Software Promotes Software Promotes ConsistencyConsistency and and FlexibilityFlexibility for Treatment Plant for Treatment Plant Asset Inventory and AssessmentAsset Inventory and AssessmentAWWA/WEFAWWA/WEFInformation Management & Technology ConferenceInformation Management & Technology ConferenceSanta Clara, CaliforniaSanta Clara, CaliforniaApril 28, 2003April 28, 2003

Jon G. Spangenberg, P.E.Jon G. Spangenberg, P.E.

The Problem…The Problem… Aging treatment facilityAging treatment facility Outdated inventory recordsOutdated inventory records Obsolete computer systemsObsolete computer systems Increasingly stringent regulationsIncreasingly stringent regulations Need to do more will less…money Need to do more will less…money

and staffand staff

The Solution…Asset ManagementThe Solution…Asset Management Leverages technologyLeverages technology Helps optimize use of resourcesHelps optimize use of resources

Many ways to approach asset Many ways to approach asset management, but most management, but most startstart with… with…

Data

Asset InventoryAsset Inventory

Condition AssessmentCondition Assessment

Key elementsKey elements of useful data: of useful data:

ConsistencyConsistency…… In asset In asset

categorizationcategorization In assessment of In assessment of

conditioncondition In level of detailIn level of detail In data enteredIn data entered

FlexibilityFlexibility…… To allow in-field To allow in-field

experts to make experts to make decisionsdecisions

To facilitate reporting To facilitate reporting and analysis and analysis

Cross-referencingCross-referencing

Case StudyCase Study: New York City DEP: New York City DEPNorth River Water Pollution Control PlantNorth River Water Pollution Control Plant

170-MGD plant170-MGD plant Located in NW Manhattan Located in NW Manhattan

– over the Hudson River– over the Hudson River Construction began in Construction began in

19721972 Numerous modifications Numerous modifications

sincesince Much original equipment Much original equipment

still in servicestill in service Time for a thorough Time for a thorough

evaluationevaluation

Familiar approach…new purposeFamiliar approach…new purpose

Plan

Design

Build

Deploy

Identify the output required from an inventory and assessment tool

Determine asset hierarchy and categories, then mock up input screens

Develop and test application

Train facility inspectors and roll out application in field

Start with the end in mindStart with the end in mind

The The resultsresults of the inventory and assessment of the inventory and assessment were to be presented in were to be presented in reportreport form form

Careful thought was given to how the assets Careful thought was given to how the assets would logically be would logically be groupedgrouped

Yet, exact format of the report was yet Yet, exact format of the report was yet to be to be determineddetermined

Plan

Flexibility Needed

Early Planning for ReportEarly Planning for Report

Develop application Develop application specificationsspecifications

An An asset hierarchyasset hierarchy was developed was developed

A relational A relational database designdatabase design was developed was developed around the asset hierarchyaround the asset hierarchy

A A functional specificationfunctional specification was developed, was developed, detailing the user interface and work flowdetailing the user interface and work flow

Flexibility Designed In

Design

Excerpt from functional specificationExcerpt from functional specification

List of disciplines and asset typesList of disciplines and asset types

Key data common to all inspectionsKey data common to all inspections

From drawing board to From drawing board to functioning applicationfunctioning application

Microsoft AccessMicrosoft Access®® used as platform for used as platform for database and user interfacedatabase and user interface

Business logic embedded into application Business logic embedded into application using Visual Basic for Applications using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)(VBA)

Liberal use of Liberal use of pick listspick lists with selective with selective add add newnew buttons buttons

Emphasis on Consistency & Flexibility

Build

A typical pick list implementationA typical pick list implementation

Select only from list

Implementation of an ‘add new’ buttonImplementation of an ‘add new’ button

Put it into practicePut it into practice

Dozens of Dozens of inspectors trainedinspectors trained on proper use on proper use of formsof forms

Data entryData entry was restricted to selected staff to was restricted to selected staff to promote promote consistencyconsistency

Selected staff permitted to amend Selected staff permitted to amend valid valid valuesvalues lists in the field, allowing lists in the field, allowing flexibilityflexibility

Flexibility & Consistency Achieved

Deploy

Sound approach = positive resultsSound approach = positive results

Efficient, Efficient, flexibleflexible data entry data entry processprocess

A A consistentconsistent data set data set A A central repositorycentral repository for inventory for inventory

and assessment dataand assessment data Simple cross-discipline Simple cross-discipline queriesqueries ReportsReports that fed directly into the that fed directly into the

facility evaluation reportfacility evaluation report Solid foundationSolid foundation on which to build on which to build

further asset management toolsfurther asset management tools

Plan

Design

Build

Deploy

Questions?Questions?

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