The second day of the 2022 RIMS Forum, was full of fantastic technical, strategic and tactical presentations. With three streams of presentations, there was plenty to choose from for all interests, as well as practical tips on how we can all reduce our Carbon Footprints on a day to day basis!
Thank you to our keynotes, presenters, sponsors and exhibitors for everything shared on the second day of the forum!
Suzanne Watt, Downer, shared a brief history of our knowledge of Global Warming, including its first mention in 1896 by Svante Arrhenius. This year, Earth Overshoot Day landed on 28 July 2022 – conveniently at our Forum – what can we do as individuals to make only positive impacts, change our behaviour and move Earth Overshoot Day closer to the end of the year.
Our Tactical, Strategic and Optimised Decision Making streams then allowed everyone to take a deep dive into their themes of choice, looking at tactical and strategic asset management and optimised decision making. These concurrent sessions allowed those working in the industry to share their projects, successes and challenges and enabled questions and discussions around the subjects. From pavement markings, to Artificial Intelligence, and from the modelling of maintenance costs to addressing why it’s so hard to create real change, our streams took a deep and real dive into the work taking place across the Roading Infrastructure Management Industry.
In the afternoon of our second day, we heard from the industry about the guidelines, frameworks and projects taking place to advance the sector in asset management.
Tony Lange, Waka Kotahi, shared how REG are establishing means to consistently collecting condition data in order to better support lifecycle asset management, benchmarking, performance management, and investment decision making. The quality and consistency of this data is crucial for evidence based investment management as well as reducing our carbon footprints.
Elke Beca, WSP, introduced the release of AMDS, the Asset Management Data Standard, which will create a national shared data standard. The standard will be introduced in tranches across Aotearoa, with support provided by Waka Kotahi.
Shahaanan Arulgnanapragasam, WSP, highlighted how currently there is no sector standard for talking about footpaths in Aotearoa. He shared an overview of the RIMS Pavement and Pathways Fault Assessment standard to update the sector on the future of data collection. Currently, all state highways and local authorities specify their own requirements, meaning there is no consistency. The Pavement and Pathways Fault Assessment standard is a RIMS Special Interest Group project.
Caroline Dumas, Waka Kotahi, provided a detailed overview of the One Network Framework, including the work to date and the next steps. The Framework will be used to determine the function of our roads and streets, and to help inform decision making for the 2024/2027 National Land Transport Programme.
Dr Ian Greenwood, Greenwood Associates Infrastructure Consultants, gave us an overview of the new hollistic approach from banks across the world, and how they’re no longer funding projects misaligned with Climate Change targets. Whilst there are many models and frameworks in place in New Zealand, they are not all consistent. For example, in some, vehicles manufactured overseas and imported into Aotearoa are not reported on in New Zealand. He asked the hard question, of why do we continue to invest in projects that we know are misaligned.
Roger Brady and Jeremy Hughes, Waka Kotahi and Company-X, concluded day two with a look into the capabilities of people to transform the Roading Infrastructure Management sector. As individuals, our values and world views are based on our experiences. This means we can each bring a unique view to the task at hand. The launch of the Asset Management Competency Framework can help the transport sector contribute to the Government’s carbon neutrality goal by raising competencies and efficiency in the sector. Its introduction will lead to improved evidence-based decision making.
