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NATIONAL
NCHRP
REPORT 545
COOPERATIVE
HIGHWAY
RESEARCH
PROGRAM
Analytical Tools for
Asset Management
OCR for page R2
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2005 (Membership as of June 2005)
OFFICERS
Chair: John R. Njord, Executive Director, Utah DOT
Vice Chair: Michael D. Meyer, Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
Executive Director: Robert E. Skinner, Jr., Transportation Research Board
MEMBERS
MICHAEL W. BEHRENS, Executive Director, Texas DOT
ALLEN D. BIEHLER, Secretary, Pennsylvania DOT
LARRY L. BROWN, SR., Executive Director, Mississippi DOT
DEBORAH H. BUTLER, Vice President, Customer Service, Norfolk Southern Corporation and Subsidiaries, Atlanta, GA
ANNE P. CANBY, President, Surface Transportation Policy Project, Washington, DC
JOHN L. CRAIG, Director, Nebraska Department of Roads
DOUGLAS G. DUNCAN, President and CEO, FedEx Freight, Memphis, TN
NICHOLAS J. GARBER, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
ANGELA GITTENS, Consultant, Miami, FL
GENEVIEVE GIULIANO, Director, Metrans Transportation Center, and Professor, School of Policy, Planning, and Development,
USC, Los Angeles
BERNARD S. GROSECLOSE, JR., President and CEO, South Carolina State Ports Authority
SUSAN HANSON, Landry University Professor of Geography, Graduate School of Geography, Clark University
JAMES R. HERTWIG, President, CSX Intermodal, Jacksonville, FL
GLORIA J. JEFF, Director, Michigan DOT
ADIB K. KANAFANI, Cahill Professor of Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
HERBERT S. LEVINSON, Principal, Herbert S. Levinson Transportation Consultant, New Haven, CT
SUE MCNEIL, Director and Professor, Urban Transportation Center, University of Illinois, Chicago
MICHAEL MORRIS, Director of Transportation, North Central Texas Council of Governments
CAROL A. MURRAY, Commissioner, New Hampshire DOT
PHILIP A. SHUCET, Commissioner, Virginia DOT
MICHAEL S. TOWNES, President and CEO, Hampton Roads Transit, Hampton, VA
C. MICHAEL WALTON, Ernest H. Cockrell Centennial Chair in Engineering, University of Texas, Austin
LINDA S. WATSON, Executive Director, LYNX--Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority
MARION C. BLAKEY, Federal Aviation Administrator, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
JOSEPH H. BOARDMAN, Federal Railroad Administrator, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
REBECCA M. BREWSTER, President and COO, American Transportation Research Institute, Smyrna, GA (ex officio)
GEORGE BUGLIARELLO, Chancellor, Polytechnic University, and Foreign Secretary, National Academy of Engineering (ex officio)
THOMAS H. COLLINS (Adm., U.S. Coast Guard), Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard (ex officio)
JENNIFER L. DORN, Federal Transit Administrator, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
JAMES J. EBERHARDT, Chief Scientist, Office of FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies, U.S. Department of Energy (ex officio)
STACEY L. GERARD, Acting Deputy Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
EDWARD R. HAMBERGER, President and CEO, Association of American Railroads (ex officio)
JOHN C. HORSLEY, Executive Director, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (ex officio)
EDWARD JOHNSON, Director, Applied Science Directorate, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (ex officio)
RICK KOWALEWSKI, Deputy Director, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
WILLIAM W. MILLAR, President, American Public Transportation Association (ex officio)
MARY E. PETERS, Federal Highway Administrator, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
ERIC C. PETERSON, Deputy Administrator, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
SUZANNE RUDZINSKI, Director, Transportation and Regional Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (ex officio)
JEFFREY W. RUNGE, National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
ANNETTE M. SANDBERG, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
WILLIAM G. SCHUBERT, Maritime Administrator, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
JEFFREY N. SHANE, Under Secretary for Policy, U.S.DOT (ex officio)
CARL A. STROCK (Maj. Gen., U.S. Army), Chief of Engineers and Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ex officio)
NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM
Transportation Research Board Executive Committee Subcommittee for NCHRP
JOSEPH H. BOARDMAN, New York State DOT (Chair) MARY E. PETERS, Federal Highway Administration
JOHN C. HORSLEY, American Association of State Highway ROBERT E. SKINNER, JR., Transportation Research Board
and Transportation Officials MICHAEL S. TOWNES, Hampton Roads Transit, Hampton, VA
MICHAEL D. MEYER, Georgia Institute of Technology C. MICHAEL WALTON, University of Texas, Austin
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NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM
NCHRP REPORT 545
Analytical Tools for
Asset Management
CAMBRIDGE SYSTEMATICS, INC.
Cambridge, MA
PB CONSULT
Washington, DC
SYSTEM METRICS GROUP, INC.
San Francisco, CA
S UBJECT A REAS
Planning and Administration · Pavement Design, Management, and Performance · Bridges, Other Structures,
Hydraulics and Hydrology
Research Sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
in Cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD
WASHINGTON, D.C.
