracting are at the forefront of several collaborative efforts undertaken within the industry or in conjunction with major external technology entities. Third, and most interesting, is the development of new markets and tools for risk management and sharing. While the first two limbs, efficiency and fraud prevention, are important, it is the third which holds particular promise and which is structurally important. DLT or blockchain technology may enable a move to faster more efficient and more sustainable decentralised solutions for existing products and can also help unlock unrealised economic value for new products and connectivity with the digital economy. However, these opportunities are not without their corresponding challenges and risks, technological, legal and otherwise. Key challenges and risks to be considered in the context of existing legal frameworks relate to security and privacy, governance, scalability and standardisation.
Neha Bhat, Anil A. Bharath, N Nagashree, Shantakumar B. Patıl
Ride Booking platforms have become increasingly popular due to their convenience and other benefits. Taxi-service giants have dominated the market with the increasing demands and have introduced predatory practices such as surge-pricing in order to maintain the demand-supply balance, while providing drastically poor levels of reliability and responsiveness in majority of the cities. The existing solutions still face problems such as lack of privacy, control by intermediaries and centralization. In this paper, we propose a Blockchain-based Ride Booking platform built using Ethereum Smart Contracts and novel features such as an Optimal Price Calculation algorithm and Ride Fare Bidding. The platform leverages the inherent advantages of blockchain technology, such as decentralization, transparency, and immutability, to solve these problems. Blockchain technology also aids in increasing security and eliminating the single point of failure. The use of smart contracts enables the platform to execute transactions automatically and transparently, eliminating the need for intermediaries and reducing costs. The proposed solution demonstrates characteristics such as fairness, accountability, and privacy in the ride booking industry. In summary, our decentralized ride booking platform represents a significant step towards a fairer and more efficient ride booking ecosystem.
Yubao Zhang, Xin Chen, Yi Gu, Zhicheng Li · 5 authors
With the growing prevalence of electric vehicles (EVs) and advancements in EV electronics, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) techniques and large-scale scheduling strategies have emerged to promote renewable energy utilization and power grid stability. This study proposes a multi-stakeholder hierarchical V2G coordination based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL) and the Proof of Stake algorithm. Furthermore, the multi-stakeholders include the power grid, EV aggregators (EVAs), and users, and the proposed strategy can achieve multi-stakeholder benefits. On the grid side, load fluctuations and renewable energy consumption are considered, while on the EVA side, energy constraints and charging costs are considered. The three critical battery conditioning parameters of battery SOX are considered on the user side, including state of charge, state of power, and state of health. Compared with four typical baselines, the multi-stakeholder hierarchical coordination strategy can enhance renewable energy consumption, mitigate load fluctuations, meet the energy demands of EVA, and reduce charging costs and battery degradation under realistic operating conditions.
This study applies Stackelberg game theory to analyze and compare optimal operational strategies in four supply chain finance scenarios: traditional trade financing (TI), trade financing through the blockchain platform (BI), traditional external financing (TE), and external financing through the blockchain platform (BE). The main findings are as follows: First, the adoption of the blockchain platform reduces the interest rate threshold, making external financing more advantageous for retailers with higher capital constraint. Further, financing through the blockchain platform leads to higher wholesale prices, retail prices, and order quantities compared to traditional financing scenarios. Second, internal trade financing and the use of blockchain technology are preferred over external bank financing. However, conducting external bank financing through the blockchain platform yields greater profit growth for manufacturers and retailers. Accessing the blockchain platform is the optimal strategy for retailers and banks, leading to a favorable “multi-win” situation when the manufacturer’s platform fees are reasonable. Third, the manufacturer’s risk guarantee ratio plays a crucial role in determining the choice of financing mode, particularly when the retailer faces the risk of debt default. This study contributes to the literature by quantifying the impacts of blockchain technology deployment for three aspects that have been overlooked in previous studies: the set-up cost and access fee of the blockchain platform, the service level provided by the platform, and the demand increase resulting from blockchain technology adoption.
This study presents an architectural framework for the blockchain-based usage-based insurance (UBI) policy auction mechanism in the internet of vehicles (IoV) applications. The main objective of this study is to analyze and design the specific blockchain architecture and management considerations for the UBI environment. An auction mechanism is developed for the UBI blockchain platform to enhance consumer trust. The study identifies correlations between driving behaviors and associated risks to determine a driver's score. A decentralized bidding algorithm is proposed and implemented on a blockchain platform using elliptic curve cryptography and first-price sealed-bid auctions. Additionally, the model incorporates intelligent contract functionality to prevent unauthorized modifications and ensure that insurance prices align with the prevailing market value. An experimental study evaluates the system's efficacy by expanding the participant pool in the bidding process to identify the winning bidder and is investigated under scenarios where varying numbers of insurance companies submit bids. The experimental results demonstrate that as the number of insurance companies increases exponentially, the temporal overhead incurred by the system exhibits only marginal growth. Moreover, the allocation of bids is accomplished within a significantly abbreviated timeframe. These findings provide evidence that supports the efficiency of the proposed algorithm.
