Using business risk exposure analysis to prioritize utility asset management

Pinellas County GIS Development and Asset Risk Management

Pinellas County Utilities (PCU) wanted to create a geographic information system (GIS) based sewer collection system asset management plan using. They reached out to our team to help.

We guided PCU through a business risk exposure (BRE) analysis, using information from their existing databases and software. Our results, which we calculated at the asset level, assisted in prioritizing capital improvement projects and exploring various funding scenarios.

Initially, we helped PCU improve their asset inventory using GIS, including important details like asset age, material, performance history, and service level relationships. Key efforts included piloting the ArcGIS Utility Network, conducting data gap analyses, documenting asset definitions and hierarchies, and making updates for various system components.

We made recommendations to eliminate data silos by standardizing and integrating data from sources like CCTV, hydraulic models, condition inspections, rehabilitation projects, and supervisory control and data acquisition historical data. We also developed data exchange protocols with PCU’s IT group and updated the schema to capture BRE information including failure likelihood and consequences.

With this centralization asset information, PCU can better identify current and future challenges while maintaining sustainable infrastructure services with strong financial and operational strategies.