Richard Taylor, Thomas Civil & Environmental Consultants h PWC’15 - September 2015 Challenges to Asset Management in the Pacific

GOOD DECISION MAKING ANALYSIS GOOD INFORMATION / DATA Asset Management – The Big Picture

What are some key aspects of Asset Management? An asset inventory The location of the assets The condition of the assets The performance of the assets

Let’s look at these key aspects Asset Inventory and Location of Assets A Geographic Information System (GIS) is great at recording assets and their location A person is required to operate it Good data is needed to populate it

Challenge #1 – The Location of Assets In New Zealand – land parcels, street names, street numbers, good aerials, survey markers, surveyors

Challenge #1 – The Location of Assets In the islands, in urban areas – not all streets have names, generally no street numbers, no letter boxes. Some survey markers. Surveyors? ………. but aerial photos are available

Challenge #1 – The Location of Assets In the rural areas – there are villages, communal land (no land parcels, no addresses), two roads with the same name. Not easy! Cross Island Road … but aerial photos are available Cross Island Road

Challenge #1 – The Location of Assets What can you do? Use aerial photos Use satellites (GPS) Use the great cell phone coverage Use technology

Live Updating of the GIS (at SWA)

Challenge #1 – The Location of Assets A different approach is needed The use of GPS has been a real success at SWA – to locate key assets, pipelines, meters, take photos, record information There are great opportunities to use smart phones, tablets, software and applications to identify and locate the position of assets

What are some key aspects of Asset Management? An asset inventory The location of the assets The condition of the assets The performance of the assets

Challenge #2 – Collecting Information For continuous improvement of the GIS – confirming pipe sizes, location & material etc. To record asset changes - i.e. new pumps, PRV changes, new watermain details etc. To record asset faults & condition To record asset performance

Challenge #2 – Collecting Information This form is for use when working on the water supply network – to confirm pipe size, material, and record asset condition- to be recorded on the GIS afterwards

Challenge #2 – Collecting Information This form is for recording a pump unit change – location and details of the new pump, for later entry into the GIS or database Are forms going to work in the islands?

Challenge #2 – Collecting Information Maybe we ‘jump’ the paper cycle and go to mobile phone / tablet technology?

Challenge #2 – Collecting Information

Challenge #3 – Using the Information Start simply Develop some basic reports from GIS which are useful for planning purposes i.e. identify watermains needing to be replaced

Challenge #3 – Using the Information Start by developing a basic ‘Asset Management Plan’ to include sections on: - Levels of Service (generally existing) - Demand Forecast (use historical data & pop. trends) - Asset Register including condition (generally ex GIS) - Asset Capacity and Performance (report what’s known) - Life Cycle Management (document existing policies) - Maintenance (document existing procedures) - Renewals and Upgrading (document exist. programmes and why) - Risk and Criticality (start with a basic assessment) - Valuation and Financial Forecasts - Improvement Programme

Challenge #4 – Some very challenging physical factors Volcanic rock

Challenge #4 – Some very challenging physical factors Climate Change / sea level rise, cyclones

Challenge #5 – People Staff turnover? – how can you keep hold of staff who can learn and lead in asset management?  Long term contracts / permanent positions  Long service leave  Rewards, incentives

Let’s step back and look at some of the key issues What is holding up Asset Management? 1. The Utility’s Financial Situation? Probably – like our personal lives Struggling? Live day-to-day, reactive Better off? Can save and plan for the future, look after what you already have

Lets step back and look at the big issues What is holding up Asset Management? (2) 2. People? I don’t think so. 3. Organizational Culture? Resistance to change? No aspirations for long term planning? Innovation is not valued? Maybe?

To Summarise An Asset Management Plan (AMP) is a key planning document. It explains what we do and why. It also deals with criticality and risk There certainly are challenges but they are not insurmountable Start with the GIS, build information, start an Asset Management Plan, and start planning the future

Thank you Any questions?