A blockchain 3.0 paradigm for digital twins in construction project management

Abstract

Construction project management (CPM) is inherently complex and distributed, while digital twin and blockchain are recognized as promising solutions for information-reliant CPM. By learning from the lessons of Blockchain 1.0 and 2.0 paradigms in the literature, such as slow synchronization and failed offline functions, this paper proposes ChainPM as a Blockchain 3.0 paradigm. ChainPM extends Blockchain 2.0 with innovative indexing, query, and analysis function sets for key CPM data. Experimental results from a pilot study of a modular construction project showed that the information synchronization latency was reduced by 99.2% to 99.8%, and query and analytical functions worked equally well without network connections. ChainPM contributes to a novel trend of Blockchain 3.0 paradigms for CPM digital twins, emphasizing indexing key CPM data, combinatorial query, digital authorship, and fast response without downgrading the ‘single source of truth.’ For practitioners, ChainPM addresses key barriers of Internet reliance and information delay to CPM digital twins.