“Adaptative” User Interface as a Support for Evaluation Analysis in the Context of Asset Management

The long term management of a production asset raises several major issues among which rank the technical management of the plant, its economics and the fleet level perspective one has to adopt. Decision makers are therefore faced with the need to define long term policies (up to the end of asset operation) which take into account multiple criteria including safety (which is paramount) and performance. In this context, EDF “PWR Durability I & II” research projects have consecutively been launched, since 2001, at EDF - Research & Development in order to develop methods and tools for EDF fleet. The aim of this paper is to summarize and analyze the research work that has been performed by EDF - R&D (in the field of decision making for nuclear power plant maintenance and operation) during the past seven year, in order to characterize the issues that have been or could be addressed with the developed methodology and tools. As a result, in this paper, we first remind the reader of the EDF overall methodology for asset management and its adaptations to plant-level life cycle management and to fleet-level component major replacement or capital investment management. We then focus on the three software tools that implement this methodology in order to allow decision makers, in several different contexts (life-cycle management, plant level operation and maintenance optimization, major component replacement ...) to define, evaluate and analyze long term plant operation and maintenance policies, major component replacement policies and capital investment strategies. We also show how the methodology and the software tools were used, from 2003 to 2007, on several pilot case studies. Examples of technical and economic results obtained for two pilot case studies (one at the plant level, the other at the fleet level) are described as well as the kinds of conclusions one can draw from them in order to help decision makers evaluate and analyze long term asset management strategies or compare different plants. We also analyze the added value of probabilistic evaluations and of our “rolling-up” process that allows to take into account interactions between the components of the plant or between the plants. Finally, we propose a classification of issues that can be addressed with our methodology and tools and introduce some perspectives for our future work.

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Asset Management Evaluation: Extended Pilot Case Studies

Volume 7: Operations, Applications and Components ◽

10.1115/pvp2007-26354 ◽

2007 ◽

Author(s):

P. Hai¨k ◽

C. Bauby ◽

J. Lonchampt ◽

E. Remy

Keyword(s):

Case Studies ◽

Asset Management ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Software Tool ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Added Value ◽

Maintenance Policies ◽

Plant Level ◽

And Performance

The long term management of a production asset raises several major issues among which rank the technical management of the plant, its economics and the fleet level perspective one has to adopt. Decision makers are therefore faced with the need to define long term policies (up to the end of asset operation) which take into account multiple criteria including safety (which is paramount) and performance. In this paper we first remind the reader of the EDF three-level methodology for asset management. As introduced in PVP 03 [1] and PVP 04 [2], this methodology addresses the component/technical level (how to safely operate daily and invest for the future), the plant level (how to translate technical decisions into plant-wide consequences including economic performance) and the fleet level (how to manage a large number of similar assets). We then focus on the software tools — introduced in PVP 04 [2] and PVP 05 [4] — that implement this methodology in order to allow decision makers to define, evaluate and analyze long term plant operation and maintenance policies. Lastly we show how the methodology and the software tool were used, in 2006, on two pilot case studies. Examples of technical and economic results obtained at the plant level are described as well as the conclusions one can draw from them in order to help decision makers evaluate and analyze long term asset management strategies or compare different plants. We also analyze the added value of probabilistic evaluations and of our “rolling-up” process that allows to take into account interactions existing between the components of the plant. Finally, we introduce some of the possible uses of our methodology and tools.

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Asset Management Evaluation: A Pilot Case Study

Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology ◽

10.1115/1.2389032 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 129 (1) ◽

pp. 148-154

Author(s):

C. E. Bauby ◽

B. Charbonnier ◽

P. Haik ◽

S. Lacombe ◽

J. Lonchampt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Asset Management ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Software Tool ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Technical Management ◽

Maintenance Policies ◽

Plant Level ◽

And Performance

The long term management of a production asset raises several major issues, among which rank the technical management of the plant, its economics, and the fleet level perspective one has to adopt. Decision makers are therefore faced with the need to define long term policies (up to the end of asset operation) that take into account multiple criteria including safety (which is paramount) and performance. In this paper we first remind the reader of the EDF three-level methodology for asset management. As introduced in PVP 2003 and PVP 2004, this methodology addresses the component/technical level (how to safely operate daily and invest for the future), the plant level (how to translate technical decisions into plant-wide consequences including economic performance), and the fleet level (how to manage a large number of similar assets). We then focus on the software tool that implements this methodology in order to allow decision makers to define, evaluate, and analyze long term plant operation and maintenance policies. Lastly we show how the methodology and the software tool were used on a pilot case study. The technical and economic results obtained at the plant level are described as well as the conclusions one can draw from them in order to help decision makers evaluate and analyze long term asset management strategies.

