Expertise

Asset management

At Rijkswaterstaat, asset management includes maintenance, renovation and replacement of infrastructure. It also includes network improvements, expansions, and service provision directly related to our networks, such as traffic information, incident management, winter maintenance, and traffic control.

Rijkswaterstaat, as the executive branch of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, translates the Ministry’s asset management policies into activity programmes and manages the programmes’ execution and results. Seamless cooperation across all these activities and in the Line of Sight “from Minister to contractor” is essential to fulfilling our mission: contribute to safety, quality of life and mobility in the Netherlands. We see asset management as the framework that helps us achieve that seamless cooperation.

Significant challenges

Rijkswaterstaat has successfully managed the Dutch main roadways, waterways, and water systems networks for many years. The Dutch expertise in water management especially is recognized worldwide, and the quality of the Dutch roads is among the best in the world. But we face significant challenges in the coming years. (Parts of) hundreds of bridges, locks, tunnels, storm surge barriers, and other infrastructure components are approaching the end of their useful life and require renovation or replacement.

Simultaneously, we must enhance the sustainability and resilience of our networks, all within a context of limited financial resources, nitrogen deposit restrictions, physical space and limited human resources both internally and within the construction sector labour market. Doing all this in a timely matter without compromising the networks’ performance will demand innovative approaches.

Improving asset management practices

To address these challenges and strengthen control, we are improving our asset management practices to align them with the ISO 55001 standard. A dedicated change program supports this effort through an integrated approach focusing on improving processes, governance structures, information systems, and staff competence. Combining all these elements in an effective ISO 55001 certified asset management system will enable us to better control and continually improve them in coordination. The goal is to achieve an optimal balance between the networks' performance, cost, and risk.

Collaboration and knowledge sharing

We value collaboration and actively engage in knowledge sharing at both national and international levels within our sector and with best-in-class asset management organizations from other sectors. By doing this, we aim to drive innovation and adoption of best practices, to ensure and continually improve public infrastructure asset management in the Netherlands and internationally.

Projects

BEPROACT

BEPROACT seeks to revolutionise critical infrastructure. This approach will equip organisations with the means to assess the status of infrastructural asset.
Upgrade Twente Canal, upgrading from ECMT IV to ECMT Va

The Twente canals are links for transporting goods by water to Almelo, Hengelo and Enschede. The Canal has been upgraded from ECMT IV to ECMT Va class.
Pioneering the smart maintenance innovation system: SAMEN

The SAMEN Fieldlab integrates technical and social innovation. We have joined this initiative to use new knowledge for data-driven asset management.