NEED TO RE-IMAGINE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY

In an era of frequent and major natural and man-made disasters, ranging from fires and floods to collisions and damage caused by design flaws or negligent maintenance, it is clear that strategic planning for the safety of everyday infrastructure is an absolute necessity and exactly what is lacking today.

Existing infrastructure, designed decades ago, shows signs of serious deterioration and cannot respond safely and resiliently to today’s dynamic challenges.

Due to changing data and conditions, traditional infrastructure safety design methods, often with outdated specifications, are now inadequate. We have entered a new era that requires a fundamental reassessment of how we approach infrastructure security.

But without an accurate picture of the existing state of the infrastructure, how can we get the redesign right?

Simply put, what is the condition of bridges, fire protection systems, roads, railways, and other critical infrastructure at national and local levels? Do we have accurate, real-time data on their deterioration, strength, resilience and operational performance to plan maintenance, upgrades and even decommissioning?

And this is where the integral part that precedes the strategic planning process comes into play: the condition assessment process.

Condition Assessment (CA) refers to the audit process that allows us to gain a comprehensive picture of the physical conditions – often including the operations – of a building, equipment or infrastructure with accurate data.

Through a Condition Assessment (CA) process, physical deterioration and deficiencies are identified, maintenance requirements are determined, and any necessary repair or upgrade work is outlined to eliminate potentially safety-damaging conditions. Additionally, schedules and cost estimates for maintenance projects are developed.

Only by understanding what is happening can we determine how to fix it.

At Atom Group, we know this from experience and know-how, which is why we provide these services for infrastructure critical to our customers and society.