scholarly journals Are Smart Contracts and Blockchains Suitable for Decentralized Railway Control?

Ledger ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Kuperberg ◽  
Daniel Kindler ◽  
Sabina Jeschke
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Approach ◽  
Central Control ◽  
Smart Contracts ◽  
System State ◽  
Specialized Software ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Railway Operations ◽  
Software And Hardware ◽  
Condition Based Monitoring

Conventional railway operations employ specialized software and hardware to ensure safe and secure train operations. Track occupation and signaling are governed by central control offices, while trains (and their drivers) receive instructions. To make this setup more dynamic, the train operations can be decentralized by enabling the trains to find routes and make decisions which are safeguarded and protocolled in an auditable manner. In this paper, we present the case study findings of a first-of-its-kind blockchain-based prototype implementation for railway control, based on decentralization but also ensuring that the overall system state remains conflict-free and safe. We also show how a blockchain-based approach simplifies usage billing and enables a train-to-train/machine-to-machine economy. Finally, first ideas addressing the use of blockchain technology as a life-cycle approach for condition-based monitoring and predictive maintenance in train operations are outlined.

Smart contracts to enable sustainable business models. A case study

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 1601-1619
Author(s):  
Francesca Dal Mas ◽  
Grazia Dicuonzo ◽  
Maurizio Massaro ◽  
Vittorio Dell'Atti
Keyword(s):  
Business Models ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Smart Contracts ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Social Proof ◽  
Sustainable Business Models

PurposeThe objective of this study is to deepen how blockchain technology through smart contracts can support the development of sustainable business models (SBMs). Particularly, the authors aim to determine the key elements enabling SBMs by applying smart contracts.Design/methodology/approachThe research context focusses on the case study of SmartInsurance, which is a fictitious name for a start-up in the insurance sector and the real name of which is not to be revealed. The start-up was able to collect 18m euros in 80 s in a crowdfunding operation, using smart contracts and a revolutionary business model. Internal as well as external documents of different sources are analysed and coded to gather information about the company, its values and its business and what it pursues with employing blockchain technology.FindingsThe results show how smart contracts can reduce the costs of transactions, increase social trust and foster social proof behaviours that sustain the development of new SBMs.Originality/valueThis study contributes to both the transaction cost theory and social proof theory, showing how new technologies such as the blockchain can provide a fresh perspective to support the development of SBMs.

scholarly journals Blockchain Use Cases Revisited: Micro-Lending Solutions for Retail Banking and Financial Inclusion

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Christian Hugo Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Retail Banking ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Smart Contracts ◽  
Short Term ◽  
High Frequencies ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
The Impact

Abstract While blockchain technology is commonly considered potentially disruptive in various regards, there is a lack of understanding where and how blockchain technology is effectively applicable and where it has remarkable practical effects[1]. Against this background, we present and discuss a case study at length on the impact of this technology in the concrete setting of small short-term loans in retail banking. We propose to banks a robust and scalable blockchain technology with proof of stake and limited energy consumption used to streamline their processes, resulting in lower transaction and administration costs. This is made possible by smart contracts. Thereby, we facilitate small scale lending at high frequencies and short-term duration as well as an easier and more efficient way to connect small borrowers and lenders.

Blockchain Primer

2022 ◽  
pp. 28-47
Author(s):  
Mohammad Amin Kuhail ◽  
Sujith S. Mathew ◽  
Rawad Hammad ◽  
Mohamed Bahja
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Computer Science ◽  
Basic Data ◽  
Consensus Algorithm ◽  
Smart Contracts ◽  
Blockchain Technology

Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize several industries including finance, supply chain and logistics, healthcare, and more. This primer introduces readers to basic development skills to blockchain foundations including blockchain cryptography, the consensus algorithm, and smart contracts. Further, this primer explains stepwise how to implement and deploy basic data stores using blockchain with Python. The primer serves as a succinct introductory guide to blockchain foundations by relying on a case study illustrated with visuals together with instructions on implementation. This primer is intended for educators, students, and technology enthusiasts with foundational computer science and Python development skills.

scholarly journals Third Party Certification of Agri-Food Supply Chain Using Smart Contracts and Blockchain Tokens

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (16) ◽  
pp. 5307
Author(s):  
Ricardo Borges dos Santos ◽  
Nunzio Marco Torrisi ◽  
Rodrigo Palucci Pantoni
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
Economic Incentives ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Smart Contracts ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
The Public ◽  
Blockchain Technology

Every consumer’s buying decision at the supermarket influences food brands to make first party claims of sustainability and socially responsible farming methods on their agro-product labels. Fine wines are often subject to counterfeit along the supply chain to the consumer. This paper presents a method for efficient unrestricted publicity to third party certification (TPC) of plant agricultural products, starting at harvest, using smart contracts and blockchain tokens. The method is capable of providing economic incentives to the actors along the supply chain. A proof-of-concept using a modified Ethereum IGR token set of smart contracts using the ERC-1155 standard NFTs was deployed on the Rinkeby test net and evaluated. The main findings include (a) allowing immediate access to TPC by the public for any desired authority by using token smart contracts. (b) Food safety can be enhanced through TPC visible to consumers through mobile application and blockchain technology, thus reducing counterfeiting and green washing. (c) The framework is structured and maintained because participants obtain economical incentives thus leveraging it´s practical usage. In summary, this implementation of TPC broadcasting through tokens can improve transparency and sustainable conscientious consumer behaviour, thus enabling a more trustworthy supply chain transparency.

The Traceability of Construction and Demolition Waste in Flanders via Blockchain Technology: A Match Made in Heaven?

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 347-369
Author(s):  
Jonas Voorter ◽  
Christof Koolen
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Construction And Demolition Waste ◽  
Waste Processing ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Sustainable Society ◽  
Demolition Waste ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Legal Case ◽  
Made In

Abstract The construction sector plays a crucial role in the transition to a circular economy and a more sustainable society. With this objective in mind, Flanders – the Dutch speaking part of Belgium – makes use of a traceability procedure for construction and demolition waste in order to guarantee that value can be derived from downstream waste processing activities. This article takes this traceability procedure as a legal case study and examines if the use of blockchain technology could lead to even stronger supply chains, better data management, and, more generally, a smoother transition to circular practices in the construction sector.

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