Blockchain Papers

Yishuo Jiang, Xinlai Liu, Kai Kang, Zicheng Wang · 6 authors

No abstract is available for this record.

Mohammed Ali Berawi, Teuku Yuri M. Zagloel, Muhammad Naufal Ariq, Mustika Sari

Players in the building and construction industry have progressively adopted building Information Modelling (BIM) to improve the efficiency of building information management through its rich digital building models used at all building life cycle stages. However, there are still several constraints in the BIM collaboration process and data management regarding data security, accountability, and transparency. On the other hand, blockchain, a distributed ledger technology, is considered a solution to address those constraints. Therefore, this paper aims to integrate blockchain technology into the BIM workflow, focusing on the smart building planning process that holds most data generation of the activities in the whole construction project. To obtain the objectives of this study, literature review, benchmarking study, and expert interviews were conducted in two stages, firstly to identify the characteristics and components of a smart building and then to develop further the blockchain-based framework for smart building planning in the BIM model. By developing the framework that utilizes Ethereum blockchain and InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) peer-to-peer storage in Revit BIM client, the results of this study showed that the integration of blockchain in BIM workflow provides an improved platform in terms of data security, accountability, transparency, in which digital signature can be created, and authorization for the models is provided for the planning process of a smart building.

Sitsofe Kwame Yevu, Ann T.W. Yu, Amos Darko

No abstract is available for this record.

Kambiz Radman, Mostafa Babaeian Jelodar, Eghbal Ghazizadeh, Suzanne Wilkinson

From the economic value and contribution point of view to gross domestic product (GDP), it is highly important to find efficiency through new technology and digital tools as modern practices in the New Zealand construction industry. This requires coordinated efforts and greater alignment in using technology and information technology (IT) infrastructure provisions in complex and smart construction projects and operations. However, construction projects experience indicates delays as a recurring issue that requires constant assessing of these delays’ causes and impact. Many delay analysis methods and causal factors are being recognized, but none has considered whether information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure such as software and smart platforms affect these delay causes and events. This paper aims to identify and rank the causes of delay, which happened through using software and ICT platforms in smart and complex construction projects in New Zealand. Initially, the delay causes were classified, and 15 executed smart construction projects were identified and studied. The projects were selected based on purposive sampling from the different contracting organizations. Accordingly, the project managers and engineers involved participated in a survey on the actual delay causes in these projects. This study utilized the correlation coefficient and ranking of relative importance index (RII) to prioritize the causes of delay. The result presented a list of 20 factors in three classes of design/engineering (DE), client (CL), and contractor (CO). The results revealed that issues such as retrieving information, gathering and screening real-time data on the site, and lack of multicommunication channels between parties and stages (pre- and postconstruction) could be significant causes of delay in smart projects with the expansion of smart tools and techniques in construction. Meanwhile, consents and ethics can potentially become another potential cause of delay, which requires further attention.

Hesam Hamledari, Martin Fischer

No abstract is available for this record.

Vittoria Ciotta, Giulio Mariniello, Domenico Asprone, Andrea Botta · 5 authors

No abstract is available for this record.

Katharina Sigalov, Xuling Ye, Markus König, Philipp Hagedorn · 10 authors

Construction projects usually involve signing various contracts with specific billing procedures. In practice, dealing with complex contract structures causes significant problems, especially with regard to timely payment and guaranteed cash flow. Furthermore, a lack of transparency leads to a loss of trust. As a result, late or non-payment is a common problem in the construction industry. This paper presents the concept of implementing smart contracts for automated, transparent, and traceable payment processing for construction projects. Automated billing is achieved by combining Building Information Modeling (BIM) approaches with blockchain-based smart contracts. Thereby, parts of traditional construction contracts are transferred to a smart contract. The smart contract is set up using digital BIM-based tender documents and contains all of the relevant data for financial transactions. Once the contracted construction work has been accepted by the client, payments can be made automatically via authorized financial institutions. This paper describes the framework, referred to as BIMcontracts, the container-based data exchange, and the digital contract management workflow. It discusses the industry-specific requirements for blockchain and data storage and explains which technical and software architectural decisions were made. A case study is used to demonstrate the current implementation of the concept.

