No abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explain the mutually supportive relationship between building information modelling (BIM) and asset management. In doing so, it will enhance the ability of infrastructure owners and their suppliers to develop and implement processes, tools and collaborative working practices that optimise infrastructure asset costs and performance over the entire life cycle of assets. The paper has been produced to help mitigate the danger of treating BIM and asset management as isolated practices; reinforce the need to consider BIM implementation in the context of wider asset management policies, practices and systems and vice versa; and maximise the benefits from investments being made in the development and implementation of BIM and asset management. Asset management and BIM knowledge activities and standards have emerged in the UK construction industry as more or less parallel initiatives and have been crystallised in standards such as BS PAS 55 (Asset management – Specifications for the optimized management of physical assets) and the soon-to-be-published ISO 55000 and PAS1192-2 (Specification for information management for the capital/delivery phase of construction projects using building information modelling), respectively. This paper explains the relationship between these two disciplines and why they must be considered together if the full benefits of each are to be realised for both the asset owner and its service providers.

The new structural Eurocodes offer increased economy in design over most existing codes of practice. However, the assessment of existing structures is specifically outside the scope of the Eurocodes, so many of the benefits these new codes bring cannot be directly applied when reviewing old structures. This paper investigates the areas where the steel and concrete Eurocodes give increased resistances compared to existing codes and makes recommendations for sections that could be directly applied to the assessment of existing structures. Areas where the Eurocodes cannot be applied directly to existing structures are also identified, together with the reasons why, such as reliance on modern material and execution specifications. Recommendations are then made for how the Eurocode design rules could be modified for assessment situations, including the use of measured strengths and imperfections in calculation. Actions and the format for combining actions are also investigated and recommendations are made for modifications to these aspects for use in assessing bridges. Finally, an overall assessment of the scope of work required to produce an assessment suite of Eurocodes is made.

No abstract