Asset management

This Resource Guide is an updated version of Chapter 3 from 2016-34A. In order to successfully maintain and manage the County’s roadway system, county engineers need to be aware of the myriad of decision-making resources available, and how to apply these resources to maximize returns on their investment. Numerous tools and resources exist to aid local agencies in managing their roadways. While some are very well known and widely used, others have not been implemented or are not being used to their full potential. The objective of this chapter is to present a compilation of key decision-making tools that can assist practitioners to make the best decisions possible concerning the maintenance of their transportation network. The following 11 methods, tools, database, etc., were identified as effective resources by the pilot county engineers: • Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) Data • Pavement Condition Data • MnDOT Pathway Services Pathweb Viewer Application (Pathweb) • Pavement (or Asset) Management System • Traffic Data and Forecasting • MnDOT Needs Database/Spreadsheets • Geographical Information Systems (GIS): Base Maps and Data Sets • Minnesota Crash Mapping Analysis Tool 2 (MnCMAT2) • Transportation Plans • Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UPGTI) Geographic Roadway Inventory Tool (GRIT) • Best Practices: Managing Interaction between Local Authorities and Major Traffic Generators • Summary NOTE: A spreadsheet tool is available as an Excel macro file and may be accessed from https://edocs-public.dot.state.mn.us/edocs_public/DMResultSet/download?docId=29248580

This Implementation Summary pertains to report 2022-26, Building 360 Scanning and Reality Modeling.

The ability to collect and utilize large amounts of data is transforming our world. Industries like healthcare, finance, energy, communication, and transportation are finding ways to utilize data to improve people’s lives. Processing software and inspection-specific asset management platforms are giving asset owners the ability to utilize this data to accelerate their ability to effectively manage these important assets. The Building Services Section (BSS) owns and operates over 900 individual buildings at over 250 sites throughout Minnesota. BSS explored ways to collect and process as-built data for their sites and buildings with imaging and scanning technology. The data was collected with spherical cameras, handheld cameras, laser scanners, and drones. This research demonstrates the significant advantages of implementing building and site scanning and shows that the technology has many benefits. This research project identified scanning technologies, processing, and data storage options and documented these workflows. The cost information was analyzed to determine which technologies are cost-effective and how new technologies compare to existing methods.

MnDOT is interested in the expected service lives of traffic signals, roadway lighting and overhead sign structures; preventive maintenance and inspection activities and schedules; cost–benefits associated with preventive maintenance and inspection strategies; and the criteria used to determine asset replacement. This Transportation Research Synthesis presents findings from a survey of select transportation agencies and a literature search of relevant national and state practices, research and guidance.

The Building Services Section (BSS) owns and operates 888 individual buildings at 269 sites throughout Minnesota. BSS is exploring ways collect, process and communicate as-built data for their sites and buildings with imaging and scanning technology. This Transportation Research Synthesis documents the state of the industry and identifies previous research and implementation regarding 360-degree point cloud and reality modeling technology for building management.

To assist with developing a standardized scoping methodology to use for building facilities such as truck stations, salt sheds, warm storage, cold storage and future district headquarters, CTC & Associates conducted a literature search for documentation of scoping methodologies used by other organizations.

The Minnesota Local Road Research Board (LRRB) is interested in increasing the awareness of cities and counties as to the importance of asset management and providing guidance to them about best practices for developing asset management plans, systems and software. The purpose of this Transportation Research Synthesis was to support this effort by conducting a literature review, consulting with national practitioners and interviewing representatives at local agencies about their practices.

CTC & Associates conducted a survey of transportation agencies and a literature search to identify management practices associated with ancillary pavements (shoulders, ramps, turn lanes, frontage roads, crossover pavements, rest area pavements, and weigh station pavements).

CTC & Associates conducted a literature search and interviews with practitioners concerning their retaining wall asset management programs. While most transportation agency retaining wall asset management programs are in their beginning stages, CTC & Associates found a significant amount of useful guidance about developing such a program. Particularly important is the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA's) recent inventory of 3,500 walls for the National Park Service (NPS) (and the related guidance, Retaining Wall Inventory and Condition Assessment Program (WIP) in National Resources).

This application was developed to expand a low-cost asset inventory program called Geographic Roadway Inventory Tool (GRIT) to include roadway forecasting based on the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) 93 model with inventory; pavement condition; and traffic forecasting data. Existing input data from GRIT such as pavement thickness; roadway structural information; and construction planning information will be spatially combined with current MnDOT Pathway pavement condition and traffic data to automatically forecast the future condition and age of roadways using the AASHTO 93 model. This forecasting model will allow roadway managers to use this information with comprehensive geographic information system (GIS) web maps to prioritize roadways in their construction schedules or multi-year plans.