Standard data models for interoperability of municipal infrastructure asset management systems

Abstract

Efficient management of infrastructure assets depends largely on the ability to efficiently share, exchange, and manage asset life-cycle information. Although software tools are used to support almost every asset management process in municipalities, data exchange is mainly performed using paper-based or neutral file formats based on ad hoc proprietary data models. Interoperability of various asset management systems is crucial to support better management of infrastructure data and to improve the information flow between various work processes. Standard data models can be used to significantly improve the availability and consistency of asset data across different software systems, to integrate data across various disciplines, and to exchange information between various stakeholders. This paper surveys a number of data standards that might be used in implementing interoperable and integrated infrastructure asset management systems. The main requirements for standard data models are outlined, and the importance of interoperability from an asset management perspective is highlighted. The role that spatial data and geographic information systems (GIS) can play in enhancing the efficiency of managing asset life-cycle data is also discussed. An ongoing effort to develop a standard data model for sewer systems is presented, and an example implementation of interoperable GIS and hydraulic modeling software is discussed.Key words: data standards, municipal infrastructure, asset management, data models, interoperability.