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Cover of Engineering Guideline to Bridge Asset Management
Engineering Guideline to Bridge Asset Management
  • Publication no: AP-G94-21
  • ISBN: 978-1-922382-45-0
  • Published: 12 January 2021

Asset management is defined by ISO 55000 (2014) as ‘the coordinated activity of an organisation to realise value from assets’, where the definition and measure of value can vary significantly depending on the service required. To assist asset owners and managers in the management of their assets, there are many documents available that provide good foundational guidance, such as the International Infrastructure Management Manual (IIMM, 2015). However, much of the information in these guides is often generic and not always easily applied to a specific asset, such as bridges.

Therefore, this Guideline was developed to build on those foundational documents to provide specific asset management guidance for road bridges, and promotes an engineering approach (engineering principles, knowledge, experience and modelling tools) as being the only robust method for understanding the current and future, condition and needs of a bridge network. Based on the principles of ISO55000 and the IIMM, the Guideline defines best practice asset management for bridges over their lifecycle in a manner that will provide a transparent link between investment and outcomes. It includes the definition of a specific and detailed asset management framework for bridges, covering the core elements of that framework with bridge specific examples and underpinned by risk management protocols in keeping with ISO 31000.

Guidance is provided on formal justification of customer levels of service from bridges, optimum maintenance and renewals interventions at the bridge level and at network level, and identifying, evaluating and reporting on bridge risk. This Guideline also promotes the concept that formal measurement of asset management performance is beneficial, as part of the framework, in order to:

  • Differentiate success from failure.
  • Demonstrate results that illustrate accountability to customers and stakeholders.
  • Identify gaps or needs that can justify the necessary funding.

In the webinar recording below, Barry Wright, Torill Pape and Peter Shaw, take participants through the development of the guideline and provide an overview of its key principles and learnings.

