Two years ago, Rijkswaterstaat, BAM, Heijmans, Istimewa, SPIE, and Vialis signed a memorandum of understanding. In seven pilot projects, they explored how data could be used in the maintenance of Rijkswaterstaats pumping stations, bridges, locks, and tunnels.

This was the much-needed boost, says Tjeerd de Jong, program manager for Data-driven Asset Management at Rijkswaterstaat. The seven selected projects formed a cross-section of the Rijkswaterstaat arsenal, which sometimes made data access complicated.

Not every project, for example, had real-time data available. You shouldnt wait for that because then youre letting the slowest wagon determine the speed. We worked pragmatically with what was available and tried to be inventive and creative.

Opening and Closing

And so, the success of one project stands out more than another, although data has added value in all seven pilot projects. Especially at the Volkerak locks. Vialis is responsible for maintenance there, and in 2023, a problem arose.

Head of asset management Jan van der Lee: At sluice head D, there was an issue with opening and closing the doors. The first solution was for the operator to repeatedly open and close them until it worked, sometimes only after ten tries. Naturally, the busy sluice traffic was greatly affected.

Few Euros

As part of the DGAM pilot project, log data was collected and analyzed, revealing abnormal values in one hydraulic installation during the flapping of the doors. We then focused on this, says Van der Lee.

With the help of data analysis and the domain knowledge of Rijkswaterstaat, Vialis, and the supplier, we were able to peel back the problem until the culprit was discovered: a broken rubber O-ring, costing a few euros.

It was replaced, and the problem was resolved. The beauty is that we can now perform predictive maintenance on other locks with the collected data and prevent O-ring issues.

Alarm Bell

Richard Pijpelink, director of Istimewa Elektro, is involved in the program through Sluis Empel. In this pilot project, the data provided new insights, particularly with the hydraulic installations, leading to more reliable alarms.

Data-driven asset management provides information through data, giving you additional knowledge about the functioning of your asset, explains Pijpelink. This knowledge gives you insight into what to focus on during maintenance to detect and prevent malfunctions.

However, data-driven asset management will never make the technical personnel on the assets redundant. Their specific knowledge is essential for correctly interpreting the data. De Jong: Data-driven asset management is an extra tool in your toolbox.

Willingness

Over the next four years, data-driven asset management will be rolled out across all bridges, locks, tunnels, and pumping stations managed by Rijkswaterstaat. Ron Kolkman, CIO at Rijkswaterstaat, states that this requires a significant investment upfront.

From Rijkswaterstaat and market parties. Suppliers, for example, will need to act on the added value of data systems, so our assets can have as much real-time data as possible.

De Jong adds: Otherwise, youre somewhat looking back. But fortunately, I see that willingness.

Lessons Learned

All knowledge from the seven pilot projects is extensively described on World Class Maintenance (WCM) Vector, the open-access learning community in the field of maintenance and asset management. Interested asset managers can find the lessons learned and the knowledge products that data-driven asset management has already delivered before they start working with it themselves.

Working with data-driven asset management will take some getting used to, Kolkman expects. But fortunately, there are always pioneers who will pave the way for others. And we will continue to enrich this knowledge system.

More Information on Data-driven Asset Management

Want to read more about data-driven asset management? Then read the article An Additional Tool in the Toolbox in the latest magazine Rijkswaterstaat Business & Innovation.