Asset management system for analyzing the condition of assets and evaluating repair/replacement options

• US 6,581,045 B1
• Filed: 05/24/1995
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Building Technology Associates, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Building Technology Associates, Inc.
• Inventors: Watson, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUNG TRANS, XUONG MY
• Application Number:
  US08/449,077
• Time in Patent Office: 2,946 Days
• Field of Search: 364/401.R, 364/406, 395/235, 705/400, 705/1, 705/5, 705/16, 235/7, 235/61
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination

Abstract

An asset management system (100) is disclosed, and is adapted for use to rate the condition of a physical asset component, such as a roof (102), estimate the service life of the asset, and provide a basis for decisions regarding the selection of repair alternatives and/or replacement options associated with the asset. Rating and evaluation of the asset is initiated by an operator (104) performing a “survey” of the asset to determine problem defects. Data representative of such defects is entered into the memory of an instrument (106) and transmitted to a central processing system (108). The central processing system (108) is adapted to allow the user to selectively review and evaluate the impact and financial feasibility of alternative repair and replacement options relating to the problems or defects associated with the asset.

Claims

1. An asset management system adapted to provide an analysis of the condition of a physical and structural asset, and allow a user to evaluate the effect of repair/replacement activities on said condition of said asset, said system comprising:

data entry means comprising a portable computer for entering data representative of problems or defects associated with said asset;

a first memory for receiving and storing said data representative of said problems or defects, and for receiving and storing data representative of generic information associated with said asset;

first processing means for processing said data representative of said problems or defects, and generating condition factor signals representative of a figure of merit of the condition of said asset;

second processing means for processing said data representative of said generic information, and generating serviceability estimate signals representative of the anticipated useful life of said asset, based upon said condition factor signals and said generic information;

a second memory for storing financial data representative of costs of repairs of defects of said asset, and replacements of said asset;

third processing means responsive to input data from said user and data stored in said first and said second memories for generating modified condition factor and serviceability estimate signals representative of a modified figure of merit of the condition of said asset and a modified anticipated useful life of said asset, based upon user input data representing an assumption of repairs of one or more defects of said asset, or based upon an assumption of replacement of said asset; and

said third processing means further generates financial data signals representative of the monetary costs of said repairs of said asset, or said replacement of said asset, and a value as a monetary amount of said asset wherein said value will vary based upon a selection of said repairs or said replacement of said asset.

2. An asset management system in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that:

said asset comprises a roof of a physical structure; and

said data entry means comprises a hand-held computer adapted for entry, storage and remote transmission of said data.

3. An asset management system in accordance with claim 2 characterized in that said data comprises:

general dimensions of said roof;

the type of surface of said roof; and

the age of said roof.

4. An asset management system in accordance with claim 2 characterized in that said portable computer comprises means responsive to commands entered by an operator so as to transmit said data to said first memory.