Blockchain Improving Trust in BIM Data Exchange: A Case Study on BIMCHAIN

Abstract

Information exchange in a building information modelling (BIM) environment is critical yet complex due to the multi-party collaboration nature of a construction project. Uncoordinated workflows with a limited structure for approvals leave the exchange transactions prone to contractual, legal, and security challenges. In contrast to most studies that investigated paper-based solutions that are often insufficient, this study explores a blockchain technology (BCT) based solution to improve trust in data exchange in BIM following a case-study analysis of a commercial tool called BIMCHAIN. With the use of literature review and qualitative content analysis, the paper builds a list of essential functional requirements of an effective blockchain tool integrated into a BIM workflow. Subsequently, based on the technical documentation and the application’s beta version, the tool is analyzed to understand its value proposition and its functional appropriateness to address the mentioned challenges. The research has shown that there are eight key functional requirements from a blockchain tool that may address the above challenges. The analysis of BIMCHAIN concluded that it accomplishes most of its objectives, such as improving data reliability, limiting the scope of liability, and clarifying stakeholder responsibilities, among others. However, the legal validity of the tool’s proofs are still untested to establish its acceptance, and it does not completely justify its claims of ‘better quality of data’ as this is a function of many other factors. The tool includes four of the eight requirements from the list identified and satisfies two requirements partially. BIMCHAIN is only in its beta testing stage and has shown evidence of how BCT can be leveraged in a BIM environment. Further investigation can include evaluation of this tool in a real project and conduct a more detailed research on the functional requirements of blockchain in BIM.