***** CALL FOR BOOK CHAPTERS

***** Industry Use Cases on Blockchain Technology: Applications in IoT and the Financial Sector *****

Edited by: Professor Zaigham Mahmood
(Univ of Northampton UK, Debesis Eduction UK, Shijiazhuang Tiedao Uni China)
To be published by IGI-Global in 2021

***** Chapter Proposal Submission Deadline: 20 April 2020
***** 1-2 page proposals to be sent to: dr.z.mahmood@hotmail.co.uk

1. Introduction

A blockchain (BC) is a data structure consisting of a growing list of data records, called blocks, that are linked together using cryptography. It is an open, decentralised ledger that can record transactions between parties across a peer-to-peer network, without the need for a central certifying authority. BC technology is expected to grow by about 43% by the end of 2020. Global spending on this technology in 2019 alone has amounted to over $2 billion. This technology has numerous advantages that include: increased transparency, reduced transaction costs, faster transaction settlement, automation of information, increased traceability, improved customer experience, improved digital identity, better cyber security, and user-controlled networks. Potential applications include funds transfer, smart contracts, e-voting, efficient supply chain etc., in nearly every sector of the society including finance, healthcare, law, trade, real estate, etc. Challenges and limitations also exist viz: high energy consumption, limited scalability, complexity, security, network size, lack of regulations, etc. Nevertheless, blockchain is an attractive technology, and has much to offer to the modern-day industry.
It is in this context that the proposed book will be developed. The aim is: 1) to investigate the Blockchain technology, its adoption and effectiveness in banking, other industries and in general, for IoT based applications; 2) to present use cases from industrial and financial sectors as well as from other transaction-based services; and 3) to fill a gap in this respect and extend the existing body of knowledge in the suggested field.

2. Suggested Topics

The relevant topics include:

• Blockchain (BC) concepts and historic perspective
• Technology, platforms, tools and architecture
• BC for ERP, CRM, retail, and supply chain
• BC security, data privacy, and cryptography
• BC smart contracts and blockchain as a service
• BC technology in IoT based applications and IIoT
• Bitcoin and BC applications for business organisations
• Use cases in banking, insurance and cryptocurrencies
• Use cases in energy, real estate, and manufacturing
• BC applications in government, health care, and leisure
• Use cases in media and entertainment
• BC use cases in automotive industry
• Use cases in transportation and manufacturing
• Societal and legal implications of use of BC
• BC opportunities, threads and limitations
• BC digital identity, and cyber security
• Standards, adoption, current research and developmwnt
• Future directions and other relevant topics

It is expected that the book will comprise a number of sections. A tentative idea is as follows:

• Section 1 - Concepts, Principles and Architecture: Concepts, principles, historic perspective, evolution. frameworks, architecture, tools, blockchain in IoT, blockchain in Industrial IoT environments
• Section 2 - Blockchain in Financial Sector: Use cases in banking and insurance, bitcoin, crypto currencies, smart contracts, cyber security, authentication, digital identity, issues and limitations
• Section 3 - Use cases in Government and Industry: Use cases in government and media, blockchain for manufacturing and transport, blockchain applications in healthcare, leisure, blockchain for business organisations
• Section 4 - Opportunities and Future Directions: Advantages, issues, threats, opportunities and limitations, Societal and legal implications of blockchain, Standards, adoption, and future of blockchain

3. Submission Procedure

Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit 1-2-page chapter proposals clearly stating the objective, scope and structure of the proposed chapters - by the deadline mentioned above. Authors of accepted proposals will be notified within two weeks (in most cases) and given guidelines for full chapter preparation. Completed chapters should be approximately 10,000 words or 20-30 pages in length – longer chapters will also be acceptable. Full chapters will be reviewed following a double-blind peer review process to ensure relevance, quality, originality and high information content. IGI’s e-editorial discovery system will be used for most the chapter development and submission processes. In the first instance, 1-2-page chapter proposals, as WORD files, should be sent to: dr.z.mahmood@hotmail.co.uk

4. Important Dates

• Chapter proposals due date: 20 April 2020
• Notification of acceptance: within 2 weeks of receipt of proposals
• Full chapters due date: within 6 weeks of acceptance notification
• Chapter reviews feedback: within 6 weeks of chapter due date
• Revised chapters due date: within 3 weeks of review feedback

For Enquiries: Please contact the editor: Zaigham Mahmood at dr.z.mahmood@hotmail.co.uk

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