Busan is implementing blockchain-based public works projects

Busan City in southeastern South Korea is home to a number of blockchain development programs which aim to implement public works programs for public everyday use. The first, implemented yesterday, is a water supply tracking system. The second is likely to be a digital ID issuance service.

Both projects aim to improve the quality of life of residents of and visitors to Busan.

Real-time water supply information

Launched yesterday, November 9th, [Pure Water 365], 순수365 in Korean, is a blockchain-based water supply information system that discloses data about the current water supply in Busan to the public. It also shows information about water quality throughout the system, but not at the point of people’s homes.

Sensors designed to monitor water quality will be installed in Busan at a cost of about $717,000. Water quality information of 71 existing waterworks will be transferred via blockchain for public collection and management. The water quality data to be collected includes hydrogen ion concentration, residual chlorine, turbidity, conductivity, and water temperature. This data would come from the government service pipes and not the water pipes connected with apartment buildings and individual homes, although that type of close household monitoring is a potential use case for this system.

The system discerns between the areas being monitored in case of emergency so as to alert the right section of the city’s waterworks operators of unusual conditions. That helps servicepeople respond to emergencies quickly and prevent any further damage.

The use of blockchain is thought to increase people’s trust in the water quality they rely on daily. It is also thought that blockchain will ensure the security of the data being transferred to eliminate the possibility of fraud or mismanagement of records.

The project’s development was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Internet and Security Agency. Both of these government entities have been deeply involved in supporting blockchain-based solutions for various public works projects for years. Most recently, the Ministry of Science and ICT pledged well over $100 million in support for blockchain startups.

B Pass

Last month Busan launched B Pass to provide ID services, certifications, mobile visitor cards, mobile library cards, treatment cards for senior citizens, and ID badges for residents entering certain facilities. These services are all meant to allow people to keep distances from each other and reduce physical contact altogether. Contactless interactions have become the norm in global societies faced with the challenges of handling Covid-19 management.

Busan plans to expand on the services offered by B Pass to more convenience services by August of next year. Some suggestions for expansion include transportation cards and tourism services.

Additionally, DID services may be featured through the app. Busan has already spearheaded the national DID race by offering ID services to citizens. DID allows further contactless interactions and lets users manage their own public data securely over a blockchain.