⬱ Return to the Concurrent Session 2 Agenda

Moderator

Ahmad Alhasan, HNTB

Agenda

1. Introduction and overview of GAM (Ahmad Alhasan, Ph.D., P.E., HNTB | 1:30 – 1:45)
2. Data management applications (Ross Cutts, P.E., Schnabel Engineering | 1:45 – 2:10)
3. Risk Management and Performance Models: Activity (Ahmad Alhasan, Ph.D., P.E., HNTB | 2:10 – 2:40)
4. Agency perspective on benefits and challenges for implementing GAM (Laura Heckel, P.E., Illinois Department of Transportation | 2:40 – 3:00)
5. Discussion (Ahmad Alhasan, Ph.D., P.E., HNTB; Laura Heckel, P.E., Illinois Department of Transportation; Jerry A DiMaggio, PE, BC.GE, HNTB; Ross Cutts, P.E., Schnabel Engineering;  3:00 – 3:30)

Abstract

GAM has been gaining traction at the national level as an effective approach to manage geotechnical assets and support the transportation network to perform effectively. In this session, we will discuss the role of GAM within transportation asset management (TAM) practice and the potential role GAM plays in breaking the silos and improving resilience. The workshop will discuss the elements of a GAM program and the best practices to implement a risk-based GAM program as an integral part of agencies’ TAM and long-range planning. The discussion includes risk-based tiered data collection, which is used to estimate the return on investment (ROI) of data collection in GAM. Following the data collection and data management, we will discuss a quantitative risk management approach to evaluate the probabilistic performance of multiple geotechnical assets including cut slopes, earth retaining structures, and embankments. In this part, the audience will be asked to engage in an activity to evaluate the risks associated with selected geotechnical assets and what studies have been found in recent studies related to these risks. The probabilistic performance models will then be used to prioritize the management of these geotechnical assets and estimate the impacts on other TAM programs.

Following the discussion on the GAM program components and workflow, the workshop will shed light on the Illinois DOT perspective and some of the potential implementation benefits and challenges. The discussion will illustrate some of the initial findings in Illinois and discuss the unique role of a GAM program in managing some of the performance issues in pavement assets due to the deterioration of supporting and surrounding geotechnical assets.

In the last segment of the workshop, we will discuss the process to integrate GAM with other TAM programs and the benefits of a GAM program in improving transportation networks’ resilience. These improvements will require an integrated processes from the design phase to managing the transportation network during its service life.

Based on the workshop topics, the key takeaways are:

• Identify and understand the components and workflow of a geotechnical asset program
• The steps and challenges to establishing a proactive GAM program with a case study in Illinois
• The integration between GAM and TAM and the benefits to the transportation network
• The quantitative procedures to managing risk