Railway bridge asset management using a Petri-Net modelling approach

Infrastructure assets can be difficult to manage due to the array of defects, the variety of environmental situations and the different operational scenarios. A number of studies have tried to model bridge asset management. The main focus of these models has been on the deterioration profiling as capturing this can be complex. The model presented tries to model railway bridge detrioration as well as the inspection and intervention processes to give a more rounded overview of railway bridge asset management. A Petri-Net (PN) modelling approach is used accompanied by historical data, used to calibrate the deterioration of the model. Industry policies are used to govern the inspection and intervention procedures. Various aspects of the model have been adjusted or enhanced by industry experts. The model is simulated to provide essential outputs for railway bridge portfolio mangers