The use of new tools and technologies for the management of existing infrastructures: worldwide perspective

Abstract

The development of modern society heavily relies on existing infrastructures. In particular, transport infrastructures are crucial to moving people and goods around the world, thus materializing globalization. In recent years, awareness has been raised on the necessity to maintain the existing infrastructures and aspects such as sustainability are nowadays the top priorities of infrastructures’ stakeholders. Accordingly, the future infrastructures will be those already existing and properly maintained rather than new ones to be built to replace them. The success of this huge com promise on maintaining existing infrastructure depends on the development of more accurate, efficient, cost-effective and sustainable tools and technologies to support all the lifecycle management. The present work provides an overview of some relevant efforts that are being conducted worldwide in this regard, highlighting the current trends of technological development, identifying some existing opportunities and anticipating some of the most relevant tools that will be used in the near future to support transport infrastructures’ management.