On Thursday 24 October 2024 we were hosted by WSP at their new offices in Britomart in Auckland. Our Northern Branch Chair Pavarti Patel from Hamilton City Council MC’ed and helped manage the flow of the event.
This event had a transport focus and there was good representation and engagement from NZTA/Waka Kotahi, Auckland Transport and the Auckland System Management (ASM) alliance. There were common themes of the value of data in effective asset management, how it supports good decision making, the value in collaboration between clients, consultants and contractors plus how data gets used to support them and the importance and value of people in everything we do.
Our three presenters were:
Farzam Farzadi, Technical Director – Digital Engineering Advisory, Beca
Application of Digital Engineering in the Transport and Infrastructure Sector.
Farzam talked to digital engineering and its value and importance in asset management. Digital Engineering is all about creating and managing information to enhance decision-making.
He used the Kā Huanui a Tāhuna project in Queenstown as a practical example of the impact this can have. Risks we captured as early in the development as possible and live checking of assets and regular cross discipline meetings led to an estimate of about 50% of data wrong. These meetings lead to agile responses to issues, for example 150+ critical issues were identified and dealt with.
Dashboard reporting with colour coding kept the data accessible for multiple parties. There is an estimated 10% reduction in costs when issues are dealt with during the project rather than tracked and dealt with later.
David Withers, Service Line Leader, WSP
Asset Management in Alliancing: ASM and WTA
David continued the themes of roading and asset information. David is the Structural Asset Manager for ASM (Auckland System Management) which looks after the state highway motorway network and is a collaboration between WSP, NZTA, Fulton Hogan and HEB Construction.
The ASM places a high value on asset data and uses it to drive quick assessment and resolution. Similar to the Kā Huanui a Tāhuna project in Queenstown, the ASM brings together data and people in a collaboration which leads to quicker decision making, stronger bonds and engagement for everyone involved and a greater flexibility.
The ASM has a growing focus on applying the ISO 55001 standards and a consistency across assets.
Eric Singh – Hamilton City Council
Importance of Data Quality
Eric continued to talk to the importance of asset data. He stressed the importance of getting the basics right and to ensure you know who needs the data, what do you need it for and to work out your must-haves and nice-to-haves. From Mark Twain: “Data is like garbage. You’d better know what you are going to do with it before you collect it.” As well as data Eric stressed the importance of people. Data is still people driven. You will have staff turnover, change in systems, process, etc. Train people that are productive, look after them that they don’t leave.
Thanks to event sponsors WSP for a great spread, a selection of drinks and most importantly the opportunity for the attendees to network and discuss the presentations and subjects covered.
