Public Infrastructure, which may include roads, bridges, traffic signs, power distribution systems, water lines, sewer lines are public assets. Each requires specific management techniques and maintenance schedules. GIS and GPS can be used to keep ahead of the maintenance curve. With valid information entered into a GIS using GPS and PDA technologies, as GIS can tell managers when maintenance must occur before the cost curve is surpassed.

GIS systems also help managers and emergency workers respond more quickly and affectively to problems by understanding the qualities of the asset before even leaving the office or station.

Asset Management

Managing public assets correctly involves a systematic process of operating, maintaining, and upgrading physical assets in a cost-effective manner. Asset management systems are goal driven and include components of field data collection, strategy evaluation, project management, program selection and feedback. The understood model of asset management program development clearly addresses integration of decisions made across all program areas. What is the purpose? To maximize benefits of a transportation program to its customers (public) and users (employees), based on well defined goals and within available resources (time, man-power, funds, cooperation, knowledge). GIS and GPS enterprises can be developed to manage all of your public assets.

GIS-based Asset Management Systems developed by Applied Environmental help local governments comply with GASB34. “GASB” is the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, which monitors the financial reporting methods for state and local governments. 34 refers to Statement No. 34: Basic Financial Statements--and Management's Discussion and Analysis--for State and Local Governments, in effect since 1979. In June 1999, the GASB proposed significant changes to Statement No. 34. The new initiative, known at GASB34, intends to better reflect the way the current infrastructure is accounted for, thereby making financial reporting easier and more comprehensive for today's state and local government agencies.

Methods for Complying with GASB34

The new GASB34 standards provide two methods for reporting infrastructure assets:

1. Reporting infrastructure assets by calculating the historic cost less depreciation
2. Reporting using an infrastructure Asset Management System. This is known as the modified approach.

A GIS-based Asset Management System will help governments meet the requirements of the modified approach. These requirements are:

1. Have an up-to-date inventory of eligible infrastructure assets
2. Perform condition assessments of the eligible infrastructure assets every three years and summarize the results using a measurement scale
3. Estimate each year the annual amount to maintain and preserve the eligible infrastructure assets at the condition level established and disclosed by the government

Municipalities can utilize both methods and is especially benefited by the modified approach where the power of GIS can provide a powerful database backbone. GASB34 and the GIS can have a dramatic effect on the way the governments do financial reporting, specifically in areas such as:

1. Budget Process Asset/Maintenance Management
2. Customer Services
3. Capital Improvement and Rehabilitation Planning
4. Condition Assessment