Road Asset Management: Innovative Approaches

Abstract

Maintenance and management of road assets is a crucial factor when it comes to making strategic decisions aimed at achieving optimal and sustainable conservation of the network. While it is widely acknowledged that digitalization and smart data analysis of different processes is on the rise, the Road asset management field is no stranger to this matter. As a case in point of the latter, some of the latest innovations include the collection of real time data using smart sensors, intended to optimize the management of asset’s risk of failure. This type of innovative approaches has proved to be highly effective when implemented in the Federal Roads Network of the United Arab Emirates, where real time data of traffic, flood monitoring systems, and environmental parameters are being constantly collected.

Under the project “Supply of technical assistance in the Civil Engineering field for the Assets and Roads Management Systems” and the consultancy services of the Spanish company Rauros Management Consultants, several smart sensors have been installed in strategic and critical locations in order to analyze the evolution of the parameters and ultimately, serve as a baseline for decisions to be made based on the immediate risks and conditions the Road Network may face. Following a strict communication protocol and data synchronization with the expert management system ICARO (developed by Rauros), the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has achieved an exceptional level of standards, ranking in the highest positions worldwide in Road Asset Management development and innovation.