You may know that Australia is home to more than 53,000 bridges. When it comes to the development of a country, transportation is one criterion that backs up the overall development. In one way, bridges make the traffic flow easier, and in another way, they provide a silk-like route for economic goods to be transported into harbours and airports without any interruptions. Building a bridge is not an easy task. It takes lots of time, money, and labour work to finish it up to the expected standard. However, maintaining these bridges always puts a heavy weight on the relevant parties. This is the point where you will need a sophisticated technological arm to fight against time and other elements that make the bridges weary.
In this article, we will understand the importance of ‘Prescriptive Analytics’ as one of the best technological solutions to encourage bridge maintenance in Australia.
In this article, we will understand the importance of ‘Prescriptive Analytics’ as one of the best technological solutions to encourage bridge maintenance in Australia.
Understanding Prescriptive Analytics
- When it comes to businesses, Data Analytics has been in the spotlight since the 19th century. With time, construction companies also started utilising these tools as they understood the importance and benefits of such technology. Prescriptive Analytics is one of the four major branches of Data Analytics which mainly focuses on suggestions or the question, ‘What should we do next?’.
- When it comes to data analytics, people often get confused between Predictive Analytics and Prescriptive Analytics. But these two are totally different. Prescriptive analytics is an advanced analytics branch that goes beyond descriptive and predictive approaches by not only forecasting future outcomes but also suggesting the best course of action to achieve specific objectives. It uses a variety of data sources, statistical modelling, machine learning, and algorithms to deliver insights that are useful.
- Predictive Analytics, which forecasts possibilities, makes the path for Prescriptive Analytics. It utilises optimisation and simulation techniques to recommend the most effective strategies.
- It provides authorities with a range of alternatives and their related effects by evaluating probable scenarios and their outcomes, empowering them to make well-informed decisions.
- Prescriptive analytics is powered by sophisticated technological strength, and it can swiftly change its nature to get adjusted to the industry in which it is applied. The business world in Australia employs this powerful pillar of data analytics to help in decision-making processes such as resource allocation, risk management, operational efficiency enhancements, and strategic planning.
- It basically gives enterprises wings to make quicker and smarter decisions by suggesting the best course of action based on data-driven insights. This is why the business world cannot expand without this robust tool, ‘Prescriptive Analytics’ nowadays.
How to Use Prescriptive Analytics for Bridge Maintenance
Performance Benchmarking
Australia is well-known for its strict standard guidelines and expectations for compliance. In a way, this gives the worst nightmares for the construction companies. However, on the other hand, this can be used as a benchmark to evaluate performance.
Prescriptive analytics is powered by this ability, and it aids bridge maintenance by evaluating bridge performance data against industry benchmarks, as we mentioned. This guides improvements for maximised longevity and enhanced safety.
It finds violations of standard practices by comparing operational indicators and structural health to established standards. This research makes it possible to make focused interventions, including recommendations for certain improvements or upkeep plans to match the bridge’s performance with industry standards.
Maintenance teams can enhance their approach and concentrate resources on areas that need immediate care or upgrades by employing these data-driven insights. This strategic approach ensures the structure’s strength and adherence to industry standards for operational excellence. As you can see, through the use of Prescriptive Analytics, the constructors can extend the bridge’s lifespan and improve safety measures.
Prescriptive analytics is powered by this ability, and it aids bridge maintenance by evaluating bridge performance data against industry benchmarks, as we mentioned. This guides improvements for maximised longevity and enhanced safety.
It finds violations of standard practices by comparing operational indicators and structural health to established standards. This research makes it possible to make focused interventions, including recommendations for certain improvements or upkeep plans to match the bridge’s performance with industry standards.
Maintenance teams can enhance their approach and concentrate resources on areas that need immediate care or upgrades by employing these data-driven insights. This strategic approach ensures the structure’s strength and adherence to industry standards for operational excellence. As you can see, through the use of Prescriptive Analytics, the constructors can extend the bridge’s lifespan and improve safety measures.
Weather Impact Evaluation
Usually, in Australia, the rainfall is very limited. However, you should not forget that in some years, like 2010 and 2011, rainfall will go beyond the average. Will this impact the construction of the bridge and its maintenance? Why not? Since Australia has been seeing very low levels of rainfall throughout the past years, the construction has been done according to those parameters. If a sudden, extreme weather pattern occurs, it will directly affect the bridge’s maintenance. This is why Prescriptive Analytics is much needed in the realm of bridge work.
