Information technology usage in building operation and maintenance management

Abstract

Information Technology (IT) is identified as rapidly evolving field in the world which radically changed the way most professions operate in recent past. IT has widely practice among various professions to maximize the effectiveness, efficiency of their work. This is equally applicable to professionals involved in building operations and Maintenance management. Thus this study aims to explore current IT usage in building operation and maintenance management in commercial buildings of Sri Lanka. Accordingly the study was an exploratory research carried out through survey approach. Survey consists of 27 commercial buildings covering hotels, office buildings, and hospitals and shopping complexes in Colombo. Semi structured interviews used as the data collection technique and descriptive analysis techniques used analysis the survey findings. Findings revealed that Building Management System (BMS) as the only IT based system which used for building operation and maintenance management where most functions are carried out use of general software such as spreadsheet and word processor due to financial. budgeting problems. This study enabled to identify the IT usage in building operation and maintenance management highlighting the loopholes which need to address for effective and efficient building operation and maintenance management.