Blockchain Technology in Transportation Engineering: A Review of Applications, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Over the course of several decades, digital evolution has led to the creation of tools that significantly improved the functionality, security, and availability of various systems. Blockchain has amassed considerable attention as a decentralized ledger technology that enables secure documentation, preservation, and transmission of information without the need for a reliable intermediary. By means of decentralization, immutability, transparency, and smart contracts, blockchain has opened up new possibilities for diverse applications, covering various fields including transportation engineering. In recent years, the rapid growth in passenger and freight transportation, the expansion of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), the widespread adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), and the emergence of connected and autonomous vehicles have highlighted the need for reliable infrastructures capable of managing data and facilitating secure information exchange. This paper is aimed at providing a comprehensive analysis of the fundamental principles of blockchain technology and exploring its principal applications in transportation engineering. Furthermore, the research explores the technical, economic, and legal hurdles surrounding blockchain deployment and assesses global examples in this area. Lastly, it examines future trajectories, delving into blockchain technology's potential to support the development of intelligent and environmentally friendly transportation systems. The findings of the reviewed studies indicate that, with the development of appropriate technical infrastructure, the establishment of supportive regulatory frameworks, and enhanced collaboration among governments, industry, and academia, blockchain has the potential to become one of the key enabling technologies driving the digital transformation of the transportation sector.