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6 reasons you need a map-based asset management system

Rise to the demands of complex built assets with a map-based asset management system. Find out our top six reasons why map-based asset management leads to safer, higher quality built assets.

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Digitalisation in the built asset industry continues to evolve year on year, and a quality asset management software has emerged as a critical part of any digital toolkit.

As streamlining processes and maximising efficiency remains a top priority for project teams and their clients, this blog explores the benefits of map-based infrastructure asset management software, and how adopting this technology can assist with decision-making, better collaboration between project participants, and boost valuable visual insights.

Read on to find out our six top benefits of a map-based infrastructure asset management system below.

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1. Streamlining the asset lifecycle

Management of infrastructure assets such as highways, buildings, structures or open spaces comes with its own unique challenges for project teams, often requiring meticulous planning and speedy execution. With an enterprise asset management system, organisations benefit from oversight of the entire lifecycle of their assets, from planning through to decommission. This valuable oversight takes some of the complexity away from project teams, allowing them to focus on other aspects of the asset, reducing costly errors, improving safety standards and derive value from assets 

By creating a digital asset register, essential information such as location, age or condition of the asset is a click away. Furthermore, a comprehensive view of the maintenance history of the assets affords better planning, informed decisions and the ability to develop a robust asset management strategy. 

2. Planning and analysing efficiently

A big advantage to utilising an asset management system is being able to simplify maintenance and operational activities.

Asset management software includes task-raising and scheduling capabilities at the asset or component level, so organisations have a helping hand in prioritising tasks. The analysis helps to prioritise, giving insights on maintenance history, to move from reactive to proactive maintenance.

With comprehensive reporting and analytics, project teams can easily spot trends and patterns that mean they can allocate resources effectively, increasing maintenance and inspections where needed, and plan for downtime or replacement of assets with plenty of warning.

Screenshot of Thinkproject Asset Management park overview

3. Visualising with maps

A map-based asset management system offers powerful visualisations, meaning organisations can take advantage of a clear and intuitive representation of the condition of their assets, as well as other important data such as location or the asset’s attributes. Assets can vary in scope and geographical distance, so this feature becomes particularly valuable when managing a wide array of assets.

For example, with Thinkproject Asset Management, project teams can filter and highlight assets based on their attributes, meaning users can gain a better insights through filtering for type, and condition, and other such customisations and visualising on a map.

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4. Understanding assets in context

Asset data can be analysed based on parameters such as location, which gives project teams valuable spatial insights. By understanding how an asset interacts with its surroundings, organisations can then respond to location-specific criteria and take the best action to build and maintain that asset, extending its asset lifecycle considerably.

For example, if an area is prone to flooding, the system can highlight blocked drainage infrastructure before heavy rainfall, meaning proactive planning and speedy action can be taken that reduces downtime, minimises risk and keeps assets in working condition for longer.

5. Enhancing the decision-making

All organisations want to strive for clear communication, informed decision-making and accurate, easy to digest information, whether this is for the benefit of their own project teams, or their external stakeholders.

The benefit of map-based information is the improved decision-making that comes from the asset and operational data. Project teams can easily view a comprehensive overview of their assets’ status. This clarity affects everyone, meaning maintenance teams can better plan their workload and visits by, for example, grouping tasks and inspections geographically. All resources can be allocated for the best efficiency and means concentrated issues can be afforded more time.

6. Fostering collaboration

Within asset management, numerous project teams need to come together to maintain assets to the highest degree, but these teams also have their own distinct goals and priorities. Open and transparent collaboration between teams is essential for success which is where a map-based system can come in and aide in this.

A map-based asset management system works as a common visual language that promotes shared understanding between teams. Different fields can align activities effectively by seeing the areas where their issues intersect.

This collaboration method can see a great improvement in coordination, streamlining and better asset management outcomes.

Screenshot of Thinkproject Asset Management work management

In summary

Map-based infrastructure asset management is becoming essential for organisations on their digitalisation journey. Benefits such as centralised data, a single source of truth and clear visualisation bests the traditional form-based approach. Decision-makers empowered with these tools can confidently assess and manage with real-time data to back up planning.

By combining this technology with lifecycle tracking, reporting and analytics, organisations are on the path to elevating their asset management practices and benefit from longevity and optimal performance of their assets.