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Asset Management Evaluation: A Pilot Case Study

Volume 7: Operations, Applications, and Components ◽

10.1115/pvp2005-71598 ◽

2005 ◽

Author(s):

C. E. Bauby ◽

B. Charbonnier ◽

P. Haik ◽

S. Lacombe ◽

J. Lonchampt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Asset Management ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Software Tool ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Technical Management ◽

Maintenance Policies ◽

Plant Level ◽

And Performance

The long term management of a production asset raises several major issues among which rank the technical management of the plant, its economics and the fleet level perspective one has to adopt. Decision makers are therefore faced with the need to define long term policies (up to the end of asset operation) which take into account multiple criteria including safety (which is paramount) and performance. In this paper we first remind the reader of the EDF three-level methodology for asset management. As introduced in PVP 2003 and PVP 2004, this methodology addresses the component/technical level (how to safely operate daily and invest for the future), the plant level (how to translate technical decisions into plant-wide consequences including economic performance) and the fleet level (how to manage a large number of similar assets). We then focus on the software tool that implements this methodology in order to allow decision makers to define, evaluate and analyze long term plant operation and maintenance policies. Lastly we show how the methodology and the software tool were used on a pilot case study. The technical and economic results obtained at the plant level are described as well as the conclusions one can draw from them in order to help decision makers evaluate and analyze long term asset management strategies.

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“Adaptative” User Interface for Expert Knowledge Validation and Evaluations Interpretation in an Asset Management Process

Volume 7: Operations, Applications and Components ◽

10.1115/pvp2007-26355 ◽

2007 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

P. Hai¨k ◽

S. Parfouru ◽

C. Bauby ◽

S. Mahe

Keyword(s):

User Interface ◽

Asset Management ◽

Expert Knowledge ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Technical Management ◽

Base Content ◽

Maintenance Policies ◽

And Performance

The long term management of a production asset raises several major issues among which rank the technical management of the plant, its economics and the fleet level perspective one has to adopt. Decision makers are therefore faced with the need to define long term policies (up to the end of asset operation) which take into account multiple criteria including safety (which is paramount) and performance. In this paper we first remind the reader of the EDF three-level methodology for asset management. We then focus on the knowledge model and on the software tools that implement this methodology in order to gather, preserve, share, maintain and exploit the expert knowledge needed for asset management and to allow decision makers to define, evaluate and analyze long term plant operation and maintenance policies. Lastly, as the quality of the processed plant level evaluations (operation & maintenance strategies are evaluated, at a plantlevel, through a set of technical and economic indicators) and their interpretation relies on the quality of the knowledge captured in the tools, we focus on the definition of a “adaptative” user interface — based on Electronic Structured Documents — that allows technical/strategic experts and decision makers to consult the useful pieces of knowledge in a context dependent way. Such an interface, which, in a near future, should be fully implemented in the tools will facilitate the validation of the knowledge-base content and the analysis of the processed results.

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Asset Management Evaluation Methods: The EDF Perspective

Aging Management and Component Analysis ◽

10.1115/pvp2003-2155 ◽

2003 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Catherine E. Bauby ◽

Vale´ry E. Just ◽

Caroline Garreau

Keyword(s):

Asset Management ◽

Economic Assessment ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Component Level ◽

Technical Management ◽

Management Evaluation ◽

Equipment Reliability ◽

Plant Level ◽

And Performance

The long term management of a production asset raises several major issues, among which rank the technical management of the plant, its economics and the fleet level perspective one has to adopt. Decision makers are therefore faced with the need to define long term policies (until the end of the life of the asset) which take into account multiple criteria including safety (which is paramount) and performance. In this paper we describe the French context where EDF (Electricite´ de France) is both Plant Owner and Operator of a fleet of 58 PWRs. We introduce a three-level methodology for asset management: the component / technical level (how to safely operate daily and invest for the future), the plant level (how to translate technical decisions into plant-wide consequences including economic performance) and the fleet level (how to manage a large number of similar assets). We then focus on the theoretical and practical links one can draw between the component level and the plant level. We describe several plant-wide indicators that are used to assess the value of the asset and we show how they can be inferred from the component-level technical and economic assessment (long-term equipment reliability, maintenance strategies, ...) by « rolling up » component level plans into a plant-wide decision process while taking into account the various sources of uncertainty associated with this assessment. We finally exemplify how this process could be applied to the life management of nuclear assets. To conclude, it appears asset management can be a major means for assessing and enhancing the long term value of a production unit while meeting everyday constraints.

