Linear assets are different

Assets were always conceptualised and visualised as point assets like a boiler that is commissioned at a specific location inside an oil and gas plant. Traditional EAM solutions are typically designed for discrete assets. However, Asset Intensive organisations in certain sectors like Oil & Gas, utilities, railways etc have some particular kind of assets that span across several kilometres. Such assets typically extend across one physical dimension in space and often connect with other assets through their relationship in their associated linear infrastructure. These are known under the name ‘Linear Assets’.

Linear assets also experience wear and tear, have maintenance strategies associated with it and undergo periodic and corrective maintenance like any other asset during its usage lifecycle. But then, what is the difference in these linear assets which makes it more difficult for traditional EAM solutions. We will highlight a few features specific to linear assets.

•  Linear assets span long distances and are divided into segments. Its components or features can frequently change along its length. Linear assets are interconnected with other linear assets to represent an infrastructure network topology. It is important to record and track failures, maintenance and associated costs at the segment level.
•  Use of GIS – Linear assets need data from different sources. GIS is one method to acquire information. Ideally a good system should incorporate both GIS and linear smart asset management data for visualisation on a map view .
• Dynamic Segmentation – Multiple sets of attributes can be associated with any portion of a linear feature independently of where it begins or ends. Eg: A pipeline may be around 100 kilometres. A few common attributes are as shown below.