Amer A. Hijazi, Srinath Perera, Rodrigo N. Calheiros, Ali Mohammed Alashwal

Building information modeling (BIM) plays a critical role in the integration of different parties by acting as a centralized database defining their responsibilities and contractual obligations. However, resolution of conflicts among stakeholders remains a shortcoming of BIM. Blockchain is on a path to disrupt many aspects of businesses that deal with the coordination of information and trust to enable a single source of truth model with multiple control entities. The purpose of this study is to analyze construction supply chain (CSC) data delivery challenges to provide a rationale for the integration of BIM and blockchain enabling a reliable digital deliverable (RDD) for operation. Three systematic reviews and a focus group discussion are used in this study. This is the first study to develop a compelling rationale systematically for the integration of BIM and blockchain and propose an RDD model, paving the way for a single source of truth system. The study enables blockchain to be set in context of both theoretical value transfer and its practical application for CSC data delivery in the form of BIM.

Alessandra Corneli, Berardo Naticchia, Francesco Spegni, Luca Spalazzi

Blockchain is considered a key technology of the current digital revolution and its application is spreading from cryptocurrencies to disparate processes requiring notarization. The well-known independence and contraposition of stakeholders in the AECO sector made DLT applications the hoped-for means to trust each other. Construction site management due to its complexity and the pluralism of the actors involved can be modelled as a BPMN coreography of intra-organizational processes. This aims of the work here presented is the exploitation of blockchains and smart contracts as tools to notarize the state of each intra-organizational process and to enforce compliance with the choreography

Giulia Pattini, Elena Seghezzi, Giuseppe Martino Di Giuda

Blockchain, as a Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), could disrupt the traditional hierarchy way in which information is shared and processes are developed in the construction industry. The fragmentation of people, processes and contracts has been considered as the main responsible for the sector negative trend. The information asymmetry characterizing the dynamics of the processes denies both the information traceability and the disciplines interoperability. The recent digital transformation boosted by Building Information Modeling (BIM) has promised a more transparent and collaborative environment. However, its adoption has gradually shown some trust issues in the information flow, discouraging participants from collaborating to achieve project goals. For these reasons, the research explores Blockchain in the construction industry, highlighting its potentials in supporting transparent, reliable and distributed information sharing. In particular, the research intends to combine the features of the digitalization, namely BIM and Blockchain, in the industry. To accomplish this, the first goal consists of an overall literature review on the current level of the Blockchain investigation in the built environment. Secondly, based on that analysis, two proposals for potential application of Blockchain in AECO sector are presented. This preliminary exploration intends to endorse Blockchain as a suitable system for governing the trust issues, supporting an efficient contract execution and a better sharing of all project information.

Yasin Çelik, Ioan Petri, Yacine Rezgui

The digitalization of the construction industry has been supported recently with various building information modelling (BIM) methods applied to lifecycle stages. This has enabled the transition towards an improved management of information required in the development of different construction project tasks. In a digital construction context, traceability of models and collaboration across disciplines is required especially when dealing with sensitive data and critical infrastructures. Blockchain technology has the potential to advance the automation of processes in the construction industry by offering a higher level of data traceability, incentivising participation, and ensuring transparency with projects. This paper presents how BIM and Blockchain can be utilised to facilitate the establishment and implementation of Digital Twins for construction projects. A highway construction case study is used for demonstrating the implementation of smart contracts for managing tasks and processes across different disciplines involved in a construction project.

Abhinaw Sai Erri Pradeep, Tak Wing Yiu, Yang Zou, Robert Amor

No abstract is available for this record.

