Currently there is a great deal of hype about blockchain, a distributed ledger technology that underpins the Bitcoin and other virtual currencies, with speculation that it could transform just about every aspect of our lives, including how we register title to land ownership.
The BC Land Titles and Survey Authority (LTSA), working with the Digital Identity and Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC) and IdentityNorth (IDN), seeks to gain a clearer understanding of the possible application of blockchain technology to land transaction recording and would like Blockchain@UBC, a new research and education cluster focused on the social and technical ramifications and development of blockchain technology to help it explore these issues through planning and delivery of a virtual design challenge. The purpose of the project is to explore the following research questions:
- Can blockchain technology be applied effectively to innovate the business processes of the LTSA?
- What are the social, legal and business implications of applying blockchain technology to innovate the business processes of the LTSA?
In order to explore these research questions, Blockchain@UBC is helping the LTSA, working with DIACC and IDN, to develop and deliver a virtual design challenge, focused on generating well-designed ideas relating to the application of identity management and blockchain technology. The design challenge is expected to generate knowledge for the LTSA regarding possible applications, future designs, and social, legal and business implications of blockchain technology for the LTSA’s operations and the registration of land titles in BC.
Project Team: Vicki Lemieux, Alysha Joo, Crystal Song and Sean Burke