Construction Payment Automation Through Scan-to-BIM and Blockchain-Enabled Smart Contract
Timely approvals and payments to the project participants are crucial for successful completion of construction projects. However, the construction industry faces persistent delays and non-payments to contractors. Despite the desirable benefits of automated payments and enhanced access to digitized...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/2/213 |
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| author | Hamdy Elsharkawi Emad Elbeltagi Mohamed S. Eid Wael Alattyih Hossam Wefki |
| author_facet | Hamdy Elsharkawi Emad Elbeltagi Mohamed S. Eid Wael Alattyih Hossam Wefki |
| author_sort | Hamdy Elsharkawi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Timely approvals and payments to the project participants are crucial for successful completion of construction projects. However, the construction industry faces persistent delays and non-payments to contractors. Despite the desirable benefits of automated payments and enhanced access to digitized data progress, most payment applications rely on centralized control mechanisms; inefficient procedures; and documentation that takes time to prepare, review, and approve. As such, there is a need for a reliable payment automation system that guarantees timely execution of payments upon the detection of completed works. Therefore, this study used a cutting-edge approach to automate construction payments by integrating blockchain-enabled smart contracts and scan-to-Building Information Modeling (BIM). In this approach, scan-to-BIM provides accurate, real-time building progress data, which serve as the source of verifiable off-chain data. A chain-link is then used to securely relay these data to the blockchain system. Blockchain-enabled smart contracts automate the execution of payments upon meeting contract conditions. The proposed approach was implemented on a real case study project. The actual site scan was captured using a photogrammetry 360° camera, which uses a combination of structured light and infrared depth sensing technology to capture 3D data and create detailed 3D models of spaces. This study leveraged accurate, real-time building progress data to automate payments using blockchain-enabled smart contracts upon work completion, thus reducing payment disputes by tying payments to verifiable construction progress, leading to faster release of payments. The findings show that this approach provides a transparent basis for payment, enhancing trust and allowing precise project progress tracking. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1e5ddab399034e6cb9d09f8f0c6013f2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-1e5ddab399034e6cb9d09f8f0c6013f22025-01-24T13:26:13ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-01-0115221310.3390/buildings15020213Construction Payment Automation Through Scan-to-BIM and Blockchain-Enabled Smart ContractHamdy Elsharkawi0Emad Elbeltagi1Mohamed S. Eid2Wael Alattyih3Hossam Wefki4Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Horus University-Egypt, New Damietta 34517, EgyptDepartment of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi ArabiaConstruction and Building Engineering, Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport, Sheraton Heliopolis, Cairo 12577, EgyptDepartment of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi ArabiaCivil Engineering Department, Port Said University, Port Fouad 42523, EgyptTimely approvals and payments to the project participants are crucial for successful completion of construction projects. However, the construction industry faces persistent delays and non-payments to contractors. Despite the desirable benefits of automated payments and enhanced access to digitized data progress, most payment applications rely on centralized control mechanisms; inefficient procedures; and documentation that takes time to prepare, review, and approve. As such, there is a need for a reliable payment automation system that guarantees timely execution of payments upon the detection of completed works. Therefore, this study used a cutting-edge approach to automate construction payments by integrating blockchain-enabled smart contracts and scan-to-Building Information Modeling (BIM). In this approach, scan-to-BIM provides accurate, real-time building progress data, which serve as the source of verifiable off-chain data. A chain-link is then used to securely relay these data to the blockchain system. Blockchain-enabled smart contracts automate the execution of payments upon meeting contract conditions. The proposed approach was implemented on a real case study project. The actual site scan was captured using a photogrammetry 360° camera, which uses a combination of structured light and infrared depth sensing technology to capture 3D data and create detailed 3D models of spaces. This study leveraged accurate, real-time building progress data to automate payments using blockchain-enabled smart contracts upon work completion, thus reducing payment disputes by tying payments to verifiable construction progress, leading to faster release of payments. The findings show that this approach provides a transparent basis for payment, enhancing trust and allowing precise project progress tracking.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/2/213blockchain technologysmart contractsEthereumscan-to-BIMreality capturedigital technologies |
| spellingShingle | Hamdy Elsharkawi Emad Elbeltagi Mohamed S. Eid Wael Alattyih Hossam Wefki Construction Payment Automation Through Scan-to-BIM and Blockchain-Enabled Smart Contract Buildings blockchain technology smart contracts Ethereum scan-to-BIM reality capture digital technologies |
| title | Construction Payment Automation Through Scan-to-BIM and Blockchain-Enabled Smart Contract |
| title_full | Construction Payment Automation Through Scan-to-BIM and Blockchain-Enabled Smart Contract |
| title_fullStr | Construction Payment Automation Through Scan-to-BIM and Blockchain-Enabled Smart Contract |
| title_full_unstemmed | Construction Payment Automation Through Scan-to-BIM and Blockchain-Enabled Smart Contract |
| title_short | Construction Payment Automation Through Scan-to-BIM and Blockchain-Enabled Smart Contract |
| title_sort | construction payment automation through scan to bim and blockchain enabled smart contract |
| topic | blockchain technology smart contracts Ethereum scan-to-BIM reality capture digital technologies |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/2/213 |
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