SIMPLE—Sustainable Infrastructure Management Program Learning Environment

Abstract

Sustainable Infrastructure Management Program Learning Environment (SIMPLE) is a web based asset management knowledge tool set hosted by the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF). It is an intuitive and user-friendly set of on-line process and practice guidelines, templates and decision support tools designed for asset management practitioners, SIMPLE can: (1) Simplify and guide the development of effective Enterprise-Wide Asset Management plans, and (2) provide practical implementation guidelines for agencies to assess and drive meaningful improvements in asset management for Water and Wastewater Infrastructure. As a knowledge management system, it also makes asset management principles and practices comprehensible and promotes information exchange among practitioners with various needs and experience levels (through chat rooms, technical forums etc.). The SIMPLE on line knowledge base has undergone a favourable peer-review and validation process through a beta testing program involving utility agencies from around the world. WERF and the Water Research Foundation (WRF) have also partnered to create an Asset Management Self Assessment Tool (SAM-GAP) tailored to the North American water utility industry. Through the Global Water Research Coalition (GWRC), WERF and the Water Research Foundation have partnered with other international research organisations, United Kingdom Water Industry Research (UKWIR) and the Water Services Association Australia (WSAA) to create a Benefit-Cost Tool and a Risk Management Tool now incorporated into SIMPLE. Life Cycle Costing, Capital Investment Planning, Asset Registers and Hierarchies, Condition Assessment, Valuation and Failure Mode Analysis are also in development for the future.

Users of the SIMPLE web site (www.werf.org): Utility managers and operators, state and federal regulators, appointed and elected officials, engineering consultants, and managers and owners of contract operation firms.