Transportation Asset Management Decision Support Tools: Computational Complexity, Transparency, and Realism

Asset management decision support tools determine which action (maintenance, rehabilitation, or reconstruction) is applied to each facility in a transportation network and when. Sophisticated tools recognize uncertainties and consider emerging priorities. However, these tools are often computationally complex and lack transparency, the models are difficult to evaluate, and the outputs are challenging to validate. This paper explores computational complexity, transparency, and realism in transportation asset management decision support tools to better understand how to select the right tools for a particular context. Descriptions of how state departments of transportation in the United States make use of optimization in their mandated transportation asset management plans to make decisions are used to understand the needs of states. This qualitative analysis serves as a review of the goals and practices of state agencies. An existing asset management tool is then used to demonstrate the tradeoffs involved in accurately capturing the decision-making process and complexity. The results provide examples of strategies that agencies can use when selecting decision support tools and for researchers and tool developers working toward developing the right tool for an application.