Configuring a trustworthy Internet of Things (IoT)–enabled building information modeling (BIM) platform (IBP) is significant for modular construction to ensure transparency, traceability, and immutability throughout its fragmented supply chain management. However, most current IBPs are designed adopting a centralized system architecture, which fails to achieve a decentralized and effective one to ensure a single point of truth in BIM and prevent a single point of failure in IoT networks. To address this challenge, this study introduces permissioned blockchain with IBP and proposes a novel service-oriented system architecture of blockchain-enabled IoT-BIM platform (BIBP) for the data-information-knowledge (DIK)–driven supply chain management in modular construction. First, infrastructure as a service (IaaS) is designed with hardware, core technologies, and protocols to offer accurate data from daily practice to blockchain BIM. Blockchain BIM as a service (BaaS) is then developed within the permissioned blockchain to ease the interoperability of the information, semantics, and meaningful inferences. Furthermore, software as a service (SaaS) is configured with decentralized applications to achieve knowledgeable operations or processes with a crash fault-tolerant consensus mechanism. The demonstrative case study in a modular student residence project evaluates the proposed BIBP system prototype with the performance analysis of storage cost, throughput, latency, privacy, and feedback from stakeholders. The results indicate that BIBP has an effective system architecture with acceptable throughput and latency, can save storage costs to achieve a single point of truth in BIM, and avoid a single point of failure for IoT networks with privacy and security-preserving mechanisms.

Blockchain technology has been explored for governmental supervision of construction work (GSCW) due to its merits of traceability, immutability, and transparency. However, its decentralized nature is seemingly incompatible with GSCW, which is a type of centralized governance per se. This research aims to find a network topology with a proper level of (de)centralization and, based on this topology, to develop a blockchain-based model for GSCW. First, a literature review is conducted to identify problems in GSCW. Then, a cross-sectoral learning is performed between GSCW and digital currency electronic payment systems. Next, a design science research method is adopted to develop a dual-layer blockchain-based GSCW model integrated with an incentive mechanism. Finally, the model is illustrated in Hyperledger Fabric and its strengths and weaknesses evaluated. It was found that the model can enable an information-sharing, tamper-proof, and privacy-preserving mechanism without affecting the current status and routines of GSCW units and project teams. The model developed in our study can serve as a valuable reference for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to develop governance policies or blockchain applications.

An inspection is a crucial construction process that ensures that building works and workers comply with prescribed codes, standards, and building progress. The traditional inspection is characterized by physical effort and onerous paperwork. The emergence of e-inspection 1.0 has meant the adoption of computerized means to ease the paperwork burden, although physical onsite presence has remained mandatory. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has made the dispatch of inspectors difficult and has prompted governments worldwide to explore alternative inspection approaches that harness the latest information antitamper and traceability technologies, such as blockchain. In this paper, we refer to these approaches as “e-inspection 2.0.” This research reports the urgent need for e-inspection 2.0 to guarantee construction quality, compliance, and progress amid pandemic conditions. Using the design science research method, it then proposes a blockchain-based solution to address authenticity and traceability concerns and facilitate e-inspection 2.0. The system is validated through a case study of a modular construction project in the Hong Kong–Pearl River Delta construction nexus. We find that rigorous technological solutions can render e-inspection 2.0 reliable. However, existing regulations are far from amenable to such inspections. Therefore, we call for an extension of the pandemic e-inspection 2.0 expediency to common practice in a post-pandemic era through the development of robust technological instruments and the amendment of inspection regulations.