SOLUTIONS

Linear Asset Management

Are you a business that is looking for better, more efficient ways to manage your linear assets? You’ve come to the right place!
At OverIT, our goal is to provide our clients with the best-of-breed software solution for managing linear assets in the field. Our company makes linear asset management (LAM) easier and more efficient by providing a platform that is available and functional wherever you may be. Before we get into the definition of linear asset management, we must first look at the definition of a linear asset versus the definitions of non-linear and vertical assets.

What is a linear asset?

Also called a continuous asset, these are technical systems that have a linear infrastructure. The attributes and condition data of said assets may vary from one section to another (dynamic segmentation), and the length has a crucial role in asset maintenance. Examples of a linear asset are:

Alongside them, there are also fixed assets and vertical assets, which are always part of the Linear Asset World Lines. To give an example: these include any utility pole, tower (including cells, radio, or water), and tall buildings that can be used for all communication services. Any structure, buildings, towers, or geographical features that could be used to install wireless transmission facilities would qualify as vertical assets. Any building, large or small, could be used for this purpose. It depends on its geographic location and the coverage required.

What is a Non-Linear Asset?

Assets that occupy a specific area and do not have a linear infrastructure are considered to be non-linear assets, and they can become complex assets. In addition, the complexity of non-linear assets is increasing due to their use in more advanced technologies such as smart grids and intelligent transportation systems. Hence, it is essential for asset management professionals to understand how to manage these types of assets.

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linear asset management railways
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linear asset management water

So What is Linear Asset Management?

Linear Asset Management is the process of life cycle management of linear assets, which is commonly performed by the service manager or an external contractor. With any asset management software, you need to be able to monitor asset conditions, identify any damage or defects, and manage asset maintenance. Effective linear asset management has three components: an infrastructure model, measurement data, and asset data.

Managing this kind of asset is a bit more complicated than dealing with fixed assets since said assets typically stretch across many miles. Asset managers should not approach it the way they address their enterprise assets.
Our asset management software offers an easy-to-use mobile solution with features that allow you to display, describe, and maintain linear assets as well as quickly retrieve your asset data.

Using OverIT software, you can maximize asset health and network performance, reliability, availability, and improve safety. Such things are possible along with the extension of the life cycle of the equipment. You can establish a standard process to boost efficiency in compliance with the asset management policies and connect to the entire organization. In addition, it will enable you and your team to make informed decisions and ensure regulatory compliance in the overall business operations.

Essential Factors of Effective Linear Asset Management

Managing a linear asset is a bit more complex than any other type of asset management. And many traditional enterprise asset management (EAM) systems do not include some functions like our linear asset management software does. It might be time to rethink your strategies if your management plan does not allow you to do the following:

  • Ability to Schedule Linear Assets Maintenance Dynamically – Due to the distance that these assets span, you need to break the asset down into specific identifiable sections to make inspection and maintenance easier,  optimize schedules and provide dramatic benefits in terms of efficiency, productivity, and cost saving.
  • Mobility in the Field, Even Offline – Linear assets are not fixed in one specific location, so your data retrieval and data collection need to be available whenever and wherever it is needed.
  • Embedded Geographic Information System (GIS) – Geographic Information System plays a crucial role in maintaining linear assets. The combination and cooperation of linear asset management software and Geographic Information System (GIS) data on both the backend and the mobile make maintenance run smoothly.
  • Implementing the Proper Management Strategies – An effective linear asset maintenance plan should include a proactive, health-based approach to asset maintenance. Condition monitoring and predictive or reliability-centered maintenance are crucial.
  • Clear Financial Picture of Linear Assets – You need to be able to record maintenance costs accurately, support the asset management districts or regions for each section of the linear asset, and manage construction projects efficiently.

Crucial Features of an Excellent Asset Management Plan

When choosing your linear asset maintenance software solution, be sure to do your research, including reading reviews of potential companies. There are many asset maintenance software solutions in the market, so you’ll want to ensure that you choose a platform with the following essential features.

  • Designed to satisfy industry specific needs
  • GIS features
  • Artificial Intelligence schedule optimization
  • High usability
  • Accurate and efficient
  • Mobile and always available (online & offline capabilities)
  • Augmented Reality to enable collaboration in the field
  • Knowledge management features to enable tribal knowledge

You need to be confident in the reliability of your Linear Asset Management (LAM) system. How can you ensure effective maintenance if you’re getting inaccurate data on your asset performance? An effective LAM system will also help you reduce maintenance costs by allowing you to streamline maintenance activities.

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Technology as a differentiator in Linear Asset Management

Technology, specifically Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence, and GIS, can be huge differentiators when managing and maintaining amounts of assets in defined location in the field.

When used together, the following three purpose-built technologies can provide a more seamless and efficient asset management experience.

Augmented Reality for LAM

Augmented Reality (AR) can provide the user with an enhanced and more efficient network asset management experience. AR can provide an overlay of information on top of the real-world environment, helping technicians with step-by-step instructions, and letting them visualize an asset record.

Artificial Intelligence for LAM

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used for dispatching work orders and improving the maintenance of these assets. This can help to improve the efficiency of the workforce and reduce overall costs.

GIS for LAM

Geographic Information System (GIS) play a critical role in running these assets, such as roads, pipelines, and power cables. GIS provides a powerful set of tools for managing, analyzing, and visualizing linear asset data. This, being asset intensive, is often spread out across a large area, making it difficult to manage and analyze a location without GIS. Geographic Information System can add value and help the infrastructure manager and analysts identify trends, patterns, and relationships in linear asset data. GIS can also be managed and used to create maps and reports that communicate them in a clear and concise way.

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How Do You Choose the Best Asset Management Software?

The most important step in choosing the best management software for your assets is to define your need and ask for product demos.
First, be sure to specify the features that you need in your linear asset maintenance solution. List the challenges you are facing and the requirements you have. And finally, search for solutions that easily integrate with third-party services.
Once that portion of your research is done, and your goals are defined, decide if any of the desired features from your list are negotiable.
If you need excellent linear asset management software, be sure to contact us at OverIT today. We help you to quickly and efficiently manage your linear assets!