This study explores the intricacies of waiting games, a novel dynamic that emerged with Ethereum's transition to a Proof-of-Stake (PoS)-based block proposer selection protocol. Within this PoS framework, validators acquire a distinct monopoly position during their assigned slots, given that block proposal rights are set deterministically, contrasting with Proof-of-Work (PoW) protocols. Consequently, validators have the power to delay block proposals, stepping outside the honest validator specs, optimizing potential returns through MEV payments. Nonetheless, this strategic behaviour introduces the risk of orphaning if attestors fail to observe and vote on the block timely. Our quantitative analysis of this waiting phenomenon and its associated risks reveals an opportunity for enhanced MEV extraction, exceeding standard protocol rewards, and providing sufficient incentives for validators to play the game. Notably, our findings indicate that delayed proposals do not always result in orphaning and orphaned blocks are not consistently proposed later than non-orphaned ones. To further examine consensus stability under varying network conditions, we adopt an agent-based simulation model tailored for PoS-Ethereum, illustrating that consensus disruption will not be observed unless significant delay strategies are adopted. Ultimately, this research offers valuable insights into the advent of waiting games on Ethereum, providing a comprehensive understanding of trade-offs and potential profits for validators within the blockchain ecosystem.
Ilham Qasse, Shailesh Mishra, Björn Þór Jónsson, Foutse Khomh · 5 authors
The potential of automatic code generation through Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) frameworks has yet to be realized. Beyond their ability to help software professionals write more accurate, reusable code, MDE frameworks could make programming accessible for a new class of domain experts. However, domain experts have been slow to embrace these tools, as they still need to learn how to specify their applications' requirements using the concrete syntax (i.e., textual or graphical) of the new and unified domain-specific language. Conversational interfaces (chatbots) could smooth the learning process and offer a more interactive way for domain experts to specify their application requirements and generate the desired code. If integrated with MDE frameworks, chatbots may offer domain experts with richer domain vocabulary without sacrificing the power of agnosticism that unified modelling frameworks provide. In this paper, we discuss the challenges of integrating chatbots within MDE frameworks and then examine a specific application: the auto-generation of smart contract code based on conversational syntax. We demonstrate how this can be done and evaluate our approach by conducting a user experience survey to assess the usability and functionality of the chatbot framework. The paper concludes by drawing attention to the potential benefits of leveraging Language Models (LLMs) in this context.
Syed Muhammad Ahsan, Hassan Abbas Khan, Sarmad Sohaib, Anas Hashmi
The operation of smart buildings (with solar, storage and suitable power routing infrastructure) can be optimized with the addition of parking stations for electric vehicles (EVs) with vehicle-to-everything (V2X) operations including vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-building (V2B) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) operations. In this paper, a multi-objective optimization framework is proposed for the smart charging and discharging of EVs along with the maximization of revenue and savings of smart building (prosumers with solar power, a battery storage system and a parking station) and non-primary/ordinary buildings (consumers of electricity without solar power, a battery storage system and parking station). A mixed-integer linear program is developed to maximize the profits of smart buildings that have bilateral contracts with non-primary buildings. The optimized charging and discharging (V2X) of EVs at affordable rates utilizing solar power and a battery storage system in the smart building helps to manage the EV load during on-peak hours and prevent utility congestion. The results indicate that in addition to the 4–9% daily electricity cost reductions for non-primary buildings, a smart building can achieve up to 60% of the daily profits. Further, EVs can save 50–69% in charging costs while performing V2X operations.
Blockchain is an emerging technology in logistics and supply chain management. However, its adoption is still in a doldrum with limited success. This study explores container shipping service providers’ (CSSPs) current adoption status and perceived barriers in integrating blockchain applications before providing adoption recommendations. A qualitative analysis was conducted on thirty-two interviews with experts holding managing positions from container terminal operators, shipping companies, and freight forwarders. Thematic analysis was employed to extract and aggregate information from the qualitative database. This study revealed the difference between CSSPs’ perceptions of blockchain adoption barriers and, accordingly, their adopting approaches. A challenging implementing process for the current blockchain applications in container shipping was depicted with ten barriers and twenty-nine connections. Industry experts provided six recommendations for successful blockchain adoption to address the complicated situation. This paper deepens the knowledge about blockchain in supply chains, especially maritime logistics operations. It sheds light on the complexity of perceived adoption barriers, their effect on CSSPs’ approaches to blockchain applications, and potential digitalization policies to be taken.
Moein Choobineh, Ali Arabnya, Amin Khodaei, Honghao Zheng
The growing share of distributed, renewable resources in energy mix to combat climate change calls for a significant efficiency improvement through market-based solutions such as peer-to-peer (P2P) transactive energy systems. This paradigm shift requires an energy market that supports its functions through well-designed market rules and transaction infrastructure—the two ingredients that form a marketplace. Blockchain technology can facilitate the implementation of both market rules and transaction infrastructure for newly emerging P2P transactive energy markets. In this paper, we propose a model for the design of a transactive energy marketplace using blockchain as transaction infrastructure based on game-theoretic market rules that incentivize a more sustainable energy generation and consumption behavior while preserving the privacy of economic agents in the market. We propose a novel consensus mechanism named Proof-of-Reserve (PoR) to perform consumer-prosumer transactions and block mining activities on a distributed ledger. The model is numerically analyzed on a test system to illustrate its effectiveness. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of game-theoretic modeling in establishing market equilibrium and showcase the efficiency of blockchain technology in facilitating a functional, decentralized transaction settlement process.
Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta, Indonesia, Ajeng Septiana WULANSARI
One of the biggest issues in organization in centuries is problem raised by the relationship between actor inside. This problem called principal-agent problem which explained by principal agent theory (PAT). The emerged new technology disruption called blockchain technology (BCT) receive the challenge to offers the solution for principal agent problem, it claims empirically could reduce or even eliminate the problem, thus lead to lower cost to solved the problem, called agency cost. This technology application wide spread in several sectors, the example is the implementation of Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO). DAO is the blockchain based new form of organization, who run based on a smart contract or algorithm run in the computer network. This paper is conceptual paper, we explained about the basic of blockchain, and we analyzed the correlation between blockchain and principal agent theory.