Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Edge Computing has become one of the more actively explored innovations in the design of modern real estate management platforms, promising gains in efficiency and reliability that legacy, largely manual approaches have struggled to deliver.

Despite this potential, many existing real estate management platforms were not originally designed with edge computing in mind, resulting in persistent gaps in data privacy compliance that limit their overall effectiveness. This study examines how Edge Computing can be applied to help close that gap.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Current real estate management platforms in many organizations struggle with inadequate data privacy compliance, often relying on manual processes or outdated architectures that were not designed for today's operating environment. Without a structured approach to integrating edge computing, these limitations are likely to persist, exposing organizations to inefficiency, risk, and a poor user experience. This study is motivated by the need to design and evaluate a edge computing-based approach to addressing this problem.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To design and implement a edge computing-based approach to improving data privacy compliance in real estate management platforms.
2. To evaluate the effectiveness of Edge Computing in enhancing data privacy compliance within real estate management platforms.
3. To identify the key requirements and constraints relevant to deploying edge computing in this context.
4. To assess user and stakeholder perception of the resulting system.

1.4 Research Questions

1. How can edge computing be applied to improve data privacy compliance in real estate management platforms?
2. How effective is Edge Computing at enhancing data privacy compliance within real estate management platforms?
3. What requirements and constraints are relevant to deploying edge computing in this context?
4. How do users and stakeholders perceive the resulting system?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Beyond its immediate technical contribution, this study offers value to organizations evaluating whether to invest in edge computing for their own real estate management platforms, and contributes to the broader literature on applied software technology / IT by documenting a concrete implementation and evaluation case.

1.6 Scope of the Study

As a MSc-level study, its scope is confined to designing and evaluating a edge computing-based solution for real estate management platforms, focused specifically on data privacy compliance; broader deployment considerations fall outside this scope.