Linking asset management and GIS: developing a spatial decision support tool that indicates and visualizes the functional performance of viaducts and roads for replacement decisions at Rijkswaterstaat

The functional performance of viaducts plays an important role in replacement decisions at Rijkswaterstaat. Previous research has established performance indicators, which are used to determine the functional performance. These are traffic flow, geometry, load-bearing capacity, safety and noise emissions. However, it is complex to determine the functional performance of viaducts and roads, because data sources are fragmented. Therefore, this research aims to develop a spatial decision support tool that integrates these data sources and visualizes the functional performance on a 4 point scale (perfect, good, fair or poor) for viaducts and road sections. This research is design oriented and therefore, the methodological approach taken in this study is mainly a combination of systems engineering and the design cycle within design science. The main structure is divided into requirements, design and verification & validation. Based on a problem statement and research methods the requirements have been defined. This leads to a design solution which has been verified and validated. Additionally, some parts of the design need input from empirical research. The research is qualitative in nature and uses literature, workshops, unstructured interviews and a questionnaire as research methods.