ASSET MANAGEMENT: A TOOL FOR PUBLIC WORKS OFFICIALS?

Many who deal with a single class of assets such as roads, bridges, water distribution networks, or buildings, are quite familiar and thankful for management systems that allow them to be efficient in identifying where, when, and how infrastructure should be maintained. Many of these systems are computerized, and all share certain traits: inventory capability, asset evaluation, predictive module, intervention module, and scenario preparation. An asset management system or methodology aims to integrate the results of various existing management systems and assist in making maintenance investment decisions. An asset management system does not seek to replace any or all of the vertical systems, but rather to enhance their usefulness and use their output to provide sound data that has been subjected to rigorous analysis. The system will permit the preparation of administrative, accounting, and financial reports, as well as risk analyses and details on the many impacts of any chosen scenario. Above all, it must be transparent. The overall system is yet to be developed, but many single- or multiple-asset systems are well-advanced. Of course, as good as any asset management system will be, it will not resolve the current problem of underfunding, nor does it address directly the problem of deferred maintenance. However, a good asset management system will ensure that any monies assigned to maintenance activities are spent in a most efficient way for the well-being of all assets.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/10760342
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • DANYLO, N H
• Publication Date: 1998-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 91-92
• Serial:
  • Journal of Infrastructure Systems
  • Volume: 4
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 1076-0342
  • EISSN: 1943-555X
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/journal/jitse4

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Assets; Computers; Conservation; Decision making; Finance; Financing; Infrastructure; Investments; Maintenance management; Management; Public works; Resource allocation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Computer systems; Management systems; Resource management
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Environment; Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I10: Economics and Administration; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00754646
• Record Type: Publication
• Contract Numbers: CMS 97-13917
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 15 1998 12:00AM