İbrahim Yitmen, Sepehr Alizadehsalehi

With the creation of massive data in projects, the digitization/computerization of various stages and processes of built environments are emerging to have a broad influence on how the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) projects are planned, built, and managed. With the evolution of Big Data and model-based engineering, the next logical step is to introduce the concept of Digital Twin, extending model-based paradigms along the complete lifecycle. Digitalization and computerization of data and information flow have a broad influence on the system and process of managing the lifecycle of projects. The relation among the DT and smart cities has been recognized as the novel and ultimate technological apparatus for smartening cities. Blockchain empowers the security of the DT system through cryptographic hashing algorithms. This process is possible by storing DT data on distributed ledgers that cannot be changed easily and cannot be controlled by any central authority. DT encompasses sensors, measurement technologies, internet of things, simulation, and modeling and ML.

Michael Kuperberg, Matthias Geipel

In construction, BIM (Building Information Modeling) promises to increase quality of data and to provide a shared, uniform view to all parties. While BIM tools and exchange formats exist, the distribution and safeguarding of data is an ongoing challenge. Distributed Ledger Technology and Blockchains offer a possible solution to this task, and they promise quality attributes such as tamper resistance, traceability/auditability and safe digitalization of assets and intellectual property. However, the practical application and adoption of Distributed Ledger Technology in the built environment requires a good understanding of tool maturity, performance and standardization. Also, user-oriented integration of BIM tools with the blockchain backend needs attention. The contribution of this paper is an overview over both industrial and academic progress at the intersection of BIM and blockchains/DLT.

Zhen Liu, Ziyuan Chi, Mohamed Osmani, Peter Demian

‘Smart cities’ are a new type of city where stakeholders are jointly responsible for urban management. City Information Management (CIM) is an output tool for smart city planning and management, which assists in achieving the sustainable development of urban infrastructure, and promotes smart cities to achieve the goals of stable global economic development, sustainable environmental development, and improvement of people’s quality of life. Existing research has so far established that blockchain and BIM have great potential to enhance construction project performance. However, there is little research on how blockchain and BIM can support sustainable building design and construction. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to explore the potential impact of the integration of blockchain and BIM in a smart city environment on making buildings more sustainable within the context of CIM/Smart Cities. The paper explores the relationships between blockchain, BIM and sustainable building across the life cycle stage of a construction project. This paper queries the Web of Science (WoS) database with keywords to obtain relevant publication, and then uses the VOSviewer to visually analyze the relationships between blockchain, BIM, and sustainable building within the context of smart cities and CIM, which is conducted in bibliometric analysis followed by micro scheme analysis. The results demonstrate the value of this method in gauging the importance of these three topics, highlighting their interrelationships and identifying trends, giving researchers an objective research direction. Those aspects reported in the paper constitute an original contribution.

Jieh‐Haur Chen, Mu‐Chun Su, Vidya Trisandini Azzizi, Ting-Kwei Wang · 5 authors

Technological developments have made the construction industry efficient. The aim of this research is to solve communication interaction problems to build a project management platform using the interactive concept of natural language processing technology. A comprehensive literature review and expert interviews associated with techniques dealing with natural languages suggests the proposed system containing the Progressive Scale Expansion Network (PSENet), Convolutional Recurrent Neural Network (CRNN), and Bi-directional Recurrent Neutral Networks Convolutional Recurrent Neural Network (BRNN-CNN) toolboxes to extract the key words for construction projects contracts. The results show that a fully automatic platform facilitating contract management is achieved. For academic domains, the Contract Keyword Detection (CKD) mechanism integrating PSENet, CRNN, and BRNN-CNN approaches to cope with real-time massive document flows is novel in the construction industry. For practice, the proposed approach brings significant reduction for manpower and human error, an alternative for settling down misunderstanding or disputes due to real-time and precise communication, and a solution for efficient documentary management. It connects all contract stakeholders proficiently.

