A Strategic Framework for Urban Infrastructure Asset Management: Enhancing Longevity, Resilience, and Service Quality in City Assets

Urban areas have increasing demands to sustain infrastructure in the context of deteriorating assets and expanding populations. Accordingly, Infrastructure Asset Management (IAM) offers a systematic methodology to enhance planning, budgeting, and performance. This research presents a versatile IAM framework designed for urban environments to promote sustainable development.

A ten-stage framework was developed, starting with a preliminary report and ending with an infrastructure report card. SWOT analysis is carried out at every phase to assist decision-making and fulfill the city's requirements. A hypothetical case study illustrates the implementation of a budget allocation model with respect to the physical condition assessment using AHP and Lingo software.

The case study measures the infrastructure GPA for urban areas and regions in Saudi Arabia. A mathematical model improves budget allocation by considering infrastructure sector implications, condition assessment ratings, and required costs. City X had a GPA of 2.69 (D+), demonstrating the need for further investment in the specific infrastructure sector.

The developed model enables required financing, allocating available resources to critical areas such as wastewater management for the hypothetical case study. Budget limits result in planned cuts in lower-priority areas, affecting service quality. Continuing success requires strategic anticipation, regular evaluation, and varied financing flows.

The framework provides a logical model for urban Asset Management, considering lifespan cost, risk assessment, and level of service analysis. It enables data-driven decision-making and aids cities to tailor the framework to their location and resources. Extensive implementation may improve infrastructure sustainability, resilience, and consistency with national development goals.