Faculty

Education

Areas of Expertise

Construction management~Automation and Digitalization in Construction~Blockchain and Decentralized Project Management

Courses Taught

Research/Design Projects in Areas of Expertise

My doctoral research titled ‘Development of a Decentralized and Automated Contract Management System for Construction Projects’ is an interdisciplinary research with a confluence of technology, law, and management in the construction domain. The research explored the integration and application of recent information and communication technologies, mainly blockchain and smart contracts, in construction contract management. The aim was to reduce conflicts and disputes in the construction sector and improve stakeholder collaboration.

The research pursued a twofold goal: 1) automation of the construction contract clauses using blockchain-based smart contracts and 2) decentralization and automation of the contract implementation system. The computable contract clauses would enhance certainty and reduce the scope for misinterpretation by the respective parties, thereby mitigating many afterthought claims. Simultaneously, the blockchain-based decentralized and secured environment would improve collaboration between the stakeholders, incorporating transparency and accountability. Design science research methodology was adopted to achieve the goal. A decentralized and automated contract management system was proposed and developed encompassing the following - (1) a decentralized permissioned network of stakeholders with well-defined roles and approval workflow, (2) automated contract execution based on pre-defined conditions using smart contract clauses, and (3) preservation of transaction history integrity with time stamps through a secured blockchain-based data structure. Further, a prototype model for the system was developed, showing its applicability, feasibility, and ease of use. The research findings were triangulated and validated through demonstration and feedback from industry experts and application in three case studies. The research provides a fresh outlook for researchers in the realm of collaborative contracting and stakeholder management, fostering transparency and trust in the existing system. The work offered a novel approach for future research across a diverse array of domains.

Research Articles and Book Chapters in Areas of Expertise

Peer-reviewed international journals

1. Gupta, P. and Jha, K. N. 2023. “A decentralized and automated contracting system using a blockchain-enabled network of stakeholders in construction megaprojects.” Journal of Management in Engineering (ASCE), 39(4). 04023021. doi: 10.1061/JMENEA.MEENG-5366. [Published]. (Q1)
2. Gupta, P. and Jha, K. N. 2024. “Determining delay accountability, compensation and price variation using computable smart contracts in construction.” Journal of Management in Engineering (ASCE). 40 (3). 04024013. doi: https://doi.org/10.1061/JMENEA.MEENG-581. [Published]. (Q1)
3. Gupta, P. and Jha, K. N. 2023. “Integration of blockchain in contract management for prevention of construction disputes: A systematic literature review and conceptual framework.” International Journal of Construction Management, Taylor & Francis. 24(10), 1054–1065. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2023.2274720. [Published] (Q1)
4. Gupta, P. and Jha, K. N. 2023. “A decentralized contracting system in digital construction.” Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction (ASCE), 15(1). 02522002. doi: 10.1061/JLADAH.LADR-938. [Published] (Q1)

Peer-reviewed national journal

1. Gupta, P. and Jha, K. N. 2024. “Transforming Contracts: Gen AI and Blockchain in Construction Law.” Indian Building Congress Journal. Vol 8. July 2024. ISSN 2349-7467. [Published]

Institute journal

1. Gupta, P. and Jha, K. N. 2022. “Blockchain-based self-executable contract management system.” (Hindi). Jigyasa Scientific Journal. Vol 36, pp. 86-88. Hindi Cell, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. ISSN: 2349-560X. Available at: https://owncloud.iitd.ac.in/nextcloud/index.php/s/zdbiF8392q9ZXZN. [Published]

Presented Papers and Invited Lectures in Areas of Expertise

Peer-reviewed international conferences

1. Gupta, P. and Jha, K. N. 2022. “Integration of blockchain with emerging technologies in AEC industry: Merits and challenges.” In: World Building Congress 2022. IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science. 1101(9):092020. doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/1101/9/092020. [Published]
2. Iyer, K. C. and Gupta, P. 2021. “Blockchain technology in project management.” In: PMI RAC Conference 2021. doi: 10.6084/m9.figshare.17161979. [Published]
3. Gupta, P., Krishna, C., and Jha, K. N. 2023. “Dispute prevention in construction megaprojects using smart legal contracts: A case study.” In: Construction Blockchain Conference 2023 (CBC 2023). Hong Kong, China. doi: 10.47330/CBC.2023.LOPX5313. [Published]
4. Krishna, C., Gupta, P., and Jha, K. N. 2023. “Data, information, and knowledge integration for effective decision-making in the construction sector: leveraging blockchain technology.” In: Construction Blockchain Conference 2023 (CBC 2023). Hong Kong, China. doi: 10.47330/CBC.2023.LOPX5313. [Published]