Synthesis of National Activities in Transportation Asset Management

PROJECT COMPLETE

Research Summary Series (research results in an easy to read format)

Project Report Now Available (May 2002):
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Project Number:         01-01

Research Project:      Synthesis of National Activities in Transportation Asset Management           

 

P.I. Name & Address: Jeffrey S. Russell

                                      Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

                                    2304 Engineering Hall

                                    1415 Engineering Drive

                                    Madison, WI 53706

(608) 262-7244

(608) 265-9860 fax

russell@engr.wisc.edu

 

Project Objective:     To develop a comprehensive summary of previous and current national efforts concerning transportation asset management.   The intent of this project will be to accurately collect information from a wide variety of transportation and public works organizations, including but not limited to: the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Task Force on Transportation Asset Management, the Transportation Research Board (TRB), the National Research and Technology Forum, the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Civil Engineering Research Foundation (CERF), the Federal Highway Administration Office of Asset Management, the U.S. Army, the Midwest Transportation Consortium, the American Public Works Association (APWA), and individual state efforts in Virginia, Colorado, and the District of Columbia

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Project Abstract:       Transportation asset management is a business process and a decision-making framework that covers an extended time horizon, draws from economics as well as engineering, and considers a broad range of assets.  The asset management approach incorporates the economic assessment of trade-offs among alternative investment options and uses this information to help make cost-effective investment decisions.  Currently there are multiple efforts targeting this broad concept of Transportation Asset Management underway across the nation.  These efforts are not currently coordinated nor are there open channels of communication or liaisons between them.  The efforts of these agencies will produce various products over a timeframe ranging from the upcoming months to several years in the future.  The intent of this research is to summarize and synthesize each of the national efforts and discover gaps in the research and/or literature that need to be filled.  At a minimum, the research will produce a comprehensive resource of activities and research in the subject area.  For example, each of the national organizations is struggling to reach a means of implementing the theories of asset management.  This research will delineate the activities of the national organizations to be used by departments of transportation.  The primary product of this effort will be a report summarizing the national efforts and the overlapping areas these activities are including.  The ties into the AASHTO Task Force on Transportation Asset Management strategic plan will also be highlighted.

 

Task Descriptions:

Task 1- Research and interview participants and leaders in each of the aforementioned national activities

Task 2-Compile directory of activities and products. 

Task 3 - Write summary report and provide analysis. 

 

Milestones, Dates: Project Start Date: 6/15/01, Final report by 3/31/02

 

Yearly Budget:           $75,840

Total Budget:             $75,840

 

Student Involvement:            1 Graduate Project Assistant, 9 months @ 50% Effort

 

Relationship to Other

Research Projects:  Synthesis project will also relate to the findings of the asset management practices of near-transportation private sector organizations project (01-02).

 

Technology Transfer

Activities:                   Project report will be posted MRUTC website and distributed to organizations.  Preliminary results will be presented at the 4th National Transportation Asset Management Workshop in September 2001.

   

Potential Benefits

of the Project:                         An organized, comprehensive resource for the ongoing efforts related to Transportation Asset Management will be useful to the State Departments of Transportation in their attempts to implement activities optimizing transportation investments and operations.  The inability of several organizations to collectively pool resources and have a common understanding of each of their ongoing activities provides tremendous inefficiencies.  This project will allow the national efforts to be adequately addressed and synthesized into a single, cohesive report

 

TRB Keywords:            Asset Management, Infrastructure, Maintenance Management

 

Primary Subject:            Transportation Asset Management Activities

 

Modal Orientation:            All, primarily highways