MAC URISA 2016

Asset mapping is a one of the first steps in a strategic approach toward optimal allocation of resources for the management, operations, maintenance, and preservation of civil infrastructure assets. The concept of asset management combines geospatial mapping, engineering design, and economic principles with sound business practices to support decision making at the strategic, network, and project levels. Asset management activities include the analysis of assets over time, in particular for performance assessment and forecasting purposes and a need to communicate resource requirements within the framework of what agencies plan to do and what they have accomplished. As such, access to a spatially enabled historical information resource is needed. A Geographical Information System (GIS) provides the requisite capabilities for decision making support using geospatial data for asset modeling and visualization. Asset management-related data have spatio-temporal attributes as snapshots to depict asset status at a given time. Data needs for these types of decisions are project specific and require detailed inventory, condition, and performance data. However, the specification on the level of accuracy and spatial resolution of data collection are still largely undefined for the Architectural, Engineering, Construction and Owner (AECO) industry. Hence, unresolved mensuration modalities of existing conditions for buildings and other civil infrastructure assets has rendered as-built condition documentation unclear. What is meant by accuracy? Is accuracy relative or absolute? Is accuracy related to intent? What is data/model resolution? What resolution is relevant to the various levels of decision making? These concerns, when left undefined, can create problems in as-built deliverables. This presentation addresses these questions and describes effective pathways to analyze, model, and display information that are invaluable in complex asset management decision making.