Asset Management Prioritization Tool

2022-2024 | North Vancouver, BC

Supporting Data-driven Infrastructure Planning in North Vancouver

As the District of North Vancouver continues to maintain and upgrade its water system, annual watermain replacement decisions require a clear understanding of risk, performance, and long-term needs.

McElhanney partnered with the District to redevelop a critical GIS-based application used to prioritize watermain renewal, improving how risk is assessed and enabling more responsive, data-informed decision-making.

Addressing Risk and Planning Challenges in Asset Renewal

Each year, the District replaces approximately 4-5km of watermain. Prioritization depends on a range of factors, including pipe material, age, pressure, and location.

The existing GIS application was essential to this process, but relied on legacy scripting that limited performance, flexibility, and ease of use. The District required an update to ensure the tool could continue to support evolving infrastructure planning and risk management.

A Modernized, Flexible GIS-Based Solution

McElhanney redeveloped the application using a more robust and efficient GIS workflow, enhancing both speed and functionality.

Key improvements included:

Replacing older custom-built technology with a modern system that runs more reliably and processes information more efficiently.
Introducing automated workflows that reduce dependence on specialized technical expertise, making the tool easier for District staff to maintain, update, and use over time.
Refining risk and consequence modelling inputs.
Creating a flexible internal tool for District staff to quickly evaluate different replacement priorities and compare potential investment strategies.
Delivering documentation and training to accelerate familiarity of District staff with tool enhancements.

This approach allows users to make iterative changes to inputs and quickly compare outputs, supporting more dynamic decision-making.

Results: Better Infrastructure Decisions

The updated tool gives the District a more efficient and adaptable way to plan watermain replacements, helping staff identify priorities, reduce risk, and make the most of available budgets.

By turning complex infrastructure data into clear, actionable insights, the tool supports more confident investment decisions and helps balance service reliability, cost, and long-term asset management goals.

A Proven Approach for Any Infrastructure System

While developed to support watermain replacement planning, the same approach can be applied across a wide range of municipal assets. By improving how infrastructure data is managed and analyzed, communities gain a stronger foundation for prioritizing investments, planning renewals, and delivering reliable services over the long term.