Discuss the effectiveness of solutions blockchain-enabled crowdsourcing in enhancing the operational efficiency of smart port traffic at Saudi shipping and ports.
According to Kogias et al. (2019), blockchain adequately offers solutions to shortcomings experienced in the application of crowdsourcing systems. Crowdsourcing systems embedded with blockchain technology thus increase the problem-solving ability of these systems and a wide application range. The role of blockchains, in this case, is to help retain an immutable, indelible and complete history of the instructions, assets and transactions that have been executed (Kogias et al., 2019). Only participating entities within these transactions are allowed to access or share the related data from these transactions. Research by Gorcun (2020) shows that port efficiency is a critical factor for stimulating port competitiveness and boosting regional development. Nonetheless, due to changing technology in maritime transportation (integrated logistics services, containerization, etc.) and the increasing international sea traffic, seaports have become necessary to cope with the growing pressure to upgrade and offer the best technological solutions. Seaports are also being compelled to enhance their port efficiency for the provision of comparative advantages that lures more traffic (Calatayud et al., 2021). As a result of gaps in smart industries, scalability has become a difficult task for most port businesses, especially when considering massive cargo with inadequate resources to handle them.
Common scalability constraints when using crowdsourcing systems include higher operational costs, cyber-security risks, privacy issues, difficulties securing sea traffic flows and challenges preventing transit diversions to adjacent ports (Landy et al., 2020; Kohler, 2018).
Such problems appear when seaports have to make complex decisions to handle goods and containers more rapidly, provide more appropriate and adequate port equipment, reduce delays and berth times, support multi-modal links to the hinterland and enable an increased storage capacity. On the other hand, Kogias et al. (2019) argue that the introduction of BC crowdsourcing may be a key approach in overcoming some of these problems by supporting decision-making to enhance the efficiency of these ports, which will form the basis of this dissertation. A minimal number of studies currently focus on the implications of BC on crowdsourcing systems, particularly within seaports. As a result, there is a need to conduct a study that addresses this phenomenon.
Aim/Objectives
This dissertation aims to build a deep understanding of the effectiveness of solutions blockchain-enabled crowdsourcing in enhancing the operational efficiency of smart port traffic at Saudi shipping and ports. The objectives to guide this study will be as follows:
- understanding how BC-enabled crowdsourcing can contribute to limit the challenges facing of smart seaports by implement the decentralization
- build how to ease constraints of crowdsourcing centralization and limits of scalability.
- To display a technology solutions effect of performance in Saudi shipping and ports authority.
- To introduce a secure and transparent framework that supports cognitive synergy between the port and the city for the enhancement of operational efficiency.
- discover the challenges that prevent the successful application of blockchain and crowdsourcing in Saudi ports.
- clarify the strategies and solution that considered to ensure the adoption of blockchain and crowdsourcing leads to efficiency of smart port operation.
