Conceptual Framework for Defining and Developing an Integrated Asset Management System

Interest in developing and implementing asset management systems has grown considerably during the past several years. Although asset management is defined in the literature, these definitions are generally all encompassing and fail to distinguish the asset management model from that of traditional infrastructure management systems. To assist those practitioners who are tasked with developing automated asset management systems, guidance is needed to better clarify what is meant by the term asset management. The work being done by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) in defining asset management and enhancing its current program development process is described. The department’s asset management system is defined in relation to four precepts, and a conceptual design for an automated asset management system is presented. Central to the NYSDOT approach is a method of conducting trade-off analysis among the department’s four major goal areas—pavements, bridges, safety, and mobility. Excess user costs are discussed as the common measure to compare benefits of diverse projects such as a pavement project versus a mobility project. The goal of the NYSDOT approach is to better integrate decision making among program areas. It is concluded that while the NYSDOT approach may not be right for all transportation agencies, the idea that system development be carefully defined and properly scoped is important and should be considered as organizations endeavor to implement integrated asset management systems.