An Agreement Analysis on the Perception of Property Stakeholders for the Acceptability of Smart Buildings in the Nigerian Built Environment

Abstract

The introduction of intelligent devices in buildings has brought about tremendous changes into the construction industry. The use of automation is also gradually gaining interest from the stakeholders involved in the built environment. This paper presents the perception of property stakeholders (property valuers/real estate developers and service users) regarding the acceptability of smart buildings as a future built environment in Nigeria, using Benin City a case study. A total of 159 structured questionnaires were administered with 108 retrieved and valid for analysis. The information sourced from the respondents includes smart building awareness, the support for, drivers to, and limitations of its implementation, the willingness to develop smart buildings, and the willingness to pay proportionate rent to occupy smart properties. The findings showed that the poll of respondents for the property valuers and the real estate developers, as well as the service users, claimed to be aware of the concept, and they also support its development in the country. The drivers and limitations were ranked based on their perceived level of significance. This study recommends the promotion of awareness to accelerate its acceptance and implementation. This will help propagate the process of creating a smart city in developing nations such as Nigeria and prepare property valuers professionally for its management.

The Main Barriers Limiting the Development of Smart Buildings

“…Pašek and Sojková [31] and Marinakis [32] reached the same conclusion. For Alohan et al [11], BMSs are usually complex systems due to their specificities and user interfaces. In agreement, Gobbo Jr. et al [33] highlight the need for more intuitive and user-friendly interfaces.…”

“…However, deficiencies and obsolescence in energy and internet infrastructure make integrating with advanced technologies such as communication networks, IoT, and renewable energy sources difficult. Deficiencies in the internet infrastructure can limit access to information and communication capacity, hindering the integration of smart buildings with urban services [11]. Deficiencies in electrical energy infrastructure, caused mainly by the obsolescence of distribution system assets, contribute to frequent interruptions [33,35] and hinder its integration with a building's intelligent systems.…”

“…Regarding "difficulties in adopting and coordinating energy-efficient systems", we identified approaches related to increased energy use due to the growing number of installed devices, the need for energy management improvements, and incentives for consumption reduction [11,30,[36][37][38]. The difficulties in introducing renewable energy generation systems are pointed out by Apanavičienė and Shahrabani [13], and the need for an adequate energy microgeneration tax system is described by Gobbo Jr. et al [33].…”

“…Apanavičien ė and Shahrabani [13] highlight concerns about the security aspects of surveillance and technologies. According to Alohan et al [11], the lack of trust in technological services, the high rate of cybercrime, and the absence of adequate communication protocols contribute to insecurity in smart buildings. Authors such as Benavente-Peces [4], Merabet et al [48], Opawole et al [49], and Apanavičien ė and Shahrabani [13] point out the need to integrate advanced security features, such as mutual authentication.…”

“…Houran et al [7], Lam et al [8], and Alsafery et al [9] point to improving the building's energy efficiency by automated energy management. Kubicki et al [10], Alohan et al [11], Ejidike et al [12], and Apanavičien ė et al [13] highlight improving the protection against cyber-attacks and the safety of life and security of occupants, including concerning Buildings 2024, 14, 1726 2 of 17 emergency response, mainly through intelligent surveillance systems, access control, and monitoring of environmental variables. Gadakari et al [14], Bandara et al [15], and Lam et al [8] highlight the improvement of building operational performance, mainly through the use of intelligent and interactive interfaces to automate daily routines and manage the performance of devices and systems, as well as creating a more productive and friendly environment for building users and employees.…”