Blockchain in Distributed CAD Environments

Abstract

Distributed and collaborative CAD (Computer Aided Design) environments gained wide popularity recently, in engineering fields such as BIM (Building Information Modelling) and GIS (Geographical Information Systems) in Civil Engineering, or PDM/PLM (Product Data Management/Product Lifecycle Management) in Mechanical Engineering. One of key issues in these applications is data integrity and confidence in information stored in information systems. Blockchain technology, initially invented to support the cryptocurrency trusted authority, opened its way to other areas, and it could be the solution for the data integrity issue in distributed CAD environments.