Blockchain-based change management in engineering, procurement and construction projects

Abstract

Change management is an essential component of an engineering–procurement–construction (EPC) project, which is the process of gathering data on change orders, examining the information in change reports, revising related drawings and updating cost data resulting from changes. Nevertheless, the current information system for change management is primarily centralised, relying on external parties, opaque in its information, lacking trustworthiness and prone to data loss. To overcome these challenges, this paper proposes a blockchain-based information-management system for managing change information in EPC general contracting projects. A blockchain is used to automate the review processes for changes, ensuring transparency, decentralisation and resistance to tampering. This proposed framework addresses the security, transparency, tamper resistance and reliability shortcomings of conventional methods by harnessing the inherent advantages of blockchains, smart contracts, decentralised InterPlanetary File System storage and building information modelling integration. Subsequently, by utilising the Hyperledger Fabric platform, an information-management system was developed to store and manage data about modifications. The proposed system was validated using actual change data from EPC general contracting projects, which demonstrated the efficacy of blockchain technology in ensuring the security and authenticity of change data. This advancement enhances the security of change data and augments the efficiency of change-management practices in EPC projects.