On the background of scarce public resources, life cycle management of infrastructure systems has gained increasing importance. This paper presents the core components of a state-of-the-art life cycle management system for newly-completed structures. A service life design is one of…
On the background of scarce public resources, life cycle management of infrastructure systems has gained increasing importance. This paper presents the core components of a state-of-the-art life cycle management system for newly-completed structures. A service life design is one of the key elements. De- pending on the governing deterioration mechanisms, it can be carried out on different levels of detail. Quality control tools during construction and after completion allow for an assessment of the actual quality of the structure. The results of the design and construction stage are then summarized in a so-called birth certificate which forms the basis for future inspection and maintenance planning. The use of monitoring data gathered during the use of the structure to update the original service life design is demonstrated in part II of this paper.