Winning teams In the second part of our series looking at the 2021 Asset Management Excellence Awards, we feature the winners and finalists from sectors including transport, energy and power Corporate Transformation Award Binnies (formerly part of Black & Veatch) and Danish water company Aarhus Vand joined forces to update Aarhus Vands asset management systems, and, in doing so, the two firms created an excellent example of how high-quality asset management can transform corporations. The aim of the project was for Binnies to design and implement a datadriven asset management (ddAM) approach that would help Aarhus Vand refine its planning and decision-making processes. This would involve a radical change in how Aarhus Vand collected data for investment planning: instead of using anecdotal expert knowledge, the planning system would use static and dynamic data for a more evidence-based approach. Having better data would mean the asset projects could then be assessed under an agreed set of key performance indicators (KPIs), giving Aarhus Vand a level of insight into the business performance that would be a driving force for further improvement and investment. To improve Aarhus Vands communication with stakeholders, both teams worked to develop a set of frameworks measuring asset value, risk, and criticality. Having a unified and quantifiable basis for risk evaluation builds confidence in investment planning by providing evidence and reducing the level of uncertainty in decision-making. The frameworks allow decisions to be auditable and ensure all processes meet ISO 55000 asset management standards. Integrating complex asset management systems into an established company is a challenging task but, through extensive training and with the help of Binnies structured data-driven approach, Aarhus Vand was able to overcome these obstacles. The new approach introduced by Binnies has not only optimised current ways of working but has also created an opportunity for Aarhus Vand to grow and work towards its wider goals, including its target of reaching net zero by 2030. This is crucial to Aarhus Vands aim to place itself at the forefront of the water industry. The approach introduced by Binnies has optimised current ways of working and also created an opportunity for Aarhus Vand to grow and work towards its wider goals Sustainability and Climate Impact Award The M25 is one of the busiest and most strategically important transport assets in Europe, with more than 250,000 vehicles using the 440km network per day. It is often associated with a large carbon footprint and extensive resource requirements. This award recognises the impact asset management professionals can have on sustainability and climate change. In a perfect example of this, Connect Plus which manages and maintains the M25, together with its strategic supply chain partner, Connect Plus Services (CPS) has recently completed a trial period involving the installation of a new surface course, made up of 50 per cent reclaimed asphalt (RA). This led to an overall carbon footprint reduction of 58 per cent. RA is a road surfacing material made by recycling old asphalt surfaces and incorporating them into new ones. The M25 has benefited from RA surfaces in the past, but success was limited by restrictions on the amount of RA allowed in surface mixes. This was where Connect Plus and CPS played an important role. They put together an expert team of delivery providers that would be able to source suitable materials and complete the extensive processing and testing needed, to introduce the first-ever 50 per cent RA surface on the motorway. Thanks to the rigorous and innovative approach to the testing process, which went above and beyond national standards, the team were able to give National Highways the confidence to approve the trial. The results have been resoundingly positive. On top of the 58 per cent carbon output reduction, the new surface has significantly reduced the amount of primary resources needed. It is estimated to be able to increase economic efficiency by eight per cent: a win for both asset management and sustainability in the transport sector. Read more about this innovative project The installation of a new surface course, made up of 50 per cent reclaimed asphalt (RA), has led to an overall carbon fo otprint reduction of 58 per cent Resilience Award In the Oxford English Dictionary, the word resilience has two definitions: toughness, the ability to recover from difficulties; and elasticity, the ability of an object to move and spring back into shape. During the past two years, the Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC), a subsidiary of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has shown both of these characteristics, managing to weather the impact of COVID-19 without losing the spirit of innovation and flexibility on which it prides itself. Good transportation is essential to a city as large and fast-growing as Dubai. DTC aims to meet this demand while providing the highest quality customer service. Keeping up with the citys high standards requires an equally high standard of asset management, something DTC has successfully maintained since becoming an accredited ISO 55001:2014 organisation in 2014. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on private hire use in Dubai; many people now work from home or are uncomfortable travelling in taxis. This has resulted in significant revenue loss for the DTC leading to tariffs being reduced by 50 per cent, which has had a knock-on effect on drivers salaries and working conditions. In an example of flexibility in the face of challenges, the DTC Asset Management Department made a strategic decision to save vehicle upkeep costs by putting 18 per cent of the taxi fleet maintenance plan on hold. The decision was not made lightly and posed an additional challenge with fulfilment of taxis to serve the forthcoming Expo2020 event (postponed to 2021-22), which would require 900 more vehicles in the fleet. However, DTCs robust asset management system meant these requirements could be met even with the COVID-19 plan still in place. DTCs response to COVID-19 and to Expo2020 is an example of the resilience this award celebrates: the ability to adapt to changing requirements without compromising on quality or company values. Nasser Al Haj, Director of Assets Department, DTC An example of flexibility in the face of challenges, the DTC Asset Management Department made a strategic decision to save on vehicle upkeep costs by putting 18 per cent of the fleet maintenance plan on hold McKeown Award for Individual Achievement Dr Hossein Sharifpour, CEO of the Tehran-based management consultancy firm Petro Contact Navigators (PCN), has devoted many years of his professional career to his own research and development in the field of asset management, and his commitment to the spirit of mutual collaboration and support in the sector has remained steadfast. During the past four years, Dr Sharifpour has carried out a great deal of work sharing the knowledge of asset management with Farsi-speaking professionals and policymakers, especially within the energy sector. Thanks to his dedication and the work of his team, the IAM model has been adopted as a primary reference system for many Iranian industry sectors, laying the foundations for a range of new projects. Dr Sharifpours strategy focuses on sharing knowledge surrounding the IAMs vision, which explains his meticulous approach of referring back to the IAM guidelines at every opportunity. As well as personally contributing to the process of compiling the IAMs Subject Specific Guidelines (SSG), he has built and led a multidisciplinary team of professionals to put together official Farsi translations of some of the main IAM documents, making them accessible for more than 110 million more potential readers. He has also contributed to the design and development of maturity-level assessment software and algorithms, including an asset management capability system based on the IAM maturity scale. The impact of Dr Sharifpours work reaches beyond the asset management sector and into the wider ecosystem of resources and infrastructure in Asia. He has proven himself to be a skilled, versatile and dedicated asset management professional with a true commitment to the IAM and its values: an ideal candidate for this award. Read more from Dr Sharifpour in the previous issue of Assets Dr Sharifpour has built and led a multidisciplinary team to put together official Farsi translations of some of the main IAM documents, making them accessible for more than 110 million more potential readers Dr Hossein Sharifpour