Its ability to foresee and reduce weather-related risks to bridge structures makes it a must-have instrument for bridge maintenance. It predicts upcoming weather patterns that might have an impact on bridges by utilising prediction algorithms and historical weather data.
As it is based on foreseen conditions, this analysis allows early action by suggesting modifications or preventative measures. For example, it could advise moving vehicles in advance of severe weather or possible storm-prone spots on the bridge before they actually occur.
These insights help maintenance workers minimise possible damage and ensure the structure’s stability by acting quickly to take preventive steps. Prescriptive analytics significantly improves the overall safety and resilience of bridges by proactively minimising weather-related threats and protecting against breakdowns or accidents caused by severe weather.
Predictive Maintenance Scheduling
It has become a must-have in bridge maintenance as this technology can anticipate and address potential component degradation in a timely manner. It makes predictions about the degradation of bridge parts by examining usage patterns, structural evaluations, and historical data.
With the use of these predictive capabilities, preventive maintenance plans can be created, recommending replacements or timely interventions for components that are at risk of major degradation before it occurs. For example, depending on anticipated wear and tear, it can be recommended to replace rusted components or strengthen vulnerable areas.
This way, Prescriptive Analytics optimises maintenance efforts, avoiding downtime and expensive repairs while increasing bridge safety and durability. As it is powered to anticipate problems, it will be a great help in resolving them. With this method, maintenance teams can strategically distribute resources while ensuring effective and focused interventions to keep bridges in excellent condition.
With the use of these predictive capabilities, preventive maintenance plans can be created, recommending replacements or timely interventions for components that are at risk of major degradation before it occurs. For example, depending on anticipated wear and tear, it can be recommended to replace rusted components or strengthen vulnerable areas.
This way, Prescriptive Analytics optimises maintenance efforts, avoiding downtime and expensive repairs while increasing bridge safety and durability. As it is powered to anticipate problems, it will be a great help in resolving them. With this method, maintenance teams can strategically distribute resources while ensuring effective and focused interventions to keep bridges in excellent condition.
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
The latter helps with assessing the total cost implications over a bridge component’s lifespan. This technology is able to evaluate historical data, maintenance records, and replacement costs in real-time. By utilising such data volumes, it calculates the overall expenses associated with different maintenance strategies for bridge components.
This analysis helps with the identification of cost-efficient maintenance approaches that consider the entire lifecycle of elements. It recommends optimal interventions such as selecting durable materials or implementing maintenance schedules that minimise long-term costs while ensuring the structural integrity of the bridge.
This is an outstanding approach that empowers maintenance teams to make informed decisions where they can strategically invest resources that offer the highest return on investment. On the other hand, you can save your money as well.
This analysis helps with the identification of cost-efficient maintenance approaches that consider the entire lifecycle of elements. It recommends optimal interventions such as selecting durable materials or implementing maintenance schedules that minimise long-term costs while ensuring the structural integrity of the bridge.
This is an outstanding approach that empowers maintenance teams to make informed decisions where they can strategically invest resources that offer the highest return on investment. On the other hand, you can save your money as well.
Traffic Pattern Analysis
Prescriptive Analytics is coupled with sophisticated algorithms and advanced capabilities that can conduct traffic pattern analysis that impacts the health of the bridge. This analysis is known to significantly contribute to bridge maintenance by examining traffic behaviours and their impact on bridge infrastructure during the initial stages. It forecasts zones of possible wear and tear on the bridge brought on by vehicle loads by assessing traffic flow statistics, usage patterns, and volume.
With the help of this research, customised maintenance plans can be set up, recommending actions according to the unique characteristics of the traffic. For example, it might recommend strengthening positions that see a lot of traffic or putting in place special maintenance plans for places where heavy use can lead to more stress.
As you can see, Prescriptive Analytics provides focused maintenance interventions that effectively address the impacts of traffic, extend the lifespan of bridges, and improve overall safety.
With the help of this research, customised maintenance plans can be set up, recommending actions according to the unique characteristics of the traffic. For example, it might recommend strengthening positions that see a lot of traffic or putting in place special maintenance plans for places where heavy use can lead to more stress.
As you can see, Prescriptive Analytics provides focused maintenance interventions that effectively address the impacts of traffic, extend the lifespan of bridges, and improve overall safety.
Building Long-Lasting Bridges with Prescriptive Analytics
Prescriptive Analytics is a great pillar for your bridge maintenance teams to make sure the bridge meets quality standards in Australia. However, it is also important to opt for the best tools when purchasing them to streamline operations. A reputed supplier is an ideal answer for this challenge, as it can save your time for research and money spending.
