Amir Hosein Jabbari Sabegh
Queensland University of Technology
Supervisor: Professor Raja Jurdak
Project: Decentralised data sharing platform for supply chains
About Amir’s research
This PhD project will design, implement, and evaluate a novel distributed publish-process-subscribe framework using blockchain technology, targeted for proactive supply chain management. Contemporary supply chain applications typically employ a centralised data-sharing technology, which is controlled and managed by a single stakeholder belonging to a single organisation, however, the supply chain naturally involves multiple organisations.
Multiple data-sharing modalities have been considered for supply chain applications including publish-subscribe message models. The pub-sub messaging model connects the data providers (denoted as the publishers) with the data consumers (denoted as the subscribers) through a topic-based interaction model.
It is anticipated that a decentralised computation engine following a publish-subscribe communication model would:
- automate the business processes;
- provide a high level of transparency and;
- trust with verifiability, and maintain the trust while preserving privacy; and
- help the supply chain stakeholders to leverage their legacy supply chain systems.
What questions will this research answer?
- How can we automate the processes required for extracting insights within the data-sharing middleware towards a publish-process-subscribe architecture?
- How can we decentralise PPS architecture and guarantee the correctness and trustworthiness of computations within the proposed PPS framework?
- How can we preserve the privacy of data and data producers while providing decentralised data processing facilities and verification?
Video presentation of Amir’s work
What drew Amir to this work?
Amir is a dynamic and inventive researcher in computer science with a strong foundation in software engineering, cloud computing, data analysis, IoT applications, and Blockchain technology.
His industry experience, marked by a deep involvement in data processing, inspired him to further his expertise in Data Science by obtaining an MPhil degree. His research focused on optimising resource scheduling for data processing in cloud environments, leading to the development of a cost-efficient, resource-hiring algorithm.
The iMOVE project, “Decentralised data sharing platform for supply chains” was a pivotal opportunity for him to deepen his understanding of data processing by exploring the potential of Blockchain technology. His current focus as a PhD candidate lies in the intersection of past experiences and new challenges, striving to preserve data and user privacy while upholding trust and integrity in his work.
A word from PhD supervisor, Professor Raja Jurdak
Why is this PhD important to investigate?
This research is important as it proposes a novel approach to supply chain management by integrating blockchain technology into a distributed publish-process-subscribe (PPS) framework. This has the potential to revolutionise how supply chain data is shared, processed, and used, making systems more efficient, transparent, and secure.
Current supply chain systems often suffer from centralisation, which can lead to single points of failure and potential data tampering. This research aims to mitigate these risks by developing a decentralised system, thereby enhancing the overall security and reliability of supply chain management.
By using blockchain technology, the project aims to create a more transparent and trustable environment where all stakeholders can verify transactions and data independently, which is crucial in complex supply chain networks involving multiple parties.
The project seeks to automate the processes within the supply chain, potentially leading to significant improvements in efficiency and cost-effectiveness of operations.
What are the major challenges to overcome in the field?
Integrating blockchain technology with a distributed PPS framework in a seamless and efficient manner is a significant technical challenge, especially given the complexity and diversity of existing supply chain systems. Balancing transparency with privacy and security is a delicate task.
Ensuring that sensitive data is protected while still providing a transparent and decentralised platform is a key challenge.
Where might this work lead in the (near and far) future?
In the short term, successful implementation of this project could lead to pilot projects or partnerships with supply chain companies, demonstrating the practical benefits of the system.
It could also inspire similar initiatives in other industries where data sharing and processing are critical. In the long run, this research could pave the way for a new standard in supply chain management, where decentralised, transparent, and secure data sharing and processing become the norm.
Additionally, It could contribute to the broader adoption of blockchain technology in various business processes, beyond supply chain management.
Contact Amir
If you’d like to contact Amir about his research, please click the button below.
Publications
Jabbari Sabegh, Amir, Ramachandran, Gowri, Mailik, Sidra, & Jurdak, Raja 2023) PPS: A Publish-Process-Subscribe Middleware For Predictive Supply Chains. In Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Mobile and Ubiquitous Systems: Computing, Networking and Services (MobiQuitous 2023), Melbourne, Australia, November, 2023. Springer. (In Press)