Description
The strategic objectives of this project is to design distributed ledger (DLT) management system (blockchain) using Hyperledger for construction and engineering projects. DLT has the potential to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of project management by providing an immutable record of transactions. The challenge is to model the commercial processes in order to make use of smart contracts, event triggering and other features. If successfully applied, these could significantly improve the construction process, most notably with work--flow improvements associated with speedier payments, better quality management and scheduling and the opportunity to use Lean management techniques. Configuring and implementing Hyperledger in this highly process oriented and contract driven commercial environment requires a working knowledge of the details of the industry.
Additional Information
No additional information is available at this time.
Learning Objectives
The learning objectives are ambitious in that they require successful modelling of commercial process of the sort seen in construction and engineering projects. Students successfully completing this internship will be able to configure a Hyperledger system to work (in a limited manner) to support project management. They would need to fully understand the commercial situation and how to make use of smart contracts to automate payment, inspection and other crucial processes.
Expected Outcome
The expected outcome of this internship are a dissertation for an undergraduate degree in Construction Management. Additionally, academic publication and conference papers are expected to come out of the research.
Relation to Hyperledger
Hyperledger Fabric would be the main tool used for this project.
Education Level
Students will be enrolled in an accredeted programme in Construction Project Management of Quantity Surveying at Oxford Brookes University.
Skills
Managerial skills to understand the fine details of the commercial interactions that take place within a construction projects. Working knowledge on how to create a simple mobile-based interface, basic smart contract writing and hyperledger peer-to-peer skills.
Future plans
The current plans are to launch a thread for DLT education withing an existing programme in Construction Management.
Preferred Hours and Length of Internship
The project would take the hours assigned to a final year students' Dissertation Module. This is currently a Level 6 double Honours Component module with 30 credits and 15 ECTS Credits (lasting a full year). This requires a minimum of 300 hours of directed study.
Mentor(s) Names and Contact Info
Dr George Blumberg, gblumberg@brookes.ac.uk