Short Course: Designing for Operability and Maintainability

Quarterly Reports

April 2003
July 2003
September 2003

December 2003

March 2004

June 2004

September 2004
 

Project Overview

The Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, with support from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, is engaged in a project entitled “Short Course Incorporating Maintenance, Inspection and Operation in the Design and Construction of Transportation Facilities” carried out through the Transportation Asset Management Research Program pooled fund, study number TPF-5(036).

Tasks

a. Project Team Meetings

The project team will include Dave Schulz, Northwestern University, Jeff Russell, University of Wisconsin, Howard Rosen, UW-EPD, Ernie Wittwer, Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, and Jason Bittner, Midwest Regional University Transportation Center. The team will convene to develop the course materials.

b. Prepare Draft Outline

The project team will prepare a draft outline and solicit comments.

c. Critique by DOTs

The team will use Michigan and Wisconsin as test cases. The team will also solicit external reviews as appropriate.

d. Revise based upon comments

e. Pilot Course

The presentation team will pilot this class over two to three days in Lansing and in Madison. It will utilize experts in each of the fields outlined and will be offered in a true workshop environment, with participants dealing with finding solutions to real challenges in facility design.

Course Objectives

The functional approach to facilities development, maintenance, monitoring, and operations, while perhaps efficient, has some demonstrable shortcomings. Primary among these is the tendency of players in each of the functions to lack an understanding of the needs of other functions and an appreciation of how their actions might impact others.  This class will attempt to deal with this common problem by offering participants ideas and useful tools to build understanding and strategic thinking.  Some of the specifics will include:

• An understanding of the major challenges faced by each function.
• Tools for gaining involvement of other functions at key points in project development.
• Tools for assessing the criticality of various components of a structure.
• Tools for assessing the risk associated with alternative actions at key stages in the project development process.
• Practice in applying tools and ideas.

Audience

The primary audience for this class is design squad or team leaders. Typically, these people are lead workers who direct the work of several journeymen engineers, technicians or planners. In some agencies or firms they may be first-line supervisors. It may be of use and interest to the managers of design programs, but these people should be considered a secondary audience.

Agenda