BIM-based Collaborative Design for Prefabrication Using Blockchain Technology

Prefabrication relies very much on the upstream design stage and the communication efficiency of the information flow. To facilitate data interoperability, processing building data from BIM model plays an essential role in maintaining efficient communication in collaborative design. And it is important to keep a record how these parameters of design model were created and changed. This paper proposes an approach utilizing Building Information Modeling (BIM) and blockchain technologies for design collaboration. It starts with the information processing including information extraction and Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) extension, which involves the creation of identifier based on prefab-related information and a change detection algorithm established to automatically resolve clashes caused by simultaneous work in design collaboration. The detected changes are recorded and uploaded by a proposed blockchain network for better traceability and immutability of design information within the whole construction lifecycle. The proposed framework is implemented with JupyterLab and Hyperledger Fabric in illustrative examples, the results of which indicate that the proposed change detection algorithm and blockchain network perform well in the efficiency of design information processing and tracking.