Multiple system integration in local government asset management: A New Zealand case study

Abstract

Abstract Local government in New Zealand invests in numerous Asset Management Information Systems (AMIS) in order to support their infrastructure asset operations and management decision-making. However, the silo nature of the organisational operations and proprietary constraints of AMIS have created an environment of dispersed information and systems with little or no regard to interoperability or data sharing. Adopting multiple standalone systems creates difficulties for accessing, analysing and maintaining the asset, thus compromising management efficiency and effectiveness. Consequently, there is a great desire to bring the various AMIS systems together using a Multiple System Integration (MSI) approach. This study intends to examine the MSI concept by exploring more open-sourced systems such as GIS, which is widely used in local government’s asset planning and management. In addition, being the key driver behind the technology advancement in the construction industry, BIM has created innovative applications and widened the research domains in areas such as BIM and GIS integration studies. However, the multiple system approach to further integrate the existing AMIS, is missing from both the current industry practices and academic studies. Using a case study of a BIM implementation project carried out by a local government, this research illustrates and validates the integration of BIM/GIS with the lifecycle planning specific AMIS. The novel MSI approach provides a paradigm as a solution to improve the siloed operation manner. The approach will also set the foundation for future studies in local government’s digital transformation and in the field of developing true asset Digital Twins.