Hung T. Le

Building Information Modeling (BIM) can be considered as a visual database which means a 3D building model equips all data for different disciplines like architecture, structure and Mechanical-Electrical – Plumbing (MEP) design. The data rich model serves multi tasks from cost estimation, project scheduling, energy analyses. However, the data in BIM model cannot be controlled strictly in project phases by stakeholders, therefore the quality of BIM Model and included documents is limited and disorder. Blockchain, the back-end database technology that makes Bitcoin work, is one of the most exciting technologies emerging right now. Beyond the cryptocurrency, it is redefining how we store, update, and move data on networks. It enables a whole new way of writing and deploying applications that has the potential to improve online security and trust. It can even enable the creation of a new type of organization that is devoid of hierarchy and centralized decision-making. This paper shows the development of a blockchain based on Ethereum for BIM applications, which can help to solve model ownership and increase the quality and usefulness of the BIM model.

Arghavan Akbarieh, William Carbone, Markus Schäfer, Danièle Waldmann · 5 authors

Despite the enormous amount of raw or secondary materials flowing within the construction industry, the actual available volume of materials and their respective End-of-Lifecycle (EoL) treatment is not regulated nor uniform. On top of that, the EoL responsibility of different stakeholders after the future building deconstruction is confusing and disputable. Consequently, different sustainability policies and […]

Clyde Zhengdao Li, Zhe Chen, Fan Xue, Xiang T.R. Kong · 7 authors

No abstract is available for this record.

Laura Pellegrini, Stefano Campi, Mirko Locatelli, Giulia Pattini · 6 authors

The research aims at analyzing the integration of Waste Management (WM) strategies and Information management in the construction procurement process. The application of Building information modelling (BIM) methodologies for a Most Economically Advantageous Tender could address the digital transition in order to adopt environmentally sustainable practices. Despite the wide regulation regarding waste minimization, an overview of which is provided, AECO is still one of the most polluting industrialized sector. Drivers and barriers to the method, and a literature review are provided: BIM approaches to enable WM practices have been analyzed from the designer and constructor’s point of view, but few studies investigated the role of the Client, in particular the Public Client. The goal of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of Most Economically Advantageous Tender and a BIM methodology to promote WM strategies during the tender phase. Design Build (DB) and Design Bid Build (DBB) procurement models are tested through three case studies of Italian schools' calls for proposals: the BIM model enabled to verify the bids in terms of WM strategies implementation. Blockchain and Smart contract future applications are also investigated in order to ensure transparency of the whole process. The Public Client could trigger a change in the construction sector regarding the integration of WM practices, as a central and active actor of the construction process, through the application of Green Public Procurement and BIM methodologies.

Abhinaw Sai Erri Pradeep, Robert Amor, Tak Wing Yiu

Information exchange in a building information modelling (BIM) environment is critical yet complex due to the multi-party collaboration nature of a construction project. Uncoordinated workflows with a limited structure for approvals leave the exchange transactions prone to contractual, legal, and security challenges. In contrast to most studies that investigated paper-based solutions that are often insufficient, this study explores a blockchain technology (BCT) based solution to improve trust in data exchange in BIM following a case-study analysis of a commercial tool called BIMCHAIN. With the use of literature review and qualitative content analysis, the paper builds a list of essential functional requirements of an effective blockchain tool integrated into a BIM workflow. Subsequently, based on the technical documentation and the application’s beta version, the tool is analyzed to understand its value proposition and its functional appropriateness to address the mentioned challenges. The research has shown that there are eight key functional requirements from a blockchain tool that may address the above challenges. The analysis of BIMCHAIN concluded that it accomplishes most of its objectives, such as improving data reliability, limiting the scope of liability, and clarifying stakeholder responsibilities, among others. However, the legal validity of the tool’s proofs are still untested to establish its acceptance, and it does not completely justify its claims of ‘better quality of data’ as this is a function of many other factors. The tool includes four of the eight requirements from the list identified and satisfies two requirements partially. BIMCHAIN is only in its beta testing stage and has shown evidence of how BCT can be leveraged in a BIM environment. Further investigation can include evaluation of this tool in a real project and conduct a more detailed research on the functional requirements of blockchain in BIM.

