A Mobile Edge Computing and Blockchain Framework for Secure Cross-Island Critical Mineral Traceability

Musran Munizu; Suraya Ainun Lestari; Muhammad Asdar; Adeel Akmal; Danial Kasim

doi:10.3991/ijim.v20i19.63193

Authors

Musran Munizu Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
Suraya Ainun Lestari Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
Muhammad Asdar Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
Adeel Akmal University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
Danial Kasim Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijim.v20i19.63193

Keywords:

Mobile Edge Computing, Permissioned Blockchain, Critical-Mineral Traceability, Offline-First Architecture, Mobile Logistics

Abstract

Cloud-based traceability systems depend on continuous connectivity, limiting their reliability in geographically dispersed mineral supply chains where prolonged network outages may occur. This study proposes an offline-first architecture integrating Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) with a permissioned blockchain for secure cross-island critical-mineral traceability. Traceability events generated at mines, transport routes, ports, vessels, warehouses, and processing facilities are locally validated, digitally signed, encrypted, and queued at MEC gateways during connectivity loss before synchronization with the blockchain. The framework was evaluated using 12,384 synthetic traceability events derived from a critical-minerals dataset and six simulated attack categories. After a 24-hour outage, the proposed framework maintained 98.7% record completeness compared with 58.2% for the cloud-only baseline. It achieved an average attack-detection rate of 98.5% and reduced post-outage synchronization delay from 466 sec to 185 sec. These findings demonstrate the potential of an offline-first MEC blockchain architecture to improve traceability continuity, tamper detection, and shared verification in critical-mineral supply chains operating under intermittent connectivity.

References

[1] J. A. Alzubi, O. A. Alzubi, A. Singh, and T. M. Alzubi, “A blockchain-enabled security management framework for mobile edge computing,” Int. J. Netw. Manage., vol. 33, no. 5, Art. no. e2240, Sep. 2023, doi: 10.1002/nem.2240.

[2] S. Asaithambi, S. Nallusamy, J. Yang, S. Prajapat, G. Kumar, and P. S. Rathore, “A secure and trustworthy blockchain-assisted edge computing architecture for industrial Internet of Things,” Sci. Rep., vol. 15, no. 1, Art. no. 15410, May 2025, doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-00337-3.

[3] F. Díaz, N. Cerna, R. Liza, and B. Motta, “Blockchain in mining and mineral supply chains: A systematic mapping review of traceability, governance, and operational coordination,” Logistics, vol. 10, no. 5, Art. no. 118, 2026, doi: 10.3390/logistics10050118.

[4] O. Evsutin and Y. Meshcheryakov, “The use of blockchain technology and digital watermarking to provide data authenticity on a mining enterprise,” Sensors, vol. 20, no. 12, Art. no. 3443, Jun. 2020, doi: 10.3390/s20123443.

[5] K. Fiaz, A. Zeb, S. Hussain, K. Khurshid, R. R. Irshad, M. Alharby, T. Rahman, I. M. Alwayle, and F. Pallonetto, “A two-phase blockchain-enabled framework for securing Internet of Medical Things systems,” Internet Things, vol. 28, Art. no. 101335, Dec. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.iot.2024.101335.

[6] N. Gligorić, D. Escuín, L. Polo, A. Amditis, T. Georgakopoulos, and A. Fraile, “IOTA-based distributed ledger in the mining industry: Efficiency, sustainability and transparency,” Sensors, vol. 24, no. 3, Art. no. 923, Feb. 2024, doi: 10.3390/s24030923.

[7] M. A. G. Hazber, A. Albarrak, M. Altamimi, et al., “A blockchain-enabled edge computing framework leveraging artificial neural network and Aquila optimization to enhance security and scalability of cloud-based IoT platforms,” Cluster Comput., vol. 28, Art. no. 816, 2025, doi: 10.1007/s10586-025-05518-3.

[8] A. Jha, A. Young, and J. Sattarvand, “Blockchain technology and mining industry: A review,” Min. Metall. Explor., vol. 40, no. 6, pp. 2269–2280, Nov. 2023, doi: 10.1007/s42461-023-00874-3.

[9] I. U. Khan, F. M. Khan, Z. A. Haider, et al., “Integrating AI, blockchain, and edge computing for zero-trust IoT security: A comprehensive review of advanced cybersecurity frameworks,” Comput. Mater. Contin., vol. 85, no. 3, pp. 4307–4344, 2025, doi: 10.32604/cmc.2025.070189.

[10] M. Yuan and N. Anurak, "A systematic review of TikTok, WeChat, and LINE: The impact of social media on Sino-Thai cross-cultural engagement," J. Adv. Hum. Res., vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 61–76, 2025, doi: 10.56868/jadhur.v4i1.303.

[11] S. K., Kumari, B. H., Anand, K., Kanjalkar, J., Gaddam, R. B., & Kumar, S. (2025). Intelligent task prediction and partial computation offloading in mobile edge cloud computing. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies (iJIM), 19(18), 106–117. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijim.v19i18.57233

[12] Q. Tang, Z. Fei, J. Zheng, B. Li, L. Guo, and J. Wang, “Secure aerial computing: Convergence of mobile edge computing and blockchain for UAV networks,” IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol., vol. 71, no. 11, pp. 12073–12087, Nov. 2022, doi: 10.1109/TVT.2022.3191143.

[13] J. A. Wise, M. C. Chan, D. Tadic, S. Miles, J. Cornish, E. Sellers, D. Brenecki, I. Dzakpata, and B. Murugesan, “Legal smart contracts for derivative trading in mining,” Knowl. Eng. Rev., vol. 35, Art. no. e10, 2020, doi: 10.1017/S0269888920000144.

[14] X. Yan, Q. Wu, and Y. Sun, “A homomorphic encryption and privacy protection method based on blockchain and edge computing,” Wireless Commun. Mobile Comput., vol. 2020, Art. no. 8832341, 2020, doi: 10.1155/2020/8832341.

[15] M. Pincheira, M. Antonini, and M. Vecchio, “Integrating the IoT and blockchain technology for the next generation of mining inspection systems,” Sensors, vol. 22, no. 3, Art. no. 899, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.3390/s22030899.

[16] Z. Qiang, Y. Wang, K. Song, and Z. Zhao, “Mine consortium blockchain: The application research of coal mine safety production based on blockchain,” Secur. Commun. Netw., vol. 2021, Art. no. 5553874, Jan. 2021, doi: 10.1155/2021/5553874.

[17] T. Sultana, A. Almogren, M. Akbar, M. Zuair, I. Ullah, and N. Javaid, “Data sharing system integrating access control mechanism using blockchain-based smart contracts for IoT devices,” Appl. Sci., vol. 10, no. 2, Art. no. 488, Jan. 2020, doi: 10.3390/app10020488.

[18] A. Ramli, I. Ismail, and R. M. Idrus, “Mobile learning via SMS among distance learners: Does learning transfer occur?” Int. J. Interact. Mob. Technol., vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 30–35, Jul. 2010, doi: 10.3991/ijim.v4i3.1180.

[19] A. T. Nieto, “Blockchain, non-fungible tokens ownership certification of gold reserves and potential contribution to sustainable mining,” Earth Sci. Inform., vol. 18, Art. no. 312, 2025, doi: 10.1007/s12145-025-01835-8.

[20] M. Onifade, J. A. Adebisi, and T. Zvarivadza, “Recent advances in blockchain technology: Prospects, applications and constraints in the minerals industry,” Int. J. Min. Reclam. Environ., vol. 38, no. 7, pp. 497–533, 2024, doi: 10.1080/17480930.2024.2319453.