Utility Asset Management

Utility Asset Management is the systematic process of maintaining, upgrading, and operating physical utility infrastructure using geospatial dataGeospatial DataGeospatial data encompasses information about the location, shape, and relationships of physical features on Earth. I... and spatial analysis as a foundation for decision-making. Utilities managing electricity, gas, water, wastewater, and telecommunications networks operate millions of geographically distributed assets that must be inventoried, inspected, maintained, and eventually replaced. GISGISGeographic Information Systems (GIS) enable users to analyze and visualize spatial data to uncover patterns, relation...-based asset management provides the spatial context essential for understanding how individual assets relate to the network, the environment, and the customers they serve. Geospatial Components of Utility Asset ManagementEnterprise GIS platforms maintain authoritative spatial databasesSpatial DatabasesSpatial databases are specialized systems designed to store, query, and manage data related to objects in geographic ... of all utility assets, recording location, type, age, condition, maintenance history, and connectivity for every component. Mobile GIS applications enable field crews to access asset information, record inspections, and update records from the field using GPSGPSThe Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system operated by the U.S. Space Force that prov...-enabled devices. Spatial analysis identifies asset clusters with high failure risk, proximity to sensitive receptors, or critical network positions that warrant priority attention. Remote sensingRemote SensingRemote sensing is the science of collecting data about Earth's surface without direct physical contact, primarily usi... technologies including satellite imagerySatellite ImagerySatellite imagery consists of photographs and data captured by Earth observation satellites orbiting the planet. Thes..., aerial surveys, and LiDARLiDARLight Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is a remote sensing technology that measures distances using laser pulses to crea... detect vegetation encroachment, ground movement, and surface conditions that threaten buried or overhead assets. Predictive models combine asset age, condition data, environmental factors, and failure history to forecast which assets are most likely to fail. Applications and ChallengesElectric utilities use spatial asset management to plan vegetation management programs, prioritize pole and conductor replacement, and map outage impacts. Water utilities track pipe age, material, and break history to prioritize main replacement and reduce water loss. Gas utilities monitor pipeline integrity and plan cathodic protection programs. Telecom utilities manage dense networks of cables, conduits, and equipment across urban environments. Key challenges include maintaining data accuracy across legacy assets installed decades ago, integrating asset data with operational systems like SCADA and customer information, justifying capital investment in aging infrastructure, and adapting management strategies to changing climate conditions that alter asset deterioration rates.