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, 14(4), pp. 509-528. ISSN 2044-124X
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.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | asset information management; blockchain technology; handover information; higher education institutions; information quality |
| Index terms: | information exchange, encoding, asset management, drawing, automated process, exercise, case study, interview, deterioration, higher education institution, blockchain, building failure, construction phase, dimension, validation, quality issue, asset information management, London, methodology, mapping |
| Subjects: | automation and robotics, Geography, professional development, research methods, spatial and geospatial analysis, quality assurance, educational institutions, asset management, reliability engineering, computing systems, health behaviours and lifestyles, data collection methods, data science, project delivery, material degradation and durability, health monitoring assessment and metrics, technical documentation |
| Topics: | Education, Digital Applications, Design Practice, Quality Management, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Information Management, Engineering Principles, Construction Materials, Research Practice, Project Management, Geographical Context |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here