Recent Papers in Asset Management
Content Table
- The holistic prioritisation of proactive sewer maintenance
- Performance assessment of urban utilities: the case of water supply, wastewater and solid waste
- Strategic asset management planning of stormwater drainage systems
- Rehabilitation and maintenance of water distribution network assets
- Importance of investment decisions and rehabilitation approaches in an ageing wastewater pipeline network. A case study of Oslo (Norway)
- Making decentralised systems viable: a guide to managing decentralised assets and risks
- Technological requirements for water system asset management
- The Canadian National Water and Wastewater Benchmarking Initiative. Using process to drive improvement: strategic management of water in urban areas
The holistic prioritisation of proactive sewer maintenance
Water Science & Technology—WST Vol 59 No 7 pp 1385–1396 © IWA Publishing 2009 doi:10.2166/wst.2009.134
S. Arthur, H. Crow, L. Pedezert and N. Karikas
Sustainable Water Management Research Group, School of the Built Environment, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK E-mail: s.arthur@hw.ac.uk
Abstract
In sewerage asset management, there has been a concerted move away from primarily assessing system capacity or physical performance, to focus on “serviceability” as a key performance indicator. After identifying flooding due to blockages as a key failure mode, this paper documents the development of a tool which can contribute towards efficient sewerage asset management within the context of maintaining “serviceability” to customers, the public and the environment. Against the background of poor availability of reliable data, the reported project provides a process based on FMECA which can be implemented with limited information and without the need for additional data gathering. Land use and network characteristics data have been used alongside a hydrodynamic model to determine critical points in a network. Based on this, a methodology for identifying where blockage likelihood lies is outlined alongside an approach which allows failure consequence to be quantified. The text then outlines a framework which allows failure likelihood and consequence to be combined to prioritise sewerage asset maintenance.
Performance assessment of urban utilities: the case of water supply, wastewater and solid waste
Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology—AQUA Vol 58 No 5 pp 305–315 © IWA Publishing 2009 doi:10.2166/aqua.2009.041
H. Alegre, E. Cabrera and W. Merkel
LNEC—National Laboratory of Civil Engineering, Urban Water Division, Avenida Brasil 101, PL-1700-066, Lisboa, Portugal
Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Instituto Tecnologico del Agua, Apdo 22012, E-46071, Valencia, Spain E-mail: qcabrera@ita.upv.es
IWW Water Centre, Moritzstrasse 26, D-45476, Mulheim an der Ruhr, Germany
Abstract
The importance of performance assessment in the water industry is demonstrated by the increasing number of initiatives taking place around the world. Since the first initiatives, which started 15 years ago, the topic has evolved significantly although it still presents challenges to be tackled.
Five years ago, a project on performance assessment of urban infrastructure services was submitted to the European Union under the COST programme. As a consequence, the COST C18 Action was created. This paper presents the main conclusions and future key research areas from the project. In the solid waste sector, existing practical experience is less advanced, but methodologies and conclusions will be equally applicable in performance assessment projects.
Strategic asset management planning of stormwater drainage systems
Water Practice & Technology © IWA Publishing 2008 | doi:10.2166/wpt.2008.065
A. Kannapiran*, A. Chanan+, G. Singh+, P. Tambosis+, J. Jeyakumaran* and J. Kandasamy*
* Faculty of Engineering, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
+Assets and Services, Kogarah Council, Kogarah, Australia
Abstract
Management of the urban water cycle in an integrated manner is an essential task to protect, restore and enhance in a sustainable manner. Strategic asset management planing is being developed as local government authorities face many challenges associated with managing the urban water cycle system. Statistical or conventional mathematical modelling approach has been found not practical for assessment of deteriorating infrastructures. Alternatively, application of fuzzy-based models is found more suitable as it links engineering judgment, experience and scarce field data of the deteriorating assets. In this study, a representative network of buried stormwater system's data is drawn and a pipe condition index is derived by linking the field data and reasoning using fuzzy approach. The inferred results are found to be useful and relevant for asset maintenance and future development programs.
Rehabilitation and maintenance of water distribution network assets
Water Science & Technology: Water Supply–WSTWS Vol 8 No 2 pp 231–237 © IWA Publishing 2008 doi:10.2166/ws.2008.066
S. Christodoulou, C. Charalambous and A. Adamou
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cyprus, Cyprus schristo@ucy.ac.cy
Water Board of Lemesos, Lemesos, Cyprus bambos@wbl.com.cy
Water Board of Larnaca, Larnaca, Cyprus adamou@lwb.com.cy
Abstract
In light of the increasing and pressing need to efficiently manage scarce water resources, there has been renewed interest by water distribution network owners to develop and implement water management strategies and tools that would assist in the integrated and automated management of those networks. Such asset management strategies should assist the network owners to evaluate the condition of the water distribution network, assess historical incident data (leakage or breakage) and risk of failure, visualise areas of high risk, propose “repair or replace” strategies and prioritise the work based on the inherent risk and cost of action. The methodology and support system outlined in this paper can form an integral part of a leakage management strategy and provide a useful decision-making tool. The work presented outlines an integrated methodology and a decision support system for arriving at such “repair-or-replace” decisions, as part of a long-term pipeline asset management program that could be undertaken by a water utility to improve on the reliability of the water distribution networks.
