AWWA IMTECH57878

The City of Winnipeg's Water and Waste Water Engineering Division was faced with several technological challenges. These technology challenges contributed to long term difficulties conducting project and asset management functions. The Engineering Division undertook a strategic planning initiative to address these technology concerns and to recommend alternative options to existing technology platforms to facilitate enhanced planning, asset, and project management functions. The Engineering Division employs a large number of asset management, modeling, and planning tools and packages. These systems are of various generations and platforms. Engineering consultants built some systems, while others were commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) packages. Most systems do not share data and operate independently from others. The Engineering Division identified the need to develop a long-range, sustainable asset management strategy supported by the proper technology tools and project management functions. The Engineering Division Information Strategic Plan (ISSP) was geared towards providing a direction for future technology application and integration, as well as an evaluation of the existing asset management strategy. The ISSP considered tools that are crucial to the planning, design, and implementation of water and wastewater systems. These tools included project management tools, modeling tools, flood management, document management, maintenance management, geographic information systems (GIS), as well as other supporting technologies. The Engineering Division is implementing comprehensive technology solutions that are cost effective and supportive of an overall asset management strategy. These solutions will enable efficient planning, effective design, and enhanced project management. Includes figures.