Official launch of the INFRAMA Academy

On 15 May 2017, the inauguration of the Infrastructure Asset Management Academy (INFRAMA) took place. The Academy is organizing a training program on Asset Management for Road Authorities. For the official celebration, representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Directorate-General for Highways and National Roads, as well as the universities and Road Authorities from Poland met in the premises of the Technical University in Warsaw. More than 80 participants listened with great interest to the introduction of the principles of modern asset management.

In his lecture, Prof. Wojciech Suchorzewski, the chairman of the science council of the INFRAMA Academy, dealt with the current topics of the management of the transport infrastructure: "In recent years the investments in the transport infrastructure were insufficient and today it is undercapitalized." Surveys of the European Union Road Federation (ERF) show that Road Authorities can save fifteen euros in the maintenance of infrastructure for every euro they invest in their planning processes. "Our engineers know what technical problems they will face in future times. In order to deal with these problems, the INFRAMA Academy can impart the necessary knowledge and management know-how."

"The concept of Asset Management is a completely new concept in the management of transport infrastructure and needs to be translated into the needs of the road sector," said Mr. Zbigniew Kotlarek, Chairman of the Polish Street Congress. "In order to master such a complex subject, we need holistic concepts that should be applied worldwide and above all for everyone present here," he appeals to the attendees.

Mr. Krzysztof Kondraciuk, Director of the Directorate-General for Highways and National Roads, highlighted the importance of continual training: "The implementation and economic planning of investments must be carried out by a capable, multi-skilled team. In doing so, the consideration of the entire life-cycle of modern infrastructure management plays an important role."

After the opening ceremony, the first interactive workshop took place. Dr. Agata Ciolkosz-Styk and Dr. Slawomir Heller gave at first some information on the most important principles of Asset Management, focusing on stakeholders, targets, asset registers, life-cycle (PDCA) and risk management, as well as technical issues such as operation services, condition determination or the inventory data. Then the participants were able to deepen the knowledge in practical exercises and to exchange among themselves.

About the INFRAMA Academy

The Infrastructure Asset Management Academy (INFRAMA) is specifically tailored to the needs of Road Authorities and offers an advanced training concept in the field of Asset Management. The courses are offered for beginners as well as for advanced learners. The INFRAMA Academy was founded in 2016 by the Technical University of Warsaw, Centrum Kszta?cenia i Doradztwa „IKKU” Sp. z o.o. and HELLER Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH. Further information can be found on the website of the INFRAMA Academy.

Heads of INFRAMA (f.l.t.r.): Radoslaw Czapski, expert of the World Bank for traffic infrastructure, Zbigniew Kotlarek, Chairman of the Polish street congress, Krzysztof Kondraciuk, Director of the Directorate-General for Highways and National Roads, Prof. Andrzej Garbacz, dean of the faculty for civil engineering at the Technical Uinversity Warsaw, Jaroslaw Waszkiewicz, manager of the department road construction of the ministry for infrastructure and construction, Dr. Slawomir Heller, Head of the working group Dissemination and Education for Road Asset Management at the World Road Association PIARC, Prof. Wojciech Suchorzewski, TU Warsaw and chairman program board of INFRAMA.

Professor Andrzej Garbacz wlcomed the participants as host of the event.

Professor Wojciech Suchorzewski illustrated the basics of Asset Management.

Zbigniew Kotlarek informed as chairman of the Polish Street Congress about it´s role as strategic partner of INFRAMA.

Krzysztof Kondraciuk about the most important activities of the of the Directorate-General for Highways and National Roads in Poland.

Dr. Slawomir Heller and Dr. Agata Ciolkosz-Styk mastered the first official INFRAMA workshop.

After the introduction the participants had the opportunity to take part in the interactive workshops with regards to Asset Management.

The workshops were also a platform for a fruitful exchange of the participants.