Can blockchain prevent the deterioration of building handover information quality for higher education institutions?
Built Environment Project and Asset Management
ISSN: 2044-124X
Article publication date: 4 March 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This research investigates the distinct characteristics of blockchain technology to safeguard against the deterioration of handover information quality in the post-construction phase. The significance of effective management of handover information is highlighted by global building failures, such as the Grenfell Tower fire in London, UK. Despite existing technological interventions, there remains a paucity of understanding regarding the factors contributing to the decline in the quality of handover information during the post-construction phase.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employed a multi-case studies approach across five higher education institutions. It involved conducting semi-structured interviews with 52 asset management professionals, uncovering the underlying reasons for the decline in handover information quality. Building on these insights, the study performed a mapping exercise to align these identified factors with blockchain technology features and information quality dimensions, aiming to evaluate blockchain’s potential in managing quality handover information.
Findings
The study findings suggest that blockchain technology offers advantages but has limitations in addressing all the identified quality issues of managing handover information. Due to the lack of an automated process and file-based information exchange, updating handover information still requires an error-prone manual process, leading to potential information loss. Additionally, no solutions are available for encoding drawings for updates and validation.
Originality/value
This study proposes a framework integrating blockchain to enhance the information management process and improve handover information quality.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Cloud-based Building Information Modelling (CBIM) European Training Network funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 860555.
Citation
Chang, J., Jaskula, K., Papadonikolaki, E., Rovas, D. and Parlikad, A.K. (2024), "Can blockchain prevent the deterioration of building handover information quality for higher education institutions?", Built Environment Project and Asset Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-08-2023-0152
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited