Designing an Integrated Facility Management / Life Cycle Cost Assessment Framework for Efficient Architecture Management of Smart Projects

Abstract

The entire research is concerned with a main problem that is demonstrated in: "Absence of a comprehensive framework that is capable of achieving efficient architecture management of Smart Buildings Projects (SBP) in Egypt". In Egypt, there is no specific framework to manage smart buildings projects. Architects, project managers, etc. only use very preliminary guidelines to build their design. Lack of framework is a major reason for risks facing smart buildings projects through their life cycle in Egypt. The research focuses on Smart Buildings Projects (SBP), which is considered a new trend and very important type of projects in Egypt and worldwide. In Egypt, Smart Village is considered the first attempt to establish SBP, The New Administrative Capital in Egypt is considered the second attempt to build SBP and the first attempt to establish a smart city. To establish a new smart city in Egypt, guidelines or framework are urgently needed. The thesis aims at introducing an approach through a comprehensive framework that is capable of managing the process of establishing smart buildings projects (SBP) in Egypt through preventing, or at least minimizing the need to re-answer the same questions or face the same challenges on every project. The research illustrates the importance of integrating Facility Management and Life Cycle Cost Assessment and clarifies the challenges which may face SBP through their life cycle in Egypt. The objective of this thesis is fulfilled through the following: The Theoretical Background which is covered in unit one aiming at proposing a theoretical framework for SBP in Egypt. The objective of the unit was achieved through the following:  Analysis of researches and studies of SBP that have been conducted in Egypt and worldwide during the period from 2010 to 2020.  Identification and analysis of key challenges facing SBP in Egypt.  Introducing some approaches for managing the challenges of SBP in Egypt.  Analysis of available frameworks of SBP and selecting the most suitable framework that can be adapted and amended to be applied on SBP in Egypt.  Finally, a theoretical framework of SBP in Egypt was concluded; this framework was then analyzed and updated in the analytical part of the research.