Infrastructure Asset Management THEMED ISSUE

Dr. Vikram Pakrashi running a themed issue for ICE- Infrastructure Asset Management journal on ‘Quality Specification and Standardization of Bridge Infrastructure: Experiences, Challenges and Future Directions’.

During the implementation of asset management strategies for built infrastructure, maintenance actions are required to keep assets at a desired performance level. In case of roadway bridges, specific performance indicators (qualitative/quantitative) are established for their components typically through visual examination, nondestructive testing or a temporary or permanent monitoring system. The indicators are usually compared with performance goals to evaluate if the quality control plan is accomplished, which consequently drives asset management decisions. Bridge asset management often belong to the domain of public service and the management mechanism can be conducted by the state or under a private–public partnership. In all such cases, there is an increasing need of developing strategies to ensure the quality of the entire system, with the aim of reducing the risk of unexpected costs for the entire stock of bridges managed. Some of the main outcomes from the correct
implementation of strategies for roadway bridges management include improved safety, user satisfaction, quality of provided service, performance, return of investment and risk management.
An efficient transportation network is essential for the modern society from the economic, societal and environmental point of view. The challenge of maintaining degrading bridge stocks efficiently in the presence of constrained funds and resources has been a long-standing problem worldwide. However, new technologies, computational advances and data-driven strategies for maintenance now provide an
opportunity to evolve to a different paradigm of managing such infrastructure in a more efficient manner and addressing current and future needs. There is a need to understand the experiences and  challenges of managing bridge infrastructure stocks from a scientific, technical and implementation point of view to establish what future direction will be. Infrastructure Asset Management is calling for a themed issue on quality specification and standardisation of bridge infrastructure to understand, shape, plan and manage the current and future needs of such infrastructure assets. Priority will be given to papers containing insights and information around exiting bridge stocks and networks with real data and rigorous technical analyses.

Examples of relevant subjects include, but are not limited to:

• Data and analysis from bridges at a network level
• Analysis around indicators of asset management
• Demonstrative integration of and challenges around data-driven management
• Demonstrative examples, challenges and case studies around standardisation
• Methods for adapting to current and future challenges for bridge asset management
• Integration of technology and data for recommendations and guidelines
• Demonstrative examples of policies and frameworks for better managed bridge infrastructure

The deadline for abstracts is 15th June 2018. The deadline for submissions is 15th September 2018.

To submit your abstract online, please visit
https://tinyurl.com/IASMA-Pakrashi-et-al
To request further information, please contact
Kirsten Buchanan T: +44 20 7665 2204
E: kirsten.buchanan@icepublishing.com
For more information about the journal, visit:
http://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/journal/jinam

Champions: Vikram Pakrashi, WG5 Leader, COST Action TU1406, Director, Dynamical Systems and Risk Laboratory, School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University College Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Jose C. Matos, Chairman, COST Action TU1406, Minho University, Portugal; Helmut Wenzel, Vice-Leader, Working Group 5, COST Action TU1406, Vienna Consulting Engineers , Austria
Editor-in-Chief: Arun Kumar, Emeritus Professor, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia