FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention is in the field of asset management systems and methods typically assets in the railway industry.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Once placed into service, an asset’s health (condition) decays over time. The decay may be gradual to follow the asset’s intended design life or may accelerate or decelerate due to one or more factors such as level of maintenance, environmental factors (i.e. salt-water exposure), accident, or design / construction variances (i.e. fragile materials in high traffic areas). As shown in Figure 1 , asset decay can accelerate and rapidly shorten an asset’s useful life which will require higher capital investment to repair/replace the asset.

As shown in Figure 2, the aim of well deployed asset management activities is to delay, forestall or correct the deterioration of an asset’s condition over time to extend the asset’s overall service life.

The core value of active asset management and preventative maintenance is that an asset’s performance can be verified and confirmed and the given asset’s life can be extended through the active and moderate level investment in maintenance. By extending an asset’s life, the eventual asset replacement time is extended and the replacement costs can be significantly deferred if not avoided all together. This time value of extending the life of these assets results in a significantly reduced present value of future maintenance and gives the system owner with additional information and control over when various maintenance and replacement actions are conducted. The key question is how to effectively model and predict and asset’s condition in the future. In looking through a range of condition modeling approaches, previous approaches have typically either worked to determine the deterioration associated with a specific material, in a specific application, within a certain deterioration mode commonly supported by laboratory or targeted field testing. Unfortunately, the result of such detailed modeling approaches is commonly only applicable to the given material, situation and deterioration mode at hand. On the flip side, other asset condition modeling approaches - such as the approaches embodied within PONTIS the Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Management System, is to employ the asset’s probability-linked historical performance deployed through a Markov Chain analysis to predict the asset’s condition deterioration overtime. Unfortunately, the Markov Chain approach has many limitations itself in that they require a long-term set of condition data (30-50 years) across a wide range of assets (typically thousands of assets) to calibrate the Markov Chain transition steps, and when deployed commonly only attempts to predict the asset’s general condition deterioration without respect to identifying the predominate deterioration mode which is controlling the asset’s deterioration. As a result, identifying targeted preventative or corrective maintenance to address Markov Chain predicted performance is challenging if not impossible.

The present invention seeks to provide a system and method to effectively assess an asset’s evolving condition throughout its service so as to provide business with an indication of the required costs for maintaining the asset and to enable business to implement various maintenance strategies in respect of the asset.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An asset maintenance management method including: collecting, from an inspector device, by means of at least one processor, inspection data of an asset; and determining, by means of the at least one processor, the health status of the asset. In an embodiment, the collected inspection data of the asset may include information of the asset; the location of the asset in a facility; the rating of the condition of the asset, wherein the rating of the condition of the asset is arranged to indicate whether or not the asset has a deficiency and the extent of the deficiency; the mode/type of deterioration of the asset; photographs of the asset with or without the deficiency; a recommended maintenance action to cure the deficiency; and a criticality rating of the condition of the asset.

In an embodiment, the method may include providing a list of assets in a facility for selection by an inspector conducting the inspection, wherein each asset is associated with a condition rating rubric for selection by the inspector, the condition rating being arranged to indicate the extent of the deterioration of the asset.

In an embodiment, the method may include providing a template comprising a list of maintenance recommended actions associated with each asset, and items associated with each asset, for selection by an inspector, wherein upon selection of the maintenance action by the inspector, the asset and associated maintencnace are stored in a database for alerting another inspector or maintenance staff about the type of maintencace that is recomemded for the asset.

In an embodiment, each asset may comprise a plurality of items, and the method may include collecting inspection data of each item associated with the asset.

In an embodiment, the method may include determining, by a predefined algorithm, the overall current condition of the asset based on the identified condition of each item and/or asset.

In an embodiment, the method may include determining, by a predefined algorithm, the overall current condition of similar assets in a facility to determine the condition of the items or assets in the facility. In an embodiment, the method may include, determining, by a predefined algorithm, the future condition, such as service life, of the item and/or asset based on the current asset data condition (i.e. the collected field condition of the asset/item).

In an embodiment, the method may include displaying graphs indicating the theoretical service life of the item/asset v the current service life of the item/asset v the future service life of the item/asset.

In an embodiment, the method may include determining, by means of a predetermined algorithm, the duration of an item or asset to transition from the current rating condition to a lower rating condition under the current deterioration mode, to model the future condition of the asset/item in the current deterioration mode.

In an embodiment, the method may include determining, by means of a predetermined algorithm, the criticality of allocating maintence resources to an asset that is associated with a deficiency.

In an embodiment, the method may include determing by means of the at least one processor, the life cycle cost associated with asset.

In an embodiment, the determining of the life cycle cost of the item and/or asset method may include collecting the recommended maintenance action associated with each item or asset and associating the maintenance action/type with one of the plurality of prepopulated costs that is/are associated with the maintenance action/type, to compute the costs for repairing or replacing the item and/or asset.

In an embodiment, the method may include computing, by means of a predetermined algorithm, the current and future values of maintaining the asset based on the condition ratings of the asset.

An asset maintenance management system including: a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory containing instructions which, when executed by the processor causes the processor to: collect, from an inspector device, inspection data of an asset; and determine the health status of the asset.

In an embodiment, the collected inspection data of the asset may include information of the asset; the location of the asset in a facility; the rating of the condition of the asset, wherein the rating condition of the asset is arranged to indicate the extent of deterioration of the asset; the mode/type of deterioration of the asset; photographs of the asset with or without the deficiency; a recommended maintenance action to cure the deficiency; and a criticality rating of the condition of the asset.

In an embodiment, the memory may contain instructions, which when executed by the processor are arranged to provide a list of assets in a facility for selection by an inspector conducting the inspection, wherein each asset is associated with a plurality of deterioration modes and associated with a condition rating rubric for selection by the inspector, the condition rating being arranged to indicate the extent of the deterioration mode.

In an embodiment, the memory may contain instructions, which when executed by the processor are arranged to provide a template comprising a list of maintenance recommended actions associated with each asset and deterioration mode associated with the asset, and items associated with each asset, for selection by an inspector, wherein upon selection of the maintenance action by the inspector, the asset and associated maintenance are stored in a database for alerting another inspector or maintenance staff about the type of maintencace that is recomemded for the asset.

In an embodiment, each asset may comprise a plurality of items, and the memory may include instructions which, when executed are arranged to collect inspection data of each item associated with the asset. In an embodiment, the memory may contain instructions, which when executed by the processor are arranged to determine the overall current condition of the asset based on the collected condition of each item and/or asset.

In an embodiment, the memory may contain instructions, which when executed by the processor are arranged to determine the overall current condition of similar assets in a facility so as to determine the current condition of the facility.

In an embodiment, the memory may contain instructions, which when executed by the processor are arranged to determine the overall condition of all of the items associated with the assets in a facility.

In an embodiment, the memory may contain instructions, which when executed by the processor are arranged to determine the life cycle costs of an asset and associated items.

In an embodiment, the instructions that are arranged to determine the life cycle costs of an asset and/or associated items may be arranged to collect the recommended maintenance action associated with each item or asset and associate the maintenance action/type with one of the plurality of prepopulated costs that is/are associated with the maintenance action/type, to compute the costs for repairing the item and/or asset either presently or in the future and also to compute the costs for corrective, preventitative and run to failure maintance costs of the asset.

In an embodiment, the memory may contain instructions, which when executed by the processor are arranged to compute the current and future values of maintaining the asset based on the condition ratings of the asset.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a memory device containing instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, is arranged to: collect, from an inspector device, inspection data of an asset; and determine the health status of the asset.

In an embodiment, the collected inspection data of the asset may include information of the asset; the location of the asset in a facility; the rating of the condition of the asset, wherein the rating condition of the asset is arranged to indicate the extent of deterioration of the asset; the mode/type of deterioration of the asset; photographs of the asset with or without the deficiency; a recommended maintenance action to cure the deficiency; and a criticality rating of the condition of the asset.

In an embodiment, the memory may contain instructions, which when executed by the processor are arranged to provide a list of assets in a facility for selection by an inspector conducting the inspection, wherein each asset is associated with a plurality of deterioration modes and associated with a condition rating rubric for selection by the inspector, the condition rating being arranged to indicate the extent of the deterioration mode.

In an embodiment, the memory may contain instructions, which when executed by the processor are arranged to provide a template comprising a list of maintenance recommended actions associated with each asset and deterioration mode associated with the asset, and items associated with each asset, for selection by an inspector, wherein upon selection of the maintenance action by the inspector, the asset and associated maintenance are stored in a database for alerting another inspector or maintenance staff about the type of maintencace that is recomemded for the asset.

In an embodiment, each asset may comprise a plurality of items, and the memory may include instructions which, when executed by the processor are arranged to collect inspection data of each item associated with the asset.

In an embodiment, the memory may contain instructions, which when executed by the processor are arranged to determine the overall current condition of the asset based on the collected condition of each item and/or asset. In an embodiment, the memory may contain instructions, which when executed by the processor are arranged to determine the overall current condition of similar assets in a facility so as to determine the current condition of the facility.

In an embodiment, the memory may contain instructions, which when executed by the processor are arranged to determine the overall condition of all of the items associated with the assets in a facility.

In an embodiment, the memory may contain instructions, which when executed by the processor are arranged to determine the life cycle costs of an asset and associated items.

In an embodiment, the instructions that are arranged to determine the life cycle costs of an asset and/or associated items may be arranged to collect the recommended maintenance action associated with each item or asset and associate the maintenance action/type with one of the plurality of prepopulated costs that is/are associated with the maintenance action/type, to compute the costs for repairing the item and/or asset either presently or in the future and also to compute the costs for corrective, preventitative and run to failure maintance costs of the asset.

In an embodiment, the memory may contain instructions, which when executed by the processor are arranged to compute the current and future values of maintaining the asset based on the condition ratings of the asset. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the present invention will become fully apparent from following the description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. Undertaking that this drawing depicts only a typical embodiment of the invention and are therefore, not to be considered limiting its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specific and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a typical asset decay curve;

Figure 2 shows a curve indicating the extension of an asset’s service life with Regular Maintenance;

Figure 3 shows a network of a rail infrastructure management system in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 4 shows a high level asset maintenance management method in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the invention may be described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub combinations thereof. Unless expressly exclude herein all such combinations and sub combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts and features of the invention - such alternative structures, configurations, methods, devices and components, alternatives as to form, fit and function, and so on may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects, concepts of features into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the present invention even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present disclosure; however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly, stated. Moreover, while various aspects, features and concepts may be expressly identified herein as being inventive or forming part of an invention, such identification is not intended to be exclusive but rather there may be inventive aspects, concepts and features that are fully described herein without being expressly identified as such or as part of a specific invention.

As can be seen in Figure 3 of the drawings, there is provided a network 16 including an inspector device 12 that is in communication, via a communication network 14, with a remote rail infrastructure maintenance management server 10.

The inspector device 12 is uploaded with a software application that is arranged to perform the method of the present invention. Through the application, the inspector can view an inspection form for each asset of a railway facility, which asset along with items making up the asset, is/are pre-registered on a database (not shown) which is in communication with the server 10 or is incoporated in a memory device 20 of the server

10.

The inspector device 12 is arranged to indicate the location information of the inspector device 12 in relation to the asset that is to be inspected in order for the location of the asset to be recorded in real time. The inspection form that will be displayed on the inspector device includes the asset information, such as the name of the asset. The inspector will accordingly inspect the asset and determine the condition of the asset according to a rating rubric spanning from 9 to 1 , where a rating of 9 indicates that the asset is in good condition and 1 indicates that the asset is in bad condition and may require replacement, and the rating of 6 and below indicates that the asset is in bad condition and requires maintenance. Upon rating the condition of the asset, the inspector can select, from a criticality rating that is associated with the asset, the criticality of the asset, which rating merely indicates whether or not the item requires immediate maintence. The criticality rating spans typically from 1 to 5, with 1 indicating that the maintenance of the asset is not critical and 5 indicating that maintenance of the asset is critical.

The inspector can accordingly select, on the inspector devices, one of prepopulated maintenance remedies associated with the asset and condition of the asset, to cure the deficiency of the asset in order to improve the condition rating of the asset. Upon selecting the maintenance remedy, the inspector can also take pictures of the asset and upload the pictures on the inspector device 12.

The server 10 will accordingly receive the inspection data of the asset including the condition rating and criticality rating of the asset ad well as the recommended maintence remedy for the deficiency. The server 10 includes a processor 18 and a memory device 20 that is coupled to the processor. The memory device 20 includes instructions which are arranged to perform various tasks for determing the health status of the asset as well as the life cycle costs of the asset as will be described below.

The memory device 20 may contain the database (not shown), as described above, that includes the various types of assets in the facility as well as the various maintainance remedies that are associated with the asset, where each maintence remedy is associated with a maintence costs, such as labour costs, material costs, machinery costs, etc., for curing the remedy in order to improve the condition rating of the asset.

The database (not shown) may also include inflation maintence costs or indices to compute an inflated costs, to compute the maintence costs for repainig the asset in the present or in a future time.

The database (not shown) may also include data related to the normal, expected service life data of the asset. For example, the database may indicate that an asset, such as a handrail, is expected to last for a period of 50 years under normal operating conditions.

In use, the processor 18 is arranged to collect the inspection data and compute and display, according to the instructions contained in the memory device 20 (i.e. predefined algorithm) and information contained in the database, a detonation curve indicating whether the asset is deteriorating faster or slower than it is supposed to, and also compute the calculated present service life of the asset based on the condition rating. The generated deterioration curve can be used by the inspector or maintence staff to view the health of the asset and attend to the maintence of the asset.

The collected inspection data, such as the criticality rating of the asset may also be displayed, to indicate assets in the facility that have a high criticality rating and require maintenance. This will typically enable business to allocate resources accordingly to asserts that require the most maintenance and the assets which are critical for the operation of the facility.

The processor 18, is also arranged to collect the inspection data and compute and display, according to the instructions contained in the memory device 20 (i.e. predefined algorithm) and the information in the database, the maintence value of the asset based on the inspected condition of the asset.

The processor 18 is arranged to indicate the various maintence costs, such as the costs required for preventative maintence, corrective maintence and also run to failure maintence costs in order to indicate to the inspector or maintence staff which maintence regime should be used for the asset, and which maintence regime will yield the lowest maintence cost over the life of the asset, and also indicate the present and future rating conditions of the asset.

The processor 18, is also arranged to collect the inspection data and compute and display, according to the instructions contained in the memory device 20 (i.e. predefined algorithm) and the information in the database, cost estimates for asset deficiencies and future maintenance needs, such as future maintence costs estimates, to identify the required level of maintenance financial support that will be required for the assets.

The inspection data is accordingly saved in the database (not shown), and the system 10 is arranged to generate a report indicating the conditions and criticality ratings of the assets in the facility. The maintence staff can readily access the report and attend to the maintence of the assets that may have been identified as critical. Upon attending to the maintenance of the asset, the maintence staff member may indicate on their inspection devices (similar to the device 12), the new rating condition of the asset, and the server 10 will accordingly compute a new deterioration curve for the asset and predict, according to the predefined algorithm, how long it will take for the asset’s condition to deteriorate further, in order to indicate to the maintence staff the costs for maintaining the asset and the actual time in the future when the asset will require maintenance.

Turning our attention to Figure 4 of the drawings, there is provided a high-level asset maintenance method 50 in accordance with the invention. The method 50 includes collecting, from the inspector device 12, by means of at least one processor 18, inspection data of the asset 52; and determining, by means of the at least one processor 18, the health status of the asset 54. The method 50 further includes implementing the steps performed by the instructions contained in the memory device 20, as described above.