Challenges of Applying Building Information Modeling (BIM) in Property Maintenance by Estate Surveyors and Valuers in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

The traditional reactive approach to property maintenance by estate surveyors and valuers presents huge limitations in today's data-driven world. However, building information modeling (BIM) has emerged as a global transformative technology, offering a proactive, data-centric framework for optimizing maintenance operations. Presumably, the application of this model should be evident in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State as in other countries like United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK), but sadly, the reverse is the case. Hence, this study aimed at identifying the challenges hindering the application of BIM in property maintenance by estate surveyors and valuers in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the population for this study comprised 80 head of practicing estate surveyors and valuers firms in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State or their representative, using random sampling technique, 66 respondents from the study area were sampled with frequency table as method of data analysis. The findings showed barriers such as skill/training gap (8.61) being the paramount, resistant to change (8.30), lack of reliable and up-to-date building data (8.13) exist. Inferring from the findings, the study concluded that
skill gap/training, cost of BIM software and training, compatibility issues, lack of reliable and up-to-date building data, lack of government support, among others are the major challenges of applying BIM in property maintenance. Hence, it was recommended that estate surveyors and valuers should learn to apply the contemporary model through seminars and workshops since it would enable them to be more efficient in undertaking property maintenance activities.