Infrastructure Asset Management
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Strategic and Tactical Phases of Asset Management
The practice of asset management typically follows a two stage approach. The strategic phase is a desktop exercise. It uses existing GIS and inventory information available for infrastructure assets. Based on an assessment around remaining service life, it develops a program level long-range funding plan. This gives funding direction and insight going into the more detailed tactical level analysis.
The tactical phase is more comprehensive including a field level condition assessment of the infrastructure assets. Then the collected condition data is modeled over the infrastructure life-cycle to determine the optimal treatment strategy that will deliver infrastructure sustainability, while minimizing both costs and risk. This is where the municipality, transportation company, or pipeline company can save a lot of money. Depending on the current state of the infrastructure and method of operations, we are realizing in the order of 5-25 percent ROII. Based on the optimal scenario, we generate a maintenance and capital renewal treatment strategy for each asset segment (i.e. road, pipe, etc.) in the network. This is used for developing budgets and related programming.
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Key Components of Tactical Level Asset Management
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Pipeline Integrity Management R&D
Pillar Systems is currently pursuing an R&D pilot to apply our pipeline integrity management practice for the water and wastewater industry to energy pipelines.
Based on our state-of-the art life-cycle optimization technology and applied practice, we are well positioned to make great strides in the pipeline industry. We feel we can evolve the existing industry practice to a "no failure" philosophy. In doing so, we can address many of the concerns of environmentalists and rebuild confidence in the pipeline industry.
Our approach to pipeline integrity management is based on minimizing consequence of risk and minimizing life-cycle expenditures. This is based on our proactive approach of addressing issues before they become problems. Our practice has shown that mid-life trenchless technologies, such as pipe liners, can be more cost effective than open-cut and replace a deteriorated pipeline. This is further complemented by heading off the social costs caused by pipe failure.