BIM and Blockchain Integration in Construction Procurement Planning

Material procurement comprises a considerable portion of costs in construction projects. In addition to increasing costs, inefficient material procurement can impact a project's schedule and duration. Nevertheless, efficient procurement management use has been limited in the construction industry. A more efficient approach to information management is needed in the construction industry to meet the needs of a growing industry. Digitalization of the construction industry has enhanced the automation of certain processes related to project planning and design. Building Information Modeling (BIM) solutions are often associated with handling high volumes of information. Hence, a data transfer and processing approach must be developed that can be applied to various modeling software applications. Integrating Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) with blockchain provides a basis for facilitating active and secure procurement data exchange and material purchase. This study proposes a framework for effective procurement management by focusing on the automation of processes utilizing IFC and blockchain concepts. The outcomes of this study can be specifically valuable for project managers. This framework provides flexibility in decision-making by being tailored to each project's specific financial conditions and facilitates and automates procurement-related payments.