A Backbone of Well-Defined Asset Information Requirements (Including Classification and Assessment Guidelines) Enabling AI – Computer Vision and Digital Engineering

Abstract

In the evolving world of asset management, accurate and timely asset information availability is becoming more important. How this information is collected, stored, and made available to users can be critical to business needs and often underpins the appropriate management and maintenance strategies of assets. With 5812km of road, 4,887km of footpath, to name a few asset classes spread over 1,343km2, Brisbane City Council (BCC) is acutely aware of these challenges and issues. Defining information and data requirements is the oft overlooked step in this process with the ‘need for data’ overriding all else. The old saying of being ‘data rich, but information poor’ is something many assets managers can relate too – having lots of data, but not having the understanding of processes behind the accumulation of that data leads to an inability to analyse or relate the resultant outcomes. Simply put, ‘Rubbish in equals rubbish out’, no matter how advanced the (typically) digital asset management system might be. BCC has developed and implemented a number of ‘Asset Identification and Assessment Guidelines’ (AIA Guidelines, also known as Classification Manuals) for a range of asset types including road and stormwater networks. Many of these were created well before the corresponding asset management systems were developed – these ‘existing’ guidelines provided a platform on which the systems were then able to be based on. The development of asset specific AIA Guidelines provides clear, defined information data requirements as well as assisting with the development and implementation of all steps within the Asset Management process, from defining As-Constructed data submission requirements, existing assets data survey, asset management systems requirements and asset accounting and valuation standards. Providing consistent, meaningful information and data needs from start to end ensures all users have confidence in the information held by, and the outputs from, your asset management systems. The AIA Guidelines have been the core around which two recently implemented systems – the Kerbside Asset Information System (KAIS) and the Brisbane Road Asset Management System (BRAMS). KAIS utilised the AIA Guidelines for traffic signs and road pavement marking as the basis for the inventory and condition registers and employs ‘on-the-go’ artificial intelligence data capture through high-resolution video capture. The system links through Council’s works and asset maintenance process, event planning and management, temporary road closures and public facing information portal showing on-street parking locations to residents. BRAMS was developed around the AIA Guidelines for road pavements, kerb and channel verges and pathways and bikeways. While each asset type is recognised independently, the system is required to hold the inventory and ongoing condition assessment data for all, while providing a single user interface. The guidelines directed the requirements for all stages of the system development from the field data collection tool to the final data schema and condition recording. Clearly defining how to accurately and consistently identify and classify assets has streamlined the development of the above systems. With the AIA Guidelines currently developed, BCC is confident in defining the data need challenges going into the future.