Infrastructure management is a key consideration for infrastructure managers, as it involves planning, maintaining and optimising the resources needed to ensure the smooth operation and maintenance of the infrastructure.
Infrastructure asset management encompasses all the activities involved in compiling an inventory, planning monitoring and maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment and facilities needed to ensure user safety are kept up to date, and controlling maintenance costs.
Efficient infrastructure management responds to the various challenges faced by local authorities and managers, which we will summarise in three major areas.
Firstly, infrastructure, depending on its type, is subject to safety and security regulations. Infrastructure managers have guides and methodologies for monitoring the health of their assets (for example, the AASHTOW manual for engineering structures and regulatory inspections for buildings). Secondly, in terms of project management, the issue of quality of use is unavoidable: it is essential to have regular monitoring of defects, to guarantee user safety and to ensure long-term viability. Finally, assessing and controlling costs is a major concern for the operator. From a financial point of view, preventive monitoring and multi-year planning of works help to optimise asset maintenance costs.
Over this article, we will look at the following types of infrastructure: buildings, roads and other networks, engineering structures and water-related civil engineering structures.
Building management involves regular maintenance, renovation and refurbishment, as well as the implementation of energy efficiency measures to reduce their environmental impact. These are mainly schools, nurseries, hospitals, stations, gymnasiums, etc.
Roads and other infrastructure are essential for ensuring connectivity and mobility in urban and rural areas: roads, sewers, electricity networks, telecommunications networks, etc. The construction and management of these networks requires careful planning, taking into account load capacity, durability and adaptability to technological change. Infrastructure management involves regular maintenance and upgrading of the network. These operations are necessary to ensure the smooth running of the infrastructure and to meet the ever-increasing demands of users.
Engineering structures include crossing structures (bridges, tunnels, aqueducts), protective structures (walls, trenches, dykes) and transitional structures relating to transport (quays, port structures, etc.). Unlike other types of infrastructure, engineering structures overcome natural obstacles and ensure the smooth flow of traffic. Regular maintenance is therefore a major issue in ensuring that they function properly.
Water infrastructure plays a crucial role in managing natural resources, supplying drinking water, producing energy and protecting against natural risks. We include in this category any concrete structure addressing these functions, such as dams, dykes, water towers, tanks and so on. Their management requires specialist expertise that takes into account geological conditions, environmental regulations and community needs.
To ensure effective infrastructure management in the construction sector, it is essential to follow certain best practices:
It is crucial to define a clear vision and methods for monitoring structures: scheduling of inspection cycles, scoring (own or according to a standard).
Infrastructure management often involves collaboration between different stakeholders, such as construction companies, public authorities, engineers and architects. Close coordination and effective communication between these stakeholders are essential to ensure the coherence of projects and the achievement of shared objectives.
New technologies such as 3D modelling, virtual reality, geographic information management systems (GIS) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) can greatly facilitate the design, construction and management of infrastructure. Using these tools can improve efficiency, reduce errors, minimise costs and facilitate long-term maintenance.
It is essential to put in place a regular preventive maintenance programme to detect and correct issues before they become critical. This avoids service interruptions, extends the life of the infrastructure and reduces repair costs.
Infrastructure management is a complex field that encompasses several types of infrastructure, such as buildings, network infrastructure, engineering structures and hydraulic structures. Infrastructure management involves several management stages. Attention must also be paid to safety standards and the sustainability of infrastructures.
