Spottlight on Asset Management

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“Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.”

— Bobby Unser

Whether your organization owns, leases, or manufactures space shuttles, IT equipment, fleet vehicles, biological samples, or spare parts, good asset management practices not only provide value but are essential to running a successful business. Asset Management refers to any system that monitors and maintains things of value to an entity or group including water, sewer, storm water, or transportation. Like infrastructure resources, asset management principles are also equally applicable to building systems to ensure the reliability and longevity of critical components to mitigate risks associated with sudden failure and subsequent impact on operations. These include HVAC, plumbing and mechanical systems envelope, and fire protection systems.

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When condition dictates end-of-life replacement of HVAC systems, it offers an opportunity to consider retrofits that will enhance energy efficiency, capacity, control and service. Two recent projects illustrate this opportunity seized.

Low-Cost Asset Management Approach

Recent advancements in web-based GIS applications, similar to Google Earth, have provided new means to create, store, and access GIS data. Many water/wastewater systems use online GIS applications to transform their infrastructure data into an easy-to-use operations asset management system. This low-cost approach captures vital data within a secure geo-spatial database. By creating customized mobile web applications, field-critical data (material description, installation date, inspection reports and service history) is available when needed most and accessible to operators in the office or in the field.

Digitizing Hard Copy Maps

Advancements in GIS software and mobile applications have recently provided the ability to access maps and data on the go. This allows managers and operators to access asset locations, specifications, photos, and customized maps and applications wherever they take their mobile device. For many, digitizing old maps is well worth the process.