Hesam Hamledari, Martin Fischer

This paper presents a smart contract-based solution for autonomous administration of construction progress payments. It bridges the gap between payments (cash flow) and the progress assessments at job sites (product flow) enabled by reality capture technologies and building information modeling (BIM). The approach eliminates the reliance on the centralized and heavily intermediated mechanisms of existing payment applications. The construction progress is stored in a distributed manner using content addressable file sharing; it is broadcasted to a smart contract which automates the on-chain payment settlements and the transfer of lien rights. The method was successfully used for processing payments to 7 subcontractors in two commercial construction projects where progress monitoring was performed using a camera-equipped unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) equipped with a laser scanner. The results show promise for the method's potential for increasing the frequency, granularity, and transparency of payments. The paper is concluded with a discussion of implications for project management, introducing a new model of project as a singleton state machine.

Chanwoo Baek, Doyeop Lee, Chansik Park

Blockchain based Framework for Verifying the Adequacy of Scaffolding Installation Chanwoo Baek, Doyeop Lee and Chansik Park Pages 425-432 (2020 Proceedings of the 37th ISARC, Kitakyushu, Japan, ISBN 978-952-94-3634-7) Abstract: Falls are the leading cause of construction site accidents and made up more than 60 percent of all construction-related deaths in 2018, according to the Korea Occupational Health and Safety Administration (KOSHA). Accordingly, the government conducts intensive management and supervision of scaffolding and scaffolding installation at small sites while inducing safe working environments through support for system scaffolding installation. However, the timing of scaffolding installation for external work varies by site, and visiting inspections of more than 400,000 sites annually are practically limited. In particular, in the case of small sites, the work is often carried out with a high risk of falling accidents due to installation or defects that do not comply with KOSHA rule and the occurrence of accidents is frequently reported. To solve these limitations, information on whether the right amount of scaffolding has been purchased and installed at the right time according to the size and shape of each site needs to be managed by a systematic method. In this paper, we propose a framework for verifying the adequacy of the installation of scaffolding needed at the individual construction site using blockchain technology. The system provide Dapp, an application that runs on the block chain server, so that General contract (GC) and Supplier can enter information related to ordering and procurement of scaffolding. The core information required to determine the adequacy of scaffolding installation is stored in a non-modifiable form using the distributed ledger storage technology of the block chain. As a result, scaffolding installation adequacy can be automatically verified through the algorithms that can compare the installation schedule and quantity calculation with the actually purchased quantity. It is anticipated that using the proposed framework, government agencies can identify the safety levels of individual sites without on-site visits. Keywords: Scaffolding; Blockchain; Framework DOI: https://doi.org/10.22260/ISARC2020/0060 Download fulltext Download BibTex Download Endnote (RIS) TeX Import to Mendeley

Jens Hunhevicz, Tobias Schraner, Daniel Hall

Incentivizing High-Quality Data Sets in Construction Using Blockchain: A Feasibility Study in the Swiss Industry Jens J. Hunhevicz, Tobias Schraner and Daniel M. Hall Pages 1291-1298 (2020 Proceedings of the 37th ISARC, Kitakyushu, Japan, ISBN 978-952-94-3634-7, ISSN 2413-5844) Abstract: Data sets are often incomplete and low-quality at the end of a construction project. This creates rework or hinders opportunities to use data during future activities of the facility lifecycle (e.g. facility management, renovation, demolition). This research prototypes and evaluates a novel process to use blockchain and smart contracts in construction projects to incentivize high quality data sets. The proposed solution is defined in collaboration with construction professionals. The process traces and saves project data while incentivizing participants to create high-quality data sets through reward tokens. To validate the process, an Ethereum-based blockchain prototype is developed. A simple case study is conducted in collaboration with local industry professionals to simulate how the prototype can function in a typical design bid build process used in Switzerland. The early findings and possible subsequent research steps are presented. Overall, it was found that such a blockchain based incentive systems has the potential to not only incentivize high-quality data sets, but also change the way of tendering and related construction processes. Keywords: Blockchain; Incentives; Data Management; Construction Projects DOI: https://doi.org/10.22260/ISARC2020/0177 Download fulltext Download BibTex Download Endnote (RIS) TeX Import to Mendeley