Removing the Tyranny of Averages – Modelling the Performance of the Sydney Harbour Bridge

The expectations towards asset management systems (AMSs) often exceed what most AMSs can or do deliver. The disappointment of stakeholders with an implemented AMS frequently leads to the abandonment of the otherwise sound principles of asset management. A review of the critical components of transport AMSs highlighted several issues of which the treatment of uncertainties and the treatment selection method were explored in detail. Though performance forecasts based on average values may be right on the average, they are most likely wrong when looking at smaller segment levels in specific cases – i.e. most of the time. The key performance indicator for the Sydney Harbour Bridge maintenance requires that only a very small proportion of the paint is in need of immediate repair. To meet the specified maintenance objectives, a model is required that can contemplate both the extent and severity of the paint condition of each element of the bridge. The paper discusses and describes the development of a suitable model based on Markov chains. The model has a broader application well beyond the Sydney Harbour Bridge as it is suitable for modelling condition parameters defined in terms of discrete condition states. The model relieves the users from the tyranny of the commonly used statistical parameters describing central tendencies, such as the average, thus making characterisation of an asset element more representative and thus accurate. As multiple conditions on the same element are possible, the accuracy of the budget and condition forecast also increases.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9789561412309
• Supplemental Notes:
  • The local host for the conference is Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile; the international host is the Transportation Research Board of the National Research Council, USA.
• Corporate Authors:

  Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile

  College of Engineering
  Avenida Vicuna Mackenna 4860, Macul
  Santiago,   Chile 
• Authors:
  • Kadar, Peter
  • Zavitski, Jeff
  • 0000-0001-8906-4112
  • Shopov, Vladimir
• Conference:
  • Eighth International Conference on Managing Pavement Assets
  • Location: Santiago , Chile
  • Date: 2011-11-15 to 2011-11-19
• Publication Date: 2011

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 8p
• Monograph Title: 8th International Conference on Managing Pavement Assets, November 15-19, 2011, Santiago, Chile: "Fulfilling the Social, Economic and Environmental Responsibility for Sustainable, Well Managed, Better Roads"

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asset management; Bridges; Maintenance management; Markov chains; Mathematical models
• Identifier Terms: Sydney Harbour Bridge
• Uncontrolled Terms: Performance indicators
• Geographic Terms: Sydney (Australia)
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Bridges and other structures; Highways; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01366551
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9789561412309
• Report/Paper Numbers: ICMPA048
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 29 2012 11:30AM