Decentralised Common Data Environment: prototype demonstration and evaluation
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Abstract
This research aims to enhance operational efficiency and data integrity across the built asset lifecycle by integrating cloud-based Building Information Modelling (CBIM) with blockchain technology. A framework for a decentralized and immutable Common Data Environment (CDE) is proposed, ensuring data security and transparency. The system utilizes smart contracts to record transactions from different CDEs on the blockchain, validating data integrity and storing metadata. To address file size challenges, an integration of Inter-Planetary File Storage (IPFS) is suggested. A web-based prototype was developed and tested with industry experts. Unlike other studies advocating alternative CDE tools, this research recommends integrating existing CDE platforms to facilitate data integration throughout the asset's lifecycle. The results reveal the impracticality of a one-size-fits-all information management tool, emphasizing the need for decentralized solutions to improve trust among construction stakeholders by accommodating diverse project phase requirements. The proposed framework establishes a decentralized and secure foundation for data streams, contributing to increased operational effectiveness and trust in the construction industry.
Keywords
BIM, Information Management, Construction Management, Common Data Environment, Blockchain.
