BEPROACT
BEPROACT, which stands for 'Building an Ecosystem to PROACTively develop data-driven asset management', seeks to revolutionise critical infrastructure by transforming it into ‘talking assets’.
This innovative approach will equip organisations such as Rijkswaterstaat with the means to assess the health status of infrastructural assets more accurately. And it will prolong these assets’ lifespan, preventing failure and ultimately reducing maintenance costs.
BEPROACT is a collaborative venture that brings together European partners from Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland, France, and the Netherlands. These partners share their knowledge and experience to build an effective ecosystem for smart asset management.
Rijkswaterstaat, for instance, is leveraging this collaboration to enhance its asset management processes both at the national and European levels.
Our society relies heavily on crucial infrastructures such as motorways, traffic management systems, buildings and water treatment plants. Their efficiency and reliability underpin our safety and economic stability.
However, the maintenance and management of these infrastructures are threatened by a chronic shortage of skilled personnel. Therefore, the transition to smarter asset management also necessitates a shift in human resources - data analysts capable of making insightful decisions for strategic planning are in high demand.
Streamlining infrastructure maintenance through ‘talking assets’
Harnessing data can empower organisations to accomplish more in less time. By creating ‘talking assets’, they can proactively detect failures and perform timely maintenance.
Nonetheless, BEPROACT isn’t just about data technology, it’s also about change management. Transforming critical infrastructure requires instilling new thought processes and promoting the adoption of new techniques.
The need for transformation is pressing, as many assets are nearing the end of their lifecycle. This problem is affecting all the partners in the chain. That’s why sharing knowledge and experience is indispensable for overcoming barriers to implementation.
A coordinated approach to establishing a knowledge network
The North-West European partners of BEPROACT already have solutions to these challenges. But a coordinated approach is needed to change the existing system. BEPROACT is the first transnational project to address these challenges by developing accessible, easily transferable solutions and support for all stakeholders.
By implementing and scaling up these solutions transnationally, BEPROACT aims to boost both territorial and digital resilience. The objective is to extend asset lifecycles, prevent failures, create a safer working environment and promote a more sustainable approach.
BEPROACT seeks to deliver 3 key outcomes. First, it aspires to initiate a digital transformation and develop an intelligent maintenance strategy for organisations and assets in North-West Europe.
Second, it involves the transnational development and application of 15 innovative solutions for 6 different types of asset systems.
And finally, it focuses on establishing a knowledge network and designing feasible, accessible training courses. Ultimately, it aims to embed the project’s results among infrastructure managers and knowledge institutions in North-West Europe.
Project period
03-2023 - 06-2027
European programme
Project website
Partners
Burgundy-Franche-Comté Regional Council; Dublin City Council; Federal Highway Research Institute; Flanders Environment Agency; GEOSPARC; Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology; Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research; RTC4Water; The Autobahn GmbH of the Federal Government; Université De Lille
