Research

A major challenge is the current ageing of many infrastructure assets. Structural deterioration and increasing failure rates hamper performances and increase risks. Predicting assets performances and risks is an important research focus where we apply different techniques like reliability modelling, data mining, trend analysis and expert judgement.

A second major research focus is to find the best life cycle strategies such as maintenance, major overhauls, modifications and replacements. For this, approaches like Markov Decision Processes and Real Option Analysis have been deployed to develop new LCC-models that address the infrastructure optimisation challenges faced by public sector organisations.

This research is cross-disciplinary and combines aspects of engineering economics, reliability engineering, operations research and system dynamics.