Data integration in asset management of municipal pipe networks in Sweden: Challenges, gaps, and potential drivers

Abstract

This study involved a survey of Swedish water utilities to evaluate their pipe-network data-collection objectives, usage, storage, and exchange routines. Factors impacting data integration (and the associated benefits) were also identified. Results showed that current data storage and exchange routines can be augmented to support commonly identified objectives and data utilisation needs, especially in larger water utilities. Levels of awareness of the opportunities for and benefits gained through asset management processes and data integration varied between utilities. Further research on the benefits of data integration in pipe network asset management is required to develop an evidence base on benefits accrued in practice, especially considering metadata, the diversity of legacy systems still in operation, costs and policy use.