A blockchain-based integrated document management framework for construction applications

Document management systems in AEC projects manage important project documents such as schedules, RFIs, and change orders. Hence, security concerns in document management systems especially involving data integrity of documents and records may have a severe effect on a project in terms of money and the reputations of project participants. Therefore, in this research blockchain technology is leveraged to facilitate data integrity in document management for construction applications through - (1) irreversible and irrevocable approval workflow logic via smart contract technology, (2) irreversible recording of document changes via blockchain ledger technology, and (3) document version history integrity via a blockchain-based data structure. A prototype of the proposed smart contract framework was developed using Hyperledger fabric and evaluated. The scalability of the proposed framework to support document version integrity was also evaluated and discussed. A formulation based on existing literature is developed to evaluate the cost viability of the proposed framework.