EventChain – AI-Enabled Intelligent PDS Monitoring Platform

Overview

EventChain is a unified, intelligent platform designed to revolutionize the Public Distribution System (PDS). By integrating Blockchain transparency, IPFS decentralized storage, and AI-powered fraud detection, EventChain creates a tamper-proof, verifiable, and efficient monitoring system for ration distribution.

This platform unifies the EventChain Ledger (for immutable record-keeping) and the PDS Monitoring System (for intelligent decision-making) into a single, cohesive product.

Key Features

1. Unified Event Ledger

All PDS transactions are treated as verifiable "events" on a public ledger.

• Blockchain: Uses Ethereum/Solidity (EventChain.sol) to store immutable metadata and proof of existence.
• IPFS: Uses InterPlanetary File System to store detailed transaction data (JSON payloads including Beneficiary IDs, Quantities, AI Scores) in a decentralized manner.

2. AI-Powered Fraud Detection

Every distribution attempt is analyzed in real-time by an advanced AI Service.

• Fraud Scoring: Calculates a fraud score (0-1) based on historical patterns (Region Risk, Shop Frequency, Time Gaps).
• Pre-Validation: Flags high-risk transactions before they are finalized on the ledger.
• Explainable AI: Provides reasons for flagging (e.g., "High frequency purchase", "Abnormal quantity").

3. Authority Dashboard

a real-time view of the PDS ecosystem for authorities.

• Live Feed: Streams verified transactions directly from the Blockchain/Backend.
• System Health: Monitors connectivity to IPFS and Blockchain nodes.
• Fraud Alerts: Highlights flagged transactions for immediate review.

4. Public Verification

Empowers citizens and auditors to verify any transaction independently.

• QR Codes: Every transaction generates a unique QR code containing its IPFS hash.
• Cryptographic Proof: Users can verify that the data on IPFS matches the hash stored immutably on the Blockchain.

System Architecture

The system follows a modern pipeline:

1. Input: PDS Authority enters distribution details via the Web Portal.
2. Intelligence: Details are sent to the AI Service (Python/FastAPI) for scoring.
3. Storage: Validated payload is uploaded to IPFS (Node.js Service).
4. Consensus: IPFS Hash is recorded on the Ethereum Blockchain via EventChain smart contract.
5. Visualization: Frontend dashboard updates live from the unified backend.

Technology Stack

• Frontend: React, Tailwind CSS, ethers.js
• Backend: Node.js, Express
• AI Service: Python, FastAPI, Scikit-learn (Isolation Forest)
• Blockchain: Solidity, Hardhat, Ethereum (Local/Testnet)
• Storage: IPFS (Local/Public Gateway), SQLite (Local Cache)

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v16+)
• Python (v3.8+)
• Docker (Optional, for full stack)
• MetaMask Wallet (Browser Extension)

1. Start the Backend & AI Service

# Start AI Service
cd ai-service
pip install -r requirements.txt
python main.py
# Runs on :8000

# Start Node Backend
cd ../backend-node
npm install
node index.js
# Runs on :4000

2. Deploy Smart Contracts

cd backend-node
npx hardhat compile
npx hardhat run scripts/deploy.js --network localhost
# Note the Contract Address

Ensure you update the .env file in backend-node with the Contract Address.

3. Start Frontend

cd frontend
npm install
npm start
# Runs on :3000

Usage Flow

1. Navigate to Home: See the unified platform overview.
2. Distribute Ration: Go to "PDS Distribution" (Add Event). Enter Beneficiary ID and Quantity.
3. Check Analysis: The system will compute a Fraud Score and record the event.
4. Verify: Click the link in the success message or go to "Timeline" -> "Verify" to see the IPFS data and Blockchain proof.
5. Monitor: Visit "Authority Dashboard" to see live stats.

License

MIT