Do you have an asset management plan?
Ziptility is purpose-built software for utilities. Map assets, complete locates, work orders, customer requests, and maintenance — all in one app.
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Do you have an asset management plan? Is it a living document?
Ziptility is purpose-built software for utilities. Map assets, complete locates, work orders, customer requests, and maintenance — all in one app.
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Do you have an asset management plan?
An Asset Management Program (AMP) is a document developed by a utility, typically alongside a certified civil engineer, to create a detailed financial and operational plan for what it will realistically cost to support the creation, operation, maintenance, replacement, and upgrade of infrastructure assets over time. Infrastructure assets deliver essential utility services that Americans rely on every day — water, electricity, power, and sewer collection. Maintaining these assets isn’t just a service obligation; it’s a matter of public health and safety. Since these assets are expensive to manufacture, install, and maintain, they require major investment from state and local governments. That’s why utilities and their continued operation matter for economic development. Utility operators must create plans to proactively maintain, repair, and upgrade infrastructure, because fixing things reactively is always more expensive and drives up the cost of operation — which can force rate increases. Asset management plans are supposed to be living documents that are regularly referenced, revised, expanded, and implemented as part of daily operations. But for a busy operator who might be exercising a hard-to-find gate valve, a three-ring binder doesn’t put the asset management plan in the palm of their hand. Ziptility helps engineers and utility operators deliver a digital, mobile asset management plan — so that all operations and maintenance activities are pre-programmed into a map and delivered through mobile devices to field crews for them to complete in real-time.
Asset Management Plan Requirements
Asset management plans are broken up into three sections: technical, managerial, and financial.
The Indiana Finance Authority requires that the asset management plan have the following requirements:
- System map
- An inventory and assessment of system assetsDevelopment of an infrastructure inspection, repair, and maintenance plan, including a plan for funding such activities
- An analysis of the customer rates necessary to support the AMP
- An Audit performed every two years
- Demonstration of the technical, managerial, legal and financial
Most utilities have some form of system map whether it’s in their GIS software or on a paper-based map on a wall. They usually have an inventory of their assets in their water utility asset management software or in the form of paper based cards that they store in filing cabinets.
And if you asked a really experienced operator, they have a plan and probably paper forms for how they inspect their infrastructure, and perform their work orders, and service requests, with records of those also in their filing cabinets.
But if you asked them if they had a “Living document” of what’s going on in their system, showing them things that are updated in real-time. What work has been done to what assets, by who, and at what time? You will find very few utility operators in the country with this capability because it hasn’t existed.
Digital Asset Management Plan
Ziptility gives utility operators the ability to have a digital asset management plan. This turns a static binder into a living document — one that updates in real-time as work gets done.
It gives operators one place to schedule both reactive and proactive maintenance on their assets, so they can use SRF funds wisely and invest in their water distribution network and collection system efficiently.
A digital asset management plan combines GIS mapping and mobile asset management software in one app — handling record keeping, communication, and completion of critical asset management requirements all in one place.
All assets are linked, coordinated on, and visualized by their GPS location on a map.
All assets should have detailed information relating to their age, their condition, their material, their size, the criticality of failure, their remaining useful life, and any upcoming or pre-existing maintenance on every asset.
This allows busy utility operators to be forward thinking, to plan ahead and to not be stuck responding to reactive events, like main breaks, water leaks, and emergency repairs.
Related Resources
Keep building your asset management knowledge with these guides:
Utility Asset Management Software — Water, Wastewater & StormwaterMobile Asset Management Software for Utility Field CrewsWhat Is GIS? A Guide for Utility ProfessionalsWater Utility Asset Management — GIS, Work Orders & 811 Locates.png)