Ayres Knowledge Center Infrastructure Asset Management | 页面 4

Background
In spring 2017, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released the 2017 Report Card for
America’s Infrastructure. Comparable to a school report card, the study outlines the condition of our
nation’s bridges, water,
transportation, and
other infrastructure in
letter grade format. The
previous ASCE report
card, released in 2013,
rated America’s
cumulative GPA for
infrastructure at a D+.
The overall grade in
2017 remained at D+,
illustrating the dire need
for greater investment
in our nation’s
infrastructure. As you
look at the key elements
Figure 1 – ASCE Grades Chart
Ayres Associates can
help communities manage – roads, parks, bridges, schools, and wastewater among them – it’s obvious
that all of these are in need of help.
How?
The first step is awareness and education. We’re all familiar with the old adage “out of sight, out of
mind.” This mentality rings especially true with our underground infrastructure. Constituents see
deteriorating buildings, signage, and roads (especially potholes), so these issues tend to get addressed
first. But what about our underground assets? We need to do a better job of informing and educating
the stakeholders, including residents, making sure they appreciate and understand the benefits and
value of our infrastructure.
We also need to make sure we’re holding our public officials accountable to allocate and manage the
financial resources that are required to maintain our infrastructure at the desired service levels. We also
need to make sure our city, village, and town staff are addressing the immediate needs of the
community and following preventive maintenance schedules in a timely and organized manner to
maximize asset life cycles.
Challenges – From the “People” Perspective
One of the biggest challenges in managing and maintaining our infrastructure is our aging population.
With the recent escalation of the stock market, portfolios are increasing again, and baby boomers are
retiring at a rate of 10,000 per day 2 . This results in tremendous loss of institutional memory – as well as
overall workers.
2
Pew Research Center, http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2010/12/29/baby-boomers-retire/
1