Infrastructure Asset Management: A Strategic Approach Toward Sustainability

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain and apply the core principles of infrastructure asset management across the asset lifecycle
• Answer the six essential asset‑related questions to support informed planning, investment, and risk decisions
• Evaluate asset condition, performance, risk, and levels of service using structured frameworks and metrics
• Apply industry‑recognized tools, standards, and best practices (including ISO 55000–aligned approaches) to strengthen asset management programs
• Develop a practical, organization‑specific asset management implementation plan aligned with sustainability and governance objectives

Description

Managing public infrastructure assets is increasingly complex, driven by aging systems, growing service expectations, funding constraints, and heightened sustainability and accountability requirements. Making informed decisions about maintenance, renewal, and investment requires more than technical knowledge, it demands a structured, strategic approach to asset management.

This course provides a practical introduction to infrastructure asset management (IAM) as a decision‑support discipline. You will explore how asset management principles are applied in real organizational contexts, from defining levels of service and evaluating asset condition to managing risk, funding trade‑offs, and long‑term performance. Emphasis is placed on aligning technical, financial, and policy considerations across the full asset lifecycle.

Through applied frameworks, real‑world examples, and recognized industry practices, this course equips you with the tools needed to build or strengthen an asset management program that is sustainable, defensible, and aligned with organizational and regulatory expectations. You will leave with a clearer understanding of how to translate asset data into actionable strategies and credible asset management plans.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for:

• Engineers and engineering technologists involved in infrastructure planning, operations, or asset performance
• Supervisors, managers, and technical leads responsible for infrastructure decision‑making
• Operations, maintenance, project, and utility engineers
• Asset managers, investment officers, coordinators, and infrastructure planners
• Municipal, provincial, and public‑sector professionals involved in infrastructure policy and funding decisions
• Consultants and technical professionals supporting asset management programs
• Early‑career through senior practitioners seeking a structured, standards‑aligned foundation in infrastructure asset management

Day I

Welcome, Introduction, Course Preview, Learning Outcomes and the Assessment Methods

Infrastructure Asset Management and Sustainability - An Overview

• What is asset management?
• Industry standards and other initiatives
• Development of an asset management plan
• Sustainability and asset management

Asset Management Evolution - Province of Ontario

• Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act
• New asset management regulations

Asset Information and Data Requirements

• Asset inventory
• Asset classification systems
• Asset data formats
• Data gap analysis

Asset Management Body of Knowledge (AMBOK)

• Concepts and ideas
• Knowledge modules and application guidelines
• How knowledge modules work together?
• Outline of an asset management plan
• Best practice asset management plan

Quiz/Group Discussion - Specialty Topic Selection

Evaluate Asset Condition

• Why asset condition is important?
• Asset deterioration and defect diagnosis
• Condition rating systems
• Service life of assets
• Asset performance evaluation

Day II

Levels of Services (LOS)

• Define LOS?
• How to determine LOS?
• Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
• Benchmarking of assets

Risk Analysis

• Identify the service or asset at risk
• Risk assessment and modelling
• Asset risk management
• Develop a risk action plan

Infrastructure Economics

• Infrastructure backlog and funding mechanisms
• Resource planning, financing and funding options
• Social costs and considerations
• Life cycle costing (LCC)
• Asset valuation
• Asset valuation models: roads/pavements, bridges/culverts, water/wastewater and other asset-specific
• Reporting example: PSAB

Asset Management Optimization

• Owner’s vs user’s perspective: a multi-objective optimization approach
• Asset optimization parameters
• Infrastructure security
• Infrastructure vulnerability and resilience

Summary and Discussion

Day III

Setting Strategic direction for Asset Management

• Define the scope of an asset management program
• Asset management policy development
• Governance
• Asset management leadership and teams

How to Choose Your Asset Management System?

• State-of-art practice tools and techniques
• Standalone systems and integrated systems
• System evaluation, comparative statements, features and benefits

Action Plans and Decision Making

• The logic behind failure: options and actions
• Asset prioritization in the decision-making process
• Decision model and analysis
• Action planning

Asset Management Business Plan

• Review reporting tools (GASB, PSAB, PAS 55 etc.)
• Development of an asset management business plan
• Revisit asset management plan and implementation strategy
• Checklist: What to consider? And what not?

Discussion Forum

• Questions and answers feedback to participants on achievement of learning outcomes

Concluding Remarks and Final Adjournment