2005
www.TRB.org
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NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH NCHRP REPORT 545
PROGRAM
Systematic, well-designed research provides the most effective Project 20-57
approach to the solution of many problems facing highway
administrators and engineers. Often, highway problems are of local ISSN 0077-5614
interest and can best be studied by highway departments ISBN 0-309-08832-1
individually or in cooperation with their state universities and
Library of Congress Control Number 2005929325
others. However, the accelerating growth of highway transportation
develops increasingly complex problems of wide interest to © 2005 Transportation Research Board
highway authorities. These problems are best studied through a
coordinated program of cooperative research. Price $31.00
In recognition of these needs, the highway administrators of the
American Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials initiated in 1962 an objective national highway research
program employing modern scientific techniques. This program is
supported on a continuing basis by funds from participating
member states of the Association and it receives the full cooperation
and support of the Federal Highway Administration, United States NOTICE
Department of Transportation.
The project that is the subject of this report was a part of the National Cooperative
The Transportation Research Board of the National Academies
Highway Research Program conducted by the Transportation Research Board with the
was requested by the Association to administer the research
approval of the Governing Board of the National Research Council. Such approval
program because of the Board's recognized objectivity and reflects the Governing Board's judgment that the program concerned is of national
understanding of modern research practices. The Board is uniquely importance and appropriate with respect to both the purposes and resources of the
suited for this purpose as it maintains an extensive committee National Research Council.
structure from which authorities on any highway transportation
The members of the technical committee selected to monitor this project and to review
subject may be drawn; it possesses avenues of communications and
this report were chosen for recognized scholarly competence and with due
cooperation with federal, state and local governmental agencies, consideration for the balance of disciplines appropriate to the project. The opinions and
universities, and industry; its relationship to the National Research conclusions expressed or implied are those of the research agency that performed the
Council is an insurance of objectivity; it maintains a full-time research, and, while they have been accepted as appropriate by the technical committee,
research correlation staff of specialists in highway transportation they are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board, the National
matters to bring the findings of research directly to those who are in Research Council, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation
a position to use them. Officials, or the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.
The program is developed on the basis of research needs Each report is reviewed and accepted for publication by the technical committee
identified by chief administrators of the highway and transportation according to procedures established and monitored by the Transportation Research
departments and by committees of AASHTO. Each year, specific Board Executive Committee and the Governing Board of the National Research
areas of research needs to be included in the program are proposed Council.
to the National Research Council and the Board by the American
Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
Research projects to fulfill these needs are defined by the Board, and
qualified research agencies are selected from those that have
submitted proposals. Administration and surveillance of research
contracts are the responsibilities of the National Research Council
and the Transportation Research Board. Published reports of the
The needs for highway research are many, and the National
NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM
Cooperative Highway Research Program can make significant
contributions to the solution of highway transportation problems of are available from:
mutual concern to many responsible groups. The program,
however, is intended to complement rather than to substitute for or Transportation Research Board
duplicate other highway research programs. Business Office
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
and can be ordered through the Internet at:
Note: The Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, the
National Research Council, the Federal Highway Administration, the American
Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the individual
http://www.national-academies.org/trb/bookstore
states participating in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program do
not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers' names appear
herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of this report. Printed in the United States of America
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The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished schol-
ars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology
and to their use for the general welfare. On the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in
1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and techni-
cal matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Acad-
emy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration
and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for
advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs
aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achieve-
ments of engineers. Dr. William A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the
services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining
to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of
Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, on its own initiative,
to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the
Institute of Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate
the broad community of science and technology with the Academy's purposes of furthering knowledge and
advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Acad-
emy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences
and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the
scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both the Academies and
the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. William A. Wulf are chair and vice chair,
respectively, of the National Research Council.
The Transportation Research Board is a division of the National Research Council, which serves the
National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering. The Board's mission is to promote
innovation and progress in transportation through research. In an objective and interdisciplinary setting,
the Board facilitates the sharing of information on transportation practice and policy by researchers and
practitioners; stimulates research and offers research management services that promote technical
excellence; provides expert advice on transportation policy and programs; and disseminates research
results broadly and encourages their implementation. The Board's varied activities annually engage more
than 5,000 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and
private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest. The program is
supported by state transportation departments, federal agencies including the component administrations of
the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individuals interested in the
development of transportation. www.TRB.org
www.national-academies.org
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COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMS STAFF FOR NCHRP REPORT 545
ROBERT J. REILLY, Director, Cooperative Research Programs
CRAWFORD F. JENCKS, Manager, NCHRP
CHRISTOPHER J. HEDGES, Senior Program Officer
EILEEN P. DELANEY, Director of Publications
HILARY FREER, Editor
NATALIE BARNES, Associate Editor
NCHRP PROJECT 20-57 PANEL
Field of Special Projects--Area of Planning and Administration
MARK J. WOLFGRAM, Wisconsin DOT (Chair)
MADELEINE BLOOM, Potomac, MD
CARL CHASE, JR., South Carolina DOT
DAVID S. EKERN, Idaho Transportation Department
CHARLES E. HOWARD, JR., Puget Sound Regional Council, Seattle, WA
SUE MCNEIL, Urban Transportation Center, University of Illinois - Chicago
LUISA PAIEWONSKY, Massachusetts Highway Department
JOHN J. SHUFON, New York State DOT
SANDRA STRAEHL, Montana DOT
STEVE TAKIGAWA, California DOT
ERIC GABLER, FHWA Liaison
JAN EDWARDS, AASHTO Liaison
THOMAS PALMERLEE, TRB Liaison
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This report presents two tools developed to support tradeoff analysis for trans-
FOREWORD portation asset management. These software tools and the accompanying documenta-
By Christopher J. Hedges tion are intended for state departments of transportation (DOTs) and other transporta-
Staff Officer tion agencies to help them improve their ability to identify, evaluate, and recommend
Transportation Research investment decisions for managing the agency's infrastructure assets. A gap analysis
Board conducted in the first phase of the study revealed that many existing asset management
systems are not being used to their full potential. A need was identified for tools that
could be integrated with existing systems to improve an agency's ability to analyze and
predict the impacts of investments at the network and program levels on overall sys-
tem performance. This report and software will be very useful tools for analysts and
decision-makers in three major functional areas within state DOTs: (1) policy, plan-
ning, and program development; (2) engineering (construction, maintenance, and oper-
ations); and (3) budget and finance.
