Science Inventory

Visual Decision Support Tool for Supporting Asset Management Performance, Risk, and Cost Analysis (WERF Report INFR5R12)

Citation:

Jurkovac, B., H. Alegre, AND S. Coelho. Visual Decision Support Tool for Supporting Asset Management Performance, Risk, and Cost Analysis (WERF Report INFR5R12). Water Environment Research Foundation, Alexandria, VA, 2016.

Impact/Purpose:

Benefits: •Promotes an integrated perspective in Asset Management planning. •Provides a software platform that can act as an integrator for established as well as new assessment methods. •Provides communication between experts and non-technical decision makers. •Provides widespread dissemination of general access products, meeting U.S. EPA’s general policy. •Provides broader validation due to the open source nature of the tools. •Provides use of synergies between WERF, U.S. EPA, IWA, Consultants, researchers and utilities.

Description:

Abstract:Managing urban water infrastructures faces the challenge of jointly dealing with assets of diverse types, useful life, cost, ages and condition. Service quality and sustainability require sound long-term planning, well aligned with tactical and operational planning and management. In summary, the objective of an integrated approach to infrastructure asset management is to assist utilities answer the following questions:•Who are we at present?•What service do we deliver?•What do we own?•Where do we want to be in the long-term?•How do we get there?The AWARE-P approach (www.aware-p.org) offers a coherent methodological framework and a valuable portfolio of software tools. It is designed to assist water supply and wastewater utility decision-makers in their analyses and planning processes. It is based on a Plan-Do-Check-Act process and is in accordance with the key principles of the International Standards Organization (ISO) 55000 standards on asset management. It is compatible with, and complementary to WERF’s SIMPLE framework. The software assists in strategic, tactical, and operational planning, through a non-intrusive, web-based, collaborative environment where objectives and metrics drive IAM planning. It is aimed at industry professionals and managers, as well as at the consultants and technical experts that support them. It is easy to use and maximizes the value of information from multiple existing data sources, both in data-rich and data-stressed environments. This project aimed at testing, validating, and tailoring the AWARE-P approach and software in the U.S. wastewater services context; developing new open-source software tools. The project produced:•A portfolio of tools for the Advanced Water Management and Rehabilitation-Portugal (AWARE-P) software validated at Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources (GCDWR), the main pilot case, and at two other U.S. cases, where a large amount of GIS and inspection data from a major utility, and GIS and operational data from a small utility were extensively explored;•A new, enhanced version of the tool to assess infrastructure value and support long-term reinvestment policies; and•A new set of tools directed at data mining and condition-based inspection analysis and prediction. [NOTE: For link (url) below – click on “sign in”; sign in or create new account; return to home page; enter project number in “search” box; and click on report title.]

URLs/Downloads:

http://www.werf.org   Exit EPA's Web Site

Record Details:

Record Type:DOCUMENT( EXTRAMURAL DOCUMENT/ COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT)
Product Published Date:03/15/2016
Record Last Revised:10/20/2016
OMB Category:Other
Record ID: 328371