Importance of investment decisions and rehabilitation approaches in an ageing wastewater pipeline network. A case study of Oslo (Norway)
Water Science & Technology—WST Vol 58 No 12 pp 2279–2293 © IWA Publishing 2008 doi:10.2166/wst.2008.559
Rita Ugarelli, G. Venkatesh, Helge Brattebø and Sveinung Sægrov
Bologna University, D.I.S.T.A.R.T., Viale Risorgimento 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy E-mail: rita.ugarelli@mail.ing.unibo.it
Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway E-mail: venkatesh.govindarajan@ntnu.no; helge.brattebo@ntnu.no
Building and Infrastructure Department, SINTEF, N7465, Trondheim, Norway E-mail: sveinung.sagrov@sintef.no
Abstract
As Oslo Vann og Avløpsetaten (VAV, meaning Water and Sewage Department) looks into the future, it is faced with a quandary—to replace old pipelines or to continue maintaining them. The primary goal is to improve the level of service. The secondary goals are to rejuvenate the system and stem the decline in capital value. In 1991–2006, the Operation and Maintenance expenses (O&M) were far higher than the investments, and the network aged as its capital value plummeted. However, if the funds are insufficient, the self-financing Oslo VAV would have to turn to the consumers for help. Will the consumers pay more to have a ‘younger’ system? What if they are happy with the ‘status quo’ and are unconcerned about the falling capital value? Should the pipelines be depreciated over a longer period than the 40 years which is adopted now? Should the economic method be replaced by a more engineering-based method, whereby the pipes are assessed ‘on merit’—on the basis of their service lives? There are numerous issues and a good decision will ease the road ahead. This paper, using Life Cycle Costing Analysis (LCCA) and scenarios therein, looks at how Oslo VAV could strike a balance between expending on O&M, investing in upgrading the network, and decelerating the ageing of the network while augmenting the capital value, and what is the best attainable set of targets they could aim for, at the end of the next 20 years. The two approaches mentioned above are compared with each other. It is seen that a rehabilitation programme based on the pipes performance approach is preferable to one guided by an economic lifetime approach, when the motive is to optimise expenditure and also improve the level of service.
Making decentralised systems viable: a guide to managing decentralised assets and risks
Water Science & Technology Vol 56 No 5 pp 165–173 © IWA Publishing 2007 doi:10.2166/wst.2007.569
J. Willetts, S. Fane and C. Mitchell
Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia (E-mail: juliet.willetts@uts.edu.au; simon.fane@uts.edu.au; cynthia.mitchell@uts.edu.au)
Abstract
Decentralised systems have the potential to provide a viable option for long term sustainable management of household wastewater. Yet, at present, such systems hold an uncertain status and are frequently omitted from consideration. Their potential can only be realised with improved approaches to their management, and improved methods to decision-making in planning of wastewater systems. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the value of a novel framework to guide the planning of decentralised systems so that asset management and risk management are explicitly considered. The framework was developed through a detailed synthesis of literature and practice in the area of asset management of centralised water and wastewater systems, and risk management in the context of decentralised systems. Key aspects of the framework are attention to socio-economic risks as well as engineering, public health and ecological risks, the central place of communication with multiple stakeholders and establishing a shared asset information system. A case study is used to demonstrate how the framework can guide a different approach and lead to different, more sustainable outcomes, by explicitly considering the needs and perspectives of homeowners, water authorities, relevant government agencies and society as a whole.
Technological requirements for water system asset management
Water Science & Technology: Water Supply Vol 6 No 5 pp 123–128 © IWA Publishing 2006 doi:10.2166/ws.2006.790
Z.Y. Wu
Bentley Systems Inc., Haestad Methods Solution Center, 27 Siemon Co Dr., Suite200W, Watertown, , CT06795, USA (E-mail: zheng.wu@bentley.com)
Abstract
Asset management is a broad term and a relatively new paradigm to the water industry. This paper is intended to present an overview of the asset management approach that emerges as a managerial and technical framework for a water utility to effectively manage above and below ground assets. Based upon the lessons learned from some limited practices in the developed countries including UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand, the article is focused on elaborating the new concept of asset management and technological requirements to implement it for a water or wastewater organization. Following the brief overview, the elements of asset management are addressed along with the classified essential technology that enables water asset management and the potential cost savings resulting from an effective program. It concludes by looking into the challenges and barriers for adopting this innovative approach.
The Canadian National Water and Wastewater Benchmarking Initiative. Using process to drive improvement: strategic management of water in urban areas
Water Science & Technology: Water Supply Vol 6 No 5 pp 111–121 © IWA Publishing 2006 doi:10.2166/ws.2006.824
D. Main*, L. Ng* and A. North**
*1901 Rosser Avenue 6th Floor, Burnaby, , V5C 6S3 British Columbia, Canada (E-mail: david.main@earthtech.ca; leslie.ng@earthtech.ca)
**47620 UEP Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia (E-mail: andy.north@earthtech.ca)
Abstract
Earth Tech has been successfully benchmarking Canadian municipal water, wastewater and stormwater utility operations since 1997. While the fundamental purpose of this project was metric benchmarking for the purpose of making performance comparisons to guide continuous improvement, the project is now serving as a dynamic platform to consider, examine, and implement a broad range of utility best practices that have resulted in superior performance where they have been implemented. The keys to success, however, were based more on a process that emphasizes communication, teamwork, and collaboration rather than the trend to push computerized data management systems to their fullest potential, and most importantly, in recognizing the importance of ‘hard work’. With these success factors now well understood and documented, it is feasible to benchmark almost any public infrastructure amongst agencies that are willing, regardless of their level of technological development. Finally, by sharing this methodology, the performance measure descriptions and detailed definitions, it is also feasible to make international comparisons in a simple and cost effective manner, thus opening the door to the broad exchange of international best practices.