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A Decision Support Tool for Wastewater Catchment Management

Water Practice & Technology ◽

10.2166/wpt.2007.029 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

Author(s):

S.E. Walters ◽

D. Savic ◽

R.J. Hocking

Keyword(s):

Decision Support ◽

Asset Management ◽

Capital Investment ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Sewage Treatment ◽

Decision Support Tool ◽

Catchment Management ◽

Clean Water ◽

Support Tool ◽

South West

The water industry over the years has primarily focussed on upgrading and investing in clean water provision. However, as research into the science and management of clean water services has progressed rapidly, wastewater provision and services has been slower. Focus, though, is now shifting within Industry and Research into wastewater services. The water regulator, Ofwat, for England and Wales demands the Sewerage Undertakers demonstrate efficient management of wastewater systems in order to obtain funding for Capital Investment projects. South West Water, a Water Service Provider and Sewerage Undertaker located in the South West of England, identified a need gap in their asset management strategies for wastewater catchments. This paper will introduce the production of a Decision Support Tool, DST, to help SWW proactively manage their Wastewater Catchments, examining Sewage Treatment Works, Pumping Stations and Networks. The paper will discuss some concepts within the DST, its production, testing and a brief case study. The DST provides a framework for prioritising catchments to optimise investment choices and actions. The Tool ranks catchments utilising Compromise Programming, CP, as well as AHP Pair-wise comparisons for preference weights. The DST incorporates Asset models, a Whole life Costing Module, as well as a Decay and Intervention Module.

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Linking Scientific Research to Development Agenda

Advances in Geospatial Technologies - Handbook of Research on Geospatial Science and Technologies ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-3440-2.ch023 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 374-391

Author(s):

P. K. Kenabatho ◽

B. P. Parida ◽

B. Matlhodi ◽

D.B. Moalafhi

Keyword(s):

Case Studies ◽

Scientific Community ◽

Scientific Research ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Knowledge Generation ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Scientific Investigations ◽

Development Agenda ◽

The Impact

In recent years, the scientific community has been urged to undertake research that can immediately have impact on development issues, including national policies, strategies, and people's livelihoods, among others. While this is a fair call from decision makers, it should also be realized that science by nature is about innovation, discovery and knowledge generation. In this context, there is need for a balance between long term scientific investigations and short term scientific applications. With regard to the former, researchers spend years investigating (or need data of sufficient record length) to provide sound and reliable solutions to a problem at hand while in the latter, it is possible to reach a solution with few selected analyses. In all cases, it is advisable that researchers, where possible should link their studies to topical development issues in their case studies. In this paper, we use a hydrometeorological project in the Notwane catchment, Botswana, to show the importance of linking research to development agenda for mutual benefit of researchers and policy makers. The results indicate that some key development issues are being addressed by the Project and the scope exists to improve the impact of the project.

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Tool Sharpening: Designing a Human-Computer Interface

Proceedings of the Human Factors Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/154193128502900516 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 29 (5) ◽

pp. 475-479 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

R. S. Fish ◽

K. Gandy ◽

D. L. Imhoff ◽

R. A. Virzi

Keyword(s):

User Interface ◽

Systems Engineering ◽

User Interfaces ◽

Interface Design ◽

Development Time ◽

Software Tools ◽

Computer Interface ◽

Human Computer Interface ◽

Human Interface

In software engineering the argument in favor of using software tools to produce robust code is widely accepted. We maintain that the use of such tools is key to the engineering of effective user interfaces as well. Here we report on our experiences using a variety of tools to design a user interface, including cases where it was necessary to alter (sharpen) the tool in order to do the job properly. In addition to producing an effective interface, this approach led to shortened development time and far greater adherence to human systems engineering requirements. We believe that the long-term success of human interface specialists will depend on their ability to use and sharpen software tools to expedite the interface design process.

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A service-oriented approach to assessing the infrastructure value index

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2016.250 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 74 (2) ◽

pp. 542-548 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

R. Amaral ◽

H. Alegre ◽

J. S. Matos

Keyword(s):

Asset Management ◽

Research Work ◽

Deferred Maintenance ◽

Maintenance And Rehabilitation ◽

Service Oriented ◽

Standard Values ◽

Current Value ◽

Water Companies ◽

Oriented Approach

Many national and regional administrations are currently facing challenges to ensure long-term sustainability of urban water services, as infrastructures continue to accumulate alarming levels of deferred maintenance and rehabilitation. The infrastructure value index (IVI) has proven to be an effective tool to support long-term planning, in particular by facilitating the ability to communicate and to create awareness. It is given by the ratio between current value of an infrastructure and its replacement cost. Current value is commonly estimated according to an asset-oriented approach, which is based on the concept of useful life of individual components. The standard values assumed for the useful lives can vary significantly, which leads to valuations that are just as different. Furthermore, with water companies increasingly focused on the customer, effective service-centric asset management is essential now more than ever. This paper shows results of on-going research work, which aims to explore a service-oriented approach for assessing the IVI. The paper presents the fundamentals underlying this approach, discusses and compares results obtained from both perspectives and points to challenges that still need to be addressed.

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