INFRASTRUCTURE ASSET MANAGEMENT - 2024/5

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

Sustainability, Civil & Env Engineering

Module Leader

IMAM Boulent (Sust & CEE)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

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

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:

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; Structural health monitoring.

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

 

This module is within core subject of Construction Management and covers the thread of Health and Safety Risk Management

 

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

None.

Assessment Strategy

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

• their knowledge and understanding of infrastructure asset management concepts and frameworks and perform risk-based, whole-life analysis of infrastructure assets for decision-making.


• their ability of the students to model performance of infrastructure assets under different conditions and to develop basic optimisation skills for maintenance planning.

 Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• coursework to assess the ability of students to perform whole-life maintenance planning of an infrastructure asset by using a real-world prototype digital analysis tool and critically evaluate the main factors that affect asset performance. 


• Exam covering topics from across the entire content delivered.

Formative assessment and feedback

Formative assessment will be through a range of self-study questions made available to the students and discussions in the weekly seminars and the discussion forums created in SurreyLearn on a weekly basis. Individual written and/or verbal feedback will be given on the coursework assignment.

Module aims

• Introduce the basic principles of infrastructure asset management and the organisational frameworks available for whole-life management of infrastructure assets.
• 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 whole-life performance modelling of 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:

• enable students to appreciate asset management principles both from an organisational viewpoint as well as from an individual asset/network perspective. 

• enable students to carry out whole-life analysis of assets, capturing their performance characteristics, and undertake a risk assessment within the context of whole-life asset management.

To achieve the above, the following learning and teaching methods will be used: captured content, seminars, guided learning, independent learning, and self-reflection. Specifically, the captured content introduces new concepts and techniques, provide illustrative examples, discuss case studies from various infrastructure sectors and explore applications. In seminars, students will be encouraged to be active participants in group discussions (including distance-learning students from abroad), enabling them to develop as informed, confident and engaged independent learners and reinforce and apply the module content. Students are expected to extend their reading beyond the core material and to make use of additional material provided to support each topic. Self-study questions developed for each topic will assist students towards reflective review in their independent learning and prompt them to think outside of the box. Formative feedback will be provided to students during these interactive seminar sessions.

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

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENGM266

Other information

Surrey's Curriculum Framework is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills and capabilities in the following areas:

Digital capabilities: In this module, students will develop an understanding of the role of information systems in asset management decision-marking. The coursework requires students to use a maintenance-planning prototype software tool for carrying out typical asset management analyses. As with all MSc modules, students are expected to engage with online material and resources via SurreyLearn and encouraged to communicate with one another through the discussion forums created and the self-study questions that have been developed for them, fostering a mutually supportive learning community.

Employability: Considering whole-life asset management and risk analysis for new and existing infrastructure projects is a necessary skill in industry towards realising the best value from such projects. Students are equipped with the skills to carry out whole-life calculations, both analytical as well through the use of a typical prototype software, and propose maintenance plans, which is a sought skill in industry for the management of existing infrastructure. The coursework assignment will expose the students to a real-life case study which will enable them to utilise their learning to solve real-life infrastructure asset management issues.  

Global and Cultural Capabilities: Students will review the ISO55000 standards, which is a set of International Standards that represent a global consensus on asset management and what it can do to increase value generated by all types of organisations. Hence the knowledge that will develop in this module will have a global reach. Cultural capabilities will be developed through facilitation of online discussions, through SurreyLearn, with distance-learning students abroad, The latter will also be enhanced through facilitating online discussions via SurreyLearn with distance-learning students from abroad promoting them to provide examples from their own experience and culture.  

Sustainability: The skills taught in the modules on how to perform whole-life analysis of assets by considering a wide range of risks, costs as well as performance, all contribute towards extending the operation and service life of existing infrastructure leading to a lower carbon footprint and more efficient resource utilisation. The lectures covering performance assessment include asset performance from the economic, environmental and social viewpoint, linking directly to sustainability principles.  

Resourcefulness and Resilience: Students are promoted to actively engage with in-class group discussions as well as through SurreyLearn discussion forums. In particular, through the brainstorming exercises held by visiting industry speakers, the range of different opinions obtained from the class and how these can evolve through mutual discussions is highlighted. Students are required to research literature, select appropriate information and data required for whole-life calculations independently and critically evaluate their findings. Successfully completing the coursework requires persistence to explore, through a trial and error process, different scenarios for proposing an optimum whole-life maintenance schedule for an infrastructure asset

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 2024/5 academic year.