  • Definitions
  • Abbreviations
  • 1. Introduction to the Guideline
    • 1.1 Purpose
    • 1.2 What is a Road Bridge?
    • 1.3 Scope of Bridge Asset Management
    • 1.4 Methodology and Approach
      • 1.4.1 Core Philosophy
      • 1.4.2 Overview of the Bridge Asset Management Framework
      • 1.4.3 Detailed Bridge Asset Management Framework
    • 1.5 Guideline Structure
  • 2. Bridge Strategic Asset Management Planning
    • 2.1 Introduction
    • 2.2 Organisational Strategic Plan
    • 2.3 Asset Management Policy
    • 2.4 Strategic Asset Management Plan
      • 2.4.1 Overview
      • 2.4.2 Strategic Asset Management Objectives
  • 3. Risk Management Framework
    • 3.1 Introduction
    • 3.2 Establishing the Risk Context
      • 3.2.1 Risk Policy
      • 3.2.2 Risk Management Objectives
      • 3.2.3 Risk Appetite
      • 3.2.4 Risk Hierarchy
    • 3.3 Identify Risks
      • 3.3.1 Introduction
      • 3.3.2 Risk Categories
      • 3.3.3 Risk Events
      • 3.3.4 Asset Critically
      • 3.3.5 Structural Vulnerability
    • 3.4 Assess and Evaluate Risks
    • 3.5 Manage Risks
      • 3.5.1 Treatment
      • 3.5.2 High Consequence / Low Probability Risks
      • 3.5.3 Risk Register
      • 3.5.4 Structure Management Plans
      • 3.5.5 Closeout
      • 3.5.6 Resilience
      • 3.5.7 Emergency Management and Response
    • 3.6 Useful References
  • 4. Understanding the Requirements
    • 4.1 Introduction
    • 4.2 Demand
    • 4.3 Level of Service
      • 4.3.1 Definition
      • 4.3.2 Bridge Levels of Service
      • 4.3.3 Live Load Access Level of Service
      • 4.3.4 Other Bridge Levels of Service
      • 4.3.5 Monitoring Levels of Service
    • 4.4 Monitoring the Performance of the Bridge Network
      • 4.4.1 Overview
      • 4.4.2 Monitoring Bridge Condition
      • 4.4.3 Bridge Performance Measurement
      • 4.4.4 Measuring and Reporting Network Trends
      • 4.4.5 Additional Considerations
      • 4.4.6 Useful Case Studies
    • 4.5 Bridge Information and Data Collection
      • 4.5.1 Overview
      • 4.5.2 Useful References
  • 5. Decision Making Methods
    • 5.1 Introduction
    • 5.2 Decision Methods
    • 5.3 Prioritisation and Optimisation
  • 6. Maintenance and Operational Planning
    • 6.1 Introduction
    • 6.2 Background
    • 6.3 Maintenance Objectives
    • 6.4 Maintenance Categories
    • 6.5 Routine Maintenance
    • 6.6 Bridge Specific Maintenance
    • 6.7 Measurement of Performance
    • 6.8 Decision Methods
    • 6.9 Forecasting
    • 6.10 Useful References
  • 7. Capital Renewals Planning
    • 7.1 Introduction
    • 7.2 Overview of Capital Planning Process
    • 7.3 Decision Methods
      • 7.3.1 Bridge Renewals for Condition Reasons
    • 7.4 Capital Renewals Forecasting
    • 7.5 Useful References
  • 8. Financial Management and Funding
    • 8.1 Overview
    • 8.2 Expenditure and Funding
    • 8.3 Asset Value and Depreciation
    • 8.4 The Funding Cycle
    • 8.5 Funding Scenarios
    • 8.6 Funding Submissions
    • 8.7 Financial Reporting
    • 8.8 Auditor General Requirements
    • 8.9 Useful References
  • 9. Delivery
  • 10. Audit and Continual Improvement
    • 10.1 Overview
    • 10.2 Asset Management System Performance
    • 10.3 Continual Improvement Programme
    • 10.4 Useful References
  • 11. Bridge Management Enablers
    • 11.1 Introduction
    • 11.2 Organisation and People
      • 11.2.1 Governance
      • 11.2.2 Organisational Structure
      • 11.2.3 Roles and Responsibility Hierarchy
      • 11.2.4 Resources and Skills
    • 11.3 Bridge Asset Management Plans
    • 11.4 Asset Management Information Systems and Supporting Tools
      • 11.4.1 Asset Hierarchy
      • 11.4.2 Asset Data Standardisation
      • 11.4.3 Useful References
  • References
  • Appendix A Bridge Strategic Asset Management Planning
    • A.1 Bridge Asset Management Hierarchy
      • A.1.1 TMR Asset Management Planning Context
      • A.1.2 Fairfield City Council Strategic Asset Management Plan Documents
      • A.1.3 DPTI Hierarchy of Policies and Plans
    • A.2 Asset Management Policy
      • A.2.1 Transport for London Asset Management Policy
      • A.2.2 RMS Infrastructure Asset Management Policy
      • A.2.3 Sydney Trains Asset Management Policy
    • A.3 Strategic Asset Management Plan
      • A.3.1 DPTI Strategic Asset Management Plan
  • Appendix B Risk Management Framework
    • B.1 Establishing the Risk Context
      • B.1.1 Victorian Government Risk Appetite Example
      • B.1.2 Victorian Government Risk Appetite Steps
      • B.1.3 NZTA Risk Response Table
    • B.2 Identify Risks
      • B.2.1 DPTI Asset Criticality Criteria
      • B.2.2 VicRoads Road Management Classification
      • B.2.3 NZTA One Network Road Classification
      • B.2.4 CIRIA Hidden Defects in Bridges
    • B.3 Manage Risks
      • B.3.1 Network Rail Policy on a Page
      • B.3.2 NZTA Draft Risk Register
      • B.3.3 DPTI Risk Register
  • Appendix C Understanding the Requirements
    • C.1 Level of Service
      • C.1.1 DSG Tasmania Level of Service Framework
      • C.1.2 NZTA Level of Service Criteria
    • C.2 Monitoring the Performance of the Bridge Network
      • C.2.1 National State of the Assets Association 2018 Infrastructure Performance Trends
  • Appendix D Decision Making Methods
    • D.1 Decision Methods
      • D.1.1 Whole Life Costing Example (Atkins 2011)
      • D.1.2 MRWA Maintenance Works Program Development
      • D.1.3 Roads Liaison Group Maintenance Planning and Works Delivery Process
      • D.1.4 London Bridges Group Lifecycle Planning Process
      • D.1.5 NZTA Structural Bridge Maintenance National Prioritisation Worksheet
  • Appendix E Maintenance and Operational Planning
    • E.1 Routine Maintenance
      • E.1.1 Routine Maintenance Activities
      • E.1.2 VicRoads Procedure following Routine Maintenance
  • Appendix F Capital Renewals Planning
    • F.1 Decision Methods
      • F.1.1 RMS Capital Upgrades of Operating Assets
  • Appendix G Financial Management and Funding
    • G.1 Funding Scenarios
      • G.1.1 FHWA Example
  • Appendix H Delivery
    • H.1 Delivery
      • H.1.1 Project Delivery Extract from Austroads Guide to Asset Management Part 7
  • Appendix I Audit and Continual Improvement
    • I.1 Continual Improvement Programme
      • I.1.1 Identified Improvements by NZTA
  • Appendix J Bridge Management Enablers
    • J.1 Bridge Asset Management Plans
      • J.1.1 IIMM Example Asset Management Plan Structure
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