Multi-Asset Optimization of Roadways Asset Maintenance

Aging infrastructure in the nation and limited available budget makes the role of strategic decision making more important in its maintenance. The challenge is to maintain the infrastructure asset systems in a state of good repair and to improve the efficiency and performance of the infrastructure systems. Decision makers are in need of a decision support system to effectively allocate funding and achieve the highest possible return on investment on their infrastructure. This paper proposes and validates a framework for such decisions. The main objective is to develop a decision support system for selecting and prioritizing necessary actions for MR&R (maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation) of multiple asset items in order for a roadway to function within an acceptable level of service, budget, and time. To achieve these outcomes, this model creates a framework for an infrastructure asset management via analyzing a multi-objective problem. The objectives of the problem are: (i) minimizing maintenance costs, (ii) minimizing maintenance time, and (iii) maximizing level of service improvement. The results of implementing the proposed model on a case study are presented for a sub-set of asset items. Results reveal the capability of the model in generation of optimal solutions for the selection of maintenance strategies. The model optimizes decision making process and benefits decision makers by providing a set of solutions for infrastructure asset management. In addition, it provides a tool to run sensitivity analysis to evaluate annual budget effects. Application of the proposed model is implemented on roadway asset items; however, the model is not limited to roadways and is applicable to other infrastructure assets.