Enhancing Lost Item Retrieval through AI-Powered Blockchain

Traditional lost and found systems in institutions often rely on manual registers or centralized software, resulting in limited transparency, weak auditability, and frequent ownership conflicts. Such systems typically depend on manual comparison of item descriptions, which is time-consuming and prone to human error. Blockchain technology provides a decentralized and tamper-resistant mechanism for secure data storage and verification [1], [3]. This paper presents a Lost and Found Management System that integrates blockchain with an artificial intelligence-based matching module to enhance security and retrieval efficiency. Instead of storing complete records on-chain, the system stores cryptographic hashes while maintaining item data in secure off-chain storage to ensure scalability and data integrity [4], [5]. Smart contracts automate claim validation and reduce reliance on manual verification processes [8], [9]. Additionally, the AI model analyzes both textual descriptions and images to generate accurate match predictions, leveraging advancements in deep learning-based object detection [7]. Experimental evaluation using sample datasets demonstrates improved Blockchain matching consistency, enhanced record tracking, and greater reliability compared to traditional lost and found approaches.