The market for managing and maintaining infrastructure is vast, as everything around us forms part of some sort of infrastructure. Due to the conditions of operation and the environmental influences these infrastructures need to be maintained and properly managed.

The development of mobile technology, such as palm tops, increased productivity, increased processing power of PCs, rationalisation of staff, etc are all factors that are pressuring management to effectively maintain and manage infrastructure.

AfriGIS has addressed this need by embarking on the development of a comprehensive software system directed at the market of infrastructure maintenance. Managing Infrastructure Applications, (MIA) as it is called, is a software system and database model used in the field of Infrastructure Maintenance Management. The system is applicable to most types of Infrastructure and will assist maintenance professionals to optimise the use of infrastructure. AfriGIS already implemented the application in the road pavement environment as a pavement management system, which allows maintenance managers to optimise the maintenance of their road networks.

The MIA system is based on a GIS platform, which forms the backbone of the system, from data collection to reporting and optimisation.

Why GIS?

GIS technology combines alphanumeric databases with electronic maps to enable the display of various data types on a map. Most GIS software, however, does not have an integrated relational database model, which is required for a comprehensive infrastructure management system. MIA focuses on this aspect and provides the extension to GIS to allows it to be used as an Infrastructure Maintenance tool.

A spatial object such as a street link is location specific; meaning it can only be at a specific location at a specific time. These location characteristics of spatial objects thus allow location analysis. This means that where a specific street link needs to be maintained, the system can also report what related infrastructure is involved. This would include relevant information, such as which other street links are close by, which other services, such as storm water or traffic conditions, might be influenced when maintenance is done, as well as the condition of the nearby street links. The topology included in GIS systems caters for flow analysis such as what areas will be influenced when a water network valve is closed, or traffic implications during rehabilitation of a pavement section.

Because most infrastructure information is based on the spatial information such as location and address, GIS technology is playing an increasing role in the development of new infrastructure management applications for local and national infrastructure authorities.

One of AfriGIS's MIA projects involved the updating and upgrading of the current Pavement Management System (PMS) for the Greater Germiston Council (GGC).

The system makes provision for the capturing of data using GIS. This information is then used in analysis models, which predicts future conditions. GIS-based reports, graphs and maps are then generated, which depict general infrastructure information, current and future conditions as well as optimised maintenance – and budget strategies.

The PMS for the GGC clearly shows how introducing GIS with an infrastructure management application could be used to assist maintenance managers and professionals in optimising the maintenance and management of infrastructure.

AfriGIS

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