Asset Management Symposium: Benefits and opportunities for Poland

Created by Dr. Slawomir Heller

Asset Management in the road sector is becoming increasingly important worldwide. The unprecedented expansion of road infrastructure in Poland, including the projects funded by the European Union, requires modern management procedures. Those in charge in Poland have recognized that Asset Management, as a new discipline, provides a valuable methodology as well as guidance and decision-making aids.

Photo: Mateusz Szarata

The 9th symposium of the Rzeszów University of Technology on specialist topics in the road sector was therefore devoted to Asset Management and the role of PIARC in the development of this discipline. Among the speakers were well-known members of PIARC. The renowned conference took place on the 7th and 8th of December 2017 in Lancut, Poland and was co-organized by the HELLER Group.

Jacek Gryga, General Director of the National Road Administration GDDKiA and the first Polish delegate at PIARC, informed about the current challenges of Poland in expanding the highway network. He invited the participants to the next PIARC winter congress, which will take place from the 20th to 23rd February 2018 in Gdansk, Poland. 

Dr. Slawomir Heller, delegate of Germany in the Technical Committee D. 1 Asset Management of PIARC and head of the working group Dissemination and Education, presented in his lecture the historical development of the discipline Asset Management and informed about the role of PIARC in the development and popularization of Road Asset Management.

Marcin Nowacki, as Polish delegate in the Technical Committee D. 1 Asset Management of PIARC, presented advantages for the National Road Administration which are achieved through the implementation of PIARC concepts.

The General Directorate of National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) supported the conference together with the Polish Road Congress. Since October 2017, the Polish Road Congress, which was represented at the conference by President Zbigniew Kotlarek, has been officially accepted as a National Committee of PIARC.

Jacek Gryga, Poland's first delegate at PIARC and General Director of the National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) opened the conference. Photo: Mateusz Szarata
Dr. Slawomir Heller, representative of Germany in the Technical Committee D. 1 Asset Management of PIARC. Photo: Mateusz Szarata
Marcin Nowacki, representative of Poland in the Technical Committee D. 1 Asset Management of PIARC. Photo: Mateusz Szarata
During the discussion: Prof. Kazimierz Jamroz, Technical University of Gdansk. Photo: Mateusz Szarata
During the discussion: Prof. Tomasz Siwowski, Rzeszów University of Technology. Photo: Mateusz Szarata
Dr. Ewa Michalak (TU Rzeszów), Dr. Slawomir Heller and Zbigniew Kotlarek (President of the Polish Road Congress) summarize the contents of the conference. Photo: Mateusz Szarata