Abstract:
The construction industry in Pakistan is a major contributor to the country's
economy, with several ongoing infrastructure projects. However, the industry faces
significant challenges, particularly in its claim management system. In response, this
research aims to identify the issues within the existing claim management system and
develop a blockchain-based application to enhance its efficiency and transparency. The
research follows a three-stage methodology, starting with the identification of problems
in traditional claim management systems through an extensive literature review.
Subsequently, a decentralized application is developed, involving front-end
development, smart contract creation, and deployment on the blockchain. The frontend
of the application is built using React.js, with role-based access control to ensure
restricted access to specific projects or claims, enhancing security and privacy. Smart
contracts, implemented using Solidity, govern the business logic of the application,
enabling users to create and manage claims efficiently. The application is deployed on
the Polygon test net for faster transaction processing and lower fees compared to the
Ethereum main net. Feedback on the developed solution is obtained from 19
construction industry professionals and experts through interviews. The results show
that the blockchain-based application significantly improves claim management
efficiency and addresses the majority of issues compared to traditional documented
record management systems. However, it also reveals that the system is currently
unable to cover oral instructions from clients for certain changes in design or work
patterns. The research concludes with the presentation of the B-CMS framework,
guiding claim management processes with the developed system. The findings validate
the effectiveness and reliability of the blockchain-based application, showcasing its
potential to positively impact the construction industry in Pakistan and beyond.
