The "Asset Management" approach

Asset management planning provides a structured and auditable process for plan- ning long term investment in infrastructure. The irrigation sector has a pressing need for an efficient means to facilitate strategic investment decisions based upon a clear overview of objectives, options, costs, benefits and competing needs. This paper describes research carried out in Indonesia to assess the feasibility of transferring asset management planning proce- dures developed for the United Kingdom water industry to the irrigation sector. The 6-month study found notable similarities and some differences between the two applications. Modified procedures were developed accordingly and tested in field trials. It is concluded that there are significant opportunities for the application of the approach as developed in the UK using statistically based sampling procedures. From the experience of the study and the field trials the approach is found to be highly relevant and practicable.