Generic Methodology for Evaluating Net Benefit of Asset Management System Implementation
Publication: Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Volume 15, Issue 3
Abstract
Although transportation agencies in the United States have been developing asset management systems (AMS) as decision-support tools for specific types of infrastructure assets, there are several barriers to the implementation of AMS. In particular, implementation and development costs are critical issues. Without evidence of AMS benefits, further implementation and development of AMS may be constrained. This paper documents the development of a generic methodology for quantifying the benefits derived from implementation of AMS and justifying investment in AMS implementation. The generic methodology involves three analysis methods: descriptive analysis, regression analysis, and benefit-cost analysis. These methods draw on basic principles of engineering economic analysis and apply to two types of evaluations: an ex post facto evaluation and an ex ante evaluation depending on the time frame and the availability of time series data. While the concepts are relatively simple, the challenge lies in identifying data to support the application of the methodology. This paper demonstrates how the methodology can be applied to evaluate the implementation of a pavement management system in terms of efficacy, effectiveness, and efficiency (three Es).
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Acknowledgments
This research was partially funded by the Midwest Regional University Transportation Center and the Metropolitan Transportation Support Initiative at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Volume 15 • Issue 3 • September 2009
Pages: 232 - 240
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Nov 27, 2007
Accepted: Aug 20, 2008
Published online: Aug 14, 2009
Published in print: Sep 2009
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