Sensor-Integrated Hybrid Blockchain System for Supply Chain Coordination in Volumetric Modular Construction
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 149, Issue 1
Abstract
Volumetric modular construction (VMC) needs streamlined supply chain coordination to achieve its full potential benefits, such as reduced schedule and cost, with consistent quality. Studies have noted that blockchain technology has significant potential for increasing the efficacy of supply chain coordination by providing reliable information sharing among VMC stakeholders. However, it is not well known how blockchain technology’s enhanced information sharing ultimately can lead to better supply chain coordination in VMC. To address this issue, we developed and tested a blockchain-based information collecting, storing, and sharing system with an automated contract execution method. A sensor-integrated decentralized application collects project information and sends it to the blockchain network to be shared among project participants for data-driven actions in VMC. We demonstrated the system through a hypothetical case project in which stakeholders took photos with their mobile devices to share the module’s status information to trigger an automated payment promptly, facilitating efficient supply chain coordination. The results show that any photos collected from the stakeholder’s mobile device can be traceably stored and shared in the suggested blockchain system regardless of their file size, triggering nearly real-time automated payments. The primary contribution of this study is the development and demonstration of a blockchain system that realizes accountable project-related information sharing with automated contract execution functions across VMC stakeholders for better supply chain coordination.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the Chung-Ang University Research Grants in 2021. This study is supported financially by a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIP) (Nos. NRF-2020R1A4A4078916 and NRF-2022R1G1A1012897).
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 149 • Issue 1 • January 2023
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 1, 2021
Accepted: Aug 12, 2022
Published online: Oct 29, 2022
Published in print: Jan 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Mar 29, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Automation and robotics
- Construction engineering
- Construction management
- Engineering fundamentals
- Equipment and machinery
- Freight transportation
- Geotechnical engineering
- Information management
- Infrastructure
- Logistics
- Modular structures
- Probe instruments
- Project management
- Retaining structures
- Structural engineering
- Structures (by type)
- Supply chain management
- Systems engineering
- Transportation engineering
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