Ageing of Infrastructure: A Life-cycle Approach

The book addresses the problem of ageing infrastructure and how ageing can reduce the service life below expected levels. The rate of ageing is affected by the type of construction material, environmental exposure, function of the infrastructure, and loading: each of these factors is considered in the assessment of ageing. How do international design codes address ageing? Predictive models of ageing behaviour are available and the different types (empirical, deterministic, and probabilistic) are discussed in a whole-of-life context. Life cycle plans, initiated at the design stage, can ensure that the design life is met, while optimising the management of the asset: reducing life cycle costs and reducing the environmental footprint due to less maintenance/remediation interventions and fewer unplanned stoppages and delays. Health monitoring of infrastructure can be conducted via implanted probes (wired or wireless) or by non-destructive testing that can routinely measure the durability, loading, and exposure environments at key locations around the facility. Routine monitoring can trigger preventative maintenance that can extend the life of the infrastructure and minimise unplanned and reactive remediation, while also providing ongoing data that can be utilised towards more durable future construction. Future infrastructure will need to be safe and durable, financially and environmentally sustainable over the lifecycle, thereby raising socio-economic wellbeing. The book concludes by discussing the key impacting factors that will need to be addressed. The author brings a strong academic and industry background to present a resource for academics and practitioners wishing to address the ageing of built infrastructure.

Professor Frank Collins

Professor Frank Collins is the Director of the Australian Centre for Infrastructure Durability (ACID). His role involves fostering collaboration between universities to streamline access by government and industry to the most relevant researchers and facilities for the durability of built infrastructure. Prior to his academic career, Frank’s has had 19 years as a chartered professional engineer, which gives him a unique perspective on ageing of infrastructure. He worked for 13 years with Taywood Engineering Ltd in their London, Hong Kong, Sydney and Melbourne offices; involved with diagnosis and rehabilitation of infrastructure and applications of construction materials. In 1988, Frank was Lead Materials Engineer in the Sydney Opera House rehabilitation program which entailed diagnosis of the roof shell elements and substructure, and development of remedial and preventative maintenance works. In 1995, he established the Bridge Testing and Rehabilitation Unit within the Ministry of Transport, Vietnam, allowing the Ministry to become self-sufficient in the management of bridge assets. While technical director at AECOM (Maunsell) he established and managed the company’s Advanced Materials Group, including technical and commercial leadership, and provided high-level advice on many international infrastructure projects.

As an academic since 2006, he has taken akeen research interest in the areas of durability and ageing of built infrastructure; utilisation of wastes as alternative construction materials; and improved construction materials for durable and stronger infrastructure.

Dr Frederic Blin

Frédéric has over 18 years’ experience as an engineer and is the leader of AECOM’s Strategic Asset Management and Advanced Materials team in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. He has worked across industries (properties/facilities, transport and water) and brings a solid understanding of the importance of balancing asset lifecycle risks and costs to provide desired service levels to customers. He holds a materials engineering degree and a PHD in corrosion engineering.

At AECOM, Frédéric is a Technical Director, who has worked on and led numerous projects in the field of asset management and durability/materials engineering. This has included the provision of technical support at the design, build, finance (including due diligences) and operation & maintain phases of the lifecycle of (particularly infrastructure-based) assets (e.g. parks, tunnels, ports, plants, buildings, roads and bridges).

Frédéric’s experience include condition and performance monitoring and evaluation, risk management and lifecycle decision frameworks and tools, maintenance and renewals forecasting as well as asset management business improvement.