ASSESSING THE USE OF SMART PHONES-BASED APPS, SOFTWARE AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS) IN REAL ESTATE PRACTICE

Abstract

The covid-19 pandemic ushered the world into what is seen or described as new normal. In addition, it aided what could be seen as increased or rapid adoption of the use of modern and improved technologies in real estate practice. The technologies even though many of them have been in existence, the increased patronage was made possible through the coming of the pandemic. This study however identified or studied the Estate Surveyors and Valuers (ESVs) response in the use of phones-based apps, software, smartphones, and GIS in real estate practice. The identified apps and software used by the practitioners include; Google Earth, QGIS, ArcGIS, MapIt, SW Maps, Map with Us, MapPt, Locus GIS, GCP/GPS among others. The findings indicated that practitioners are familiar with a good number of them adding that the majority has been using them at their own pace i.e., depending on the individual level of knowledge of same. There was also noticeably increased patronage of use of same since the coming covid-19 pandemic. It is expected that practitioners who are yet to key in should as a matter of necessity try to or adopt the same as the practice is going digitized and enhanced technologically.