Asset management is a business process that incorporates the economic assessment
of tradeoffs among alternative investment options to help make cost-effective invest-
ment decisions. Governments at the local, state, and federal levels are investing sig-
nificant sums of tax revenue in transportation infrastructure, and the public has a right
to expect that the investment will be well managed. Increased constraints on budget and
staff resources have created an environment where the efficient management of trans-
portation assets is even more critical. The advent of increasingly powerful computer
systems has made possible the development of sophisticated asset management sys-
tems to provide the information transportation agencies need to make the best use of
their investment.
Agencies wishing to improve asset management practice have been constrained by
the analytic limitations of their existing management systems. Current procedures in
planning, program development, and program delivery may not be geared to investi-
gation of the full range of investment options or to the analyses needed to compare and
conduct tradeoffs among alternatives. While initial steps may have already been taken
to define performance measures, agencies may lack the capability to conduct tradeoff
analysis for different investment levels.
Under NCHRP Project 20-57, "Analytic Tools Supporting Transportation Asset
Management," a research team led by Frances Harrison of Cambridge Systematics,
Inc., began with a gap analysis to determine how existing tools were being used and
what kinds of new tools were needed. This analysis included a review of the capabili-
ties and limitations of currently available asset management tools. Finally, the team
developed and field tested two analytical tools: AssetManager NT and AssetManager
PT. AssetManager NT is a tool to analyze the investment versus performance across
infrastructure categories in the highway mode over a 10- to 20-year timeframe. Asset-
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Manager PT is a tool to demonstrate the impacts of investment choices on a short-term
program of projects.
A companion CD-ROM included with this report contains the software tools and
User Guides. The initial release of AssetManager NT includes "robot" tools to produce
required inputs from the FHWA's Highway Economic Requirements System for State
Use (HERS/ST) program and the AASHTOWare Pontis bridge management system.
AssetManager PT was developed to the prototype stage as a proof-of-concept tool. The
report includes recommendations for future enhancements of the AssetManager tools
and for resource materials that could facilitate their implementation.
AssetManager NT and PT were designed to improve a transportation agency's
ability to identify, evaluate, and recommend investment decisions for managing the
agency's infrastructure assets. It is hoped that, over time, the tools will be adopted and
used by state transportation departments and further enhanced by AASHTO with sup-
port from its member agencies.
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CONTENTS 1 SUMMARY
3 SECTION 1 Introduction
1.1 Research Objectives, 3
1.2 Overview of the Research Approach, 4
1.3 Contents of Report, 8
9 SECTION 2 Needs Assessment
2.1 Objectives of the Needs Assessment, 9
2.2 Needs Assessment Methodology, 9
2.3 Literature Review, 11
2.4 State Interview Findings, 14
2.5 Exploratory Discussions, 21
23 SECTION 3 Review of Existing Tools
3.1 Objectives and Scope, 23
3.2 Review of Current Analytical Tools, 23
30 SECTION 4 Selection of Tools for Development
4.1 Gap Analysis, 30
4.2 Screening of Candidate Tool Concepts, 30
4.3 Selected Tool Concepts, 34
36 SECTION 5 Tool Descriptions
5.1 Overview, 36
5.2 AssetManager NT, 36
5.3 AssetManager PT, 42
49 SECTION 6 Testing Process
6.1 Initial Testing of Prototypes, 49
6.2 MDT Field Testing, 49
6.3 NYSDOT Field Testing, 52
55 SECTION 7 Recommended Future Initiatives
7.1 Overview, 55
7.2 Improvements to AssetManager NT, 55
7.3 Improvements to AssetManager PT, 56
7.4 Implementation Support for the AssetManager Tools, 57
7.5 Remaining Gaps in Analytical Tools for Asset Management, 58
60 SECTION 8 References
61 APPENDICES
