Developing a Digital Facility Management Framework for Enhancing Operation and Maintenance of Public Parks in Egypt

Public parks in Cairo represent important urban assets, however, their operation and maintenance (O&M) face many challenges due to fragmented information, reactive maintenance practices, organizational constraints, and limited digital integration. Digital Facility Management discipline still lacks the tailored framework that adequately addresses the operational needs of public parks in Egypt with all its specific details. This study develops an integrated digital FM framework for improving the efficiency of the management process of public parks. A four-phase methodology was adopted, comprising a literature review, framework development, technical system specification, and expert assessment. The proposed framework integrates BIM, COBie, CMMS, IoT technologies, and mobile applications through an interoperable information workflow that links asset information, maintenance management, field operations, and performance monitoring. The applicability and contextual suitability of the framework was assessed through structured interviews with 11 selected Egyptian experts, including five FM/O&M specialists and six landscape and urban design specialists. The findings indicate that O&M practices remain predominantly reactive, while preventive maintenance remains comparatively limited. Notably, reliance on corrective maintenance was rated far higher than its perceived suitability as an appropriate strategy. The primary implementation challenge differed between the two expert groups: FM/O&M experts identified high implementation cost as the most significant barrier (normalized score of 72.0), whereas landscape and urban-design experts identified organizational resistance as the most significant barrier (93.3%); Technical knowledge and system-integration challenges were comparatively less pronounced across both groups. Experts identified BIM as a key technology for supporting integrated digital FM, whereas familiarity with COBie and integrated digital workflows remained comparatively limited. The interviewed experts also expressed that the framework is applicable (84.0% and 86.7%, respectively), while emphasizing the need for local contextual adaptation. The findings further indicate that successful implementation requires phased digital transformation, workforce capacity building, interoperable information standards, and carefully evaluated open-source or lower-cost solutions. The proposed framework provides a contextually adaptable basis for integrating lifecycle asset information and digital O&M processes in Egyptian public parks.