November 2022 - 14

BEST PRACTICES
Data Management
Transit agencies can implement tools such as predictive
analytics, artificial intelligence and digital twins to bring
powerful decision support systems, create proactive knowledge
management solutions and streamlined work practices.
Data Management Maturity is Key to the
Future of Managing Our Infrastructure
By Jeff Siegel
Director
Technology Solutions Center, HNTB
CHICAGO, IL * Public transit agencies and other infrastructure
managers need a strong foundation of data governance and
management to fully tap into the potential of new technologies
that help automate or optimize asset management practices.
The time to start is now.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides a generational
opportunity for the United States to improve how
public transit agencies serve the public and determine the best
path to manage, operate and maintain those investments for
the long-term.
Transit agencies can implement tools such as predictive analytics,
artificial intelligence and digital twins to bring powerful
decision support systems, create proactive knowledge management
solutions and streamlined work practices. The promise and
success stories from recent implementations are driving these
technologies to become the new normal throughout transportation
agencies and supporting industry partners.
Predictive analytics, for example, can be used to forecast
future maintenance needs long before they become a problem.
Artificial intelligence, through machine learning, can proactively
identify patterns in asset operations to notify infrastructure
managers of improved preventative maintenance schedules.
14 | Mass Transit | MassTransitmag.com | NOVEMBER 2022
Digital twins will continue to have limitless possibilities, including
3D virtual environments used for operations control,
workforce training/simulation and utility network traceability.
To better prepare for this technology-driven future, public
agencies must create an organizational structure that supports
sound data management fundamentals and an agile mindset
to implementation. A mature data governance approach is
essential to support agency operations and long-term asset
management goals.
Enterprise digital transformation initiatives in support of
asset management advancement can be a significant change
in how an agency manages its assets. It is important an agency
remains agile during this process by focusing on incremental
change while providing staff with the training and support
needed to meet its long-term goals, but it is also best supported
by agencies that have invested in data governance and management
strategies that support distributed data ownership,
stewardship and extreme accessibility.
There are countless examples of agencies embarking on this
journey. For example, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation
Authority (SEPTA) is implementing an enterprise asset
management system through an incremental, stakeholder-intensive
strategy across all its departments and building an effective
network of stewards to support future implementation phases.
A grand vision of the future that embraces innovation is what
drives these initiatives forward. None of it will work without the
full " buy in " and encouragement of agency leadership. Focusing
on establishing the fundamentals and practices that embrace
change - which is sure to come - will make all the difference.
60945812 | PureSolution | Dreamstime
http://www.MassTransitmag.com
November 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2022
