Challenge

Over the past decade, maintenance investment has flat-lined in New Zealand. Meanwhile, network inputs such as traffic, heavy vehicle loading, and cost to deliver works have all increased. This has resulted in a decline in overall network condition to a point where increased investment is now critical.

Infrastructure Decision Support (IDS) was engaged by Waka Kotahi to answer the ‘billion-dollar’ question of how much investment is needed to maintain the 24,000 lane km New Zealand State Highway Network over a 3-year funding block (2021/24), and inform the long-term strategic 10-year and 30-year investment horizons.

Solution

Collaboration of 14 organizations was the heart of this project, and all those involved operated under the umbrella of IDS. This allowed the best asset management minds to be brought together across the nation. The project was phased in three groups: development, analysis, and implementation.

The Development Phase looked at the New Zealand IP and assessed where improvements were needed. All the development that was made will be put into the pool of New Zealand IP and made available to all road-controlling authorities in New Zealand for their decision support.

The bulk of the project was the modelling itself in the Analysis Phase. This was carried out using dTIMS to analyze the entire New Zealand state highway network. The work was culminated in a business case and national investment request.

The Implementation Phase shifted project ownership back to the 23 local network management teams. The result of the implementation phase was a robust three-year work program within the national investment constraints.

Results

With industry-wide collaboration, the project delivered an end-to-end solution. The IP will be shared with the industry and will enhance infrastructure decision making across New Zealand.

Deliverables included a suite of advanced technical developments in asset modelling and analysis. The professional relationships developed among industry competitors during this project are predicted to provide industry benefits for years to come.