The AGIC National Sustainability Rating Scheme covers the design, construction and operational aspects of infrastructure. The AGIC Board identified the need for supporting research in the area of operations of infrastructure due to the many challenges presented in the sustainable management of this phase during an asset’s life. As a result, a collaborative research project was instigated with the Cooperative Research Centre for Infrastructure Engineering and Asset Management (CIEAM).

CIEAM is based at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane and has funded a significant research project in close cooperation with AGIC.

This project focuses on the operations and maintenance components of infrastructure for the effective delivery of sustainability outcomes in asset management. There will be significant interaction between CIEAM researchers and the AGIC team responsible for the development of an integrated framework for sustainability assessment in infrastructure delivery and operational management.

The CIEAM research will not only underpin the operational component of the AGIC scheme, but will also assist in assessing how it is performing in the transformation of the infrastructure industry for more sustainable outcomes.

The project will research and develop resources (metrics, decision support tools, techniques and training packages) to optimise the performance of infrastructure owners and operators by incorporating sustainability as one of the key elements of asset management and operation.

The project will focus on:

• scientific validation of the social, environmental, and economic performance measurement and assessment systems that will assist AGIC and industry with the development of a nationally consistent sustainability framework and rating scheme for the operational performance of infrastructure;
• providing resources and education to facilitate climate adaptation in asset management; and
• researching the need for, and developing decision support tools, techniques and training packages that will enable infrastructure managers to deliver more sustainable outcomes from the operation of their assets.

The rating scheme for sustainability performance measures developed by AGIC will also be incorporated into an evolving Asset Management Capability Maturity Model (AMCaMM). This will facilitate the integration of sustainability as a mainstream consideration in business decisions and industry priorities.

CIEAM and AGIC hold regular industry workshops with a view to sharing research outcomes and potential benefits.

AGIC has completed the final draft of the authorship of the assessment manuals and scoring spreadsheets and is testing the pilot version of its national rating tool in the period September to December 2011. The kick off workshop for round one projects was held in August and site assessment starts on 1st September. Round one projects are the Eastern Busway project in Brisbane incorporating flyovers, tunnels and on ground busways and the Logan Water Alliance (LWA) Logan Village water main, a 4.5 kilometre pipeline in the Logan Village area in South east Queensland.

Expressions of interest for round two trials closed on 12th August and approximately 10 projects will be selected from the various States and the Northern Territory and these projects will test the robustness of the AGIC tool.

Lessons learnt from the trials will be incorporated in the final released version of the tool.

CIEAM will also partner with AGIC to develop and deliver industry training sessions for AGIC members and industry on how to apply the tool in their organisations. It has run successful introductory programs during May and June in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne and programs are currently being planned for Darwin, Canberra, Perth and Adelaide.

The CIEAM project team includes industry and academic professionals from Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, in Engineering, Asset Management, Urban Design, Architecture, Sustainability and Economics. The team also includes post-graduate thesis work in mathematical modeling and systems analyses that will provide asset managers with decision support resources to facilitate high sustainability ratings in infrastructure operation, maintenance and upgrading.

The project team is lead by AGIC Chairman, and QUT Adjunct Professor, David Hood (davidahood@mac.com), supported by QUT Professor of Infrastructure Management, Arun Kumar (arun.kumar@qut.edu.au).

The AGIC Board looks forward to the outcomes of the CIEAM three year research program and the release of the AGIC National Rating Scheme for sustainability in Parliament House Canberra In February 2012. To receive regular updates on AGIC’s activities, email your details to AGIC’s Office Manager Liz Conway at (lconway@agic.net.au).