INFRASTRUCTURE ASSET MANAGEMENT - 2020/1

Module Overview

This module provides an overview of the management of infrastructure assets both at individual as well as network/system level. It introduces the concepts, theory and methods for infrastructure asset management through utilisation of a whole-life framework. It covers asset management frameworks, risk management and asset performance modelling towards the development of maintenance strategies for infrastructure assets. Case study examples from different infrastructure sectors are reviewed. 

Module provider

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Module Leader

IMAM Boulent (Civl Env Eng)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

JACs code: K421

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Normal entry requirements for a degree course in Civil Engineering

Module content

• Introduction to Asset Management

Definitions, drivers, key questions; State of the Nation reports; Examples of infrastructure assets; Key principles, benefits of asset management; Overview of BS ISO 55000/1/2 guidelines

• Asset Management Framework

Asset Management System; Asset management policies, strategies, plans; examples from different organisations; Elements of Asset Management System

• Whole-life Analysis of Infrastructure Assets

Whole-life framework, asset life-cycles; Whole-life vs life-cycle costs; Deterioration of assets; Maintenance strategies

• Risk in Infrastructure Asset Management

Definitions, sources, categories, importance of risk; Principles of risk management; methodology; Quantifying risk, risk-based decision making; Decision trees; fault/event tree analysis; Risk acceptance; Case studies in infrastructure

• Performance Frameworks                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Overview of performance frameworks; Performance vs condition of assets, performance modelling, deterioration models; Performance indicator examples; performance/ condition targets; Asset management system performance evaluation; Operational management of assets

• Case Studies                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Case studies on the application of asset management principles and frameworks from different infrastructure sectors

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

None.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

• Knowledge and understanding of infrastructure asset management concepts and frameworks, the principles of whole-life analysis and the differences between project- and network-level decisions through a 2-hour unseen examination (LO 2,3,4,5,6)


• Ability to model performance of infrastructure assets and assess how it affects the optimisation of decision-making utilising a risk-based framework through coursework and unseen examination (LO’s 1,3,4,5)

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

·         Examination [Learning outcomes assessed 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] (2 hours) {75%}

·         Coursework on infrastructure asset management case study [Learning outcomes assessed 3, 4, 5, a, b, c, d, e] (30 hours) {25%}

Formative assessment and feedback

Formative assessment will be through written feedback on the submitted coursework and through discussion exercises on SurreyLearn 

Module aims

• Introduce the basic principles of infrastructure asset management and the organisational frameworks available for this purpose.
• Discuss the range of decision-support tools which are available to infrastructure asset owners and their agents/consultants and the different levels of asset management strategies.
• Provide an overview of performance modelling on infrastructure assets, both at individual project and network level, and describe the effect of deterioration and maintenance interventions on asset performance.
• Highlight the importance of risk management towards decision-making in infrastructure asset management.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

This compulsory module provides the necessary background required for the purposes of the efficient management of infrastructure assets considering their entire life cycle.

The module is principally delivered by 3-hour lectures/seminars by academic staff as well as invited visiting speakers from different infrastructure sectors.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures/Seminars (33 hours)


• Independent learning (including directed reading) (115 hours)


• Exam (2 Hours)

 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

Reading list for INFRASTRUCTURE ASSET MANAGEMENT : http://aspire.surrey.ac.uk/modules/engm266

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.