Technology
BUILDER is a web-based software application developed by USACE-ERDC’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL) to help organizations make critical asset management decisions. It is a facility assessment and investment forecasting tool that uses a guided inspection process to generate a component condition score, uses this score to develop component-specific performance models, and leverages an enterprise specified rules-based approach to determine work requirements. This provides an objective, repeatable, and efficient assessment process driven by a “knowledge-based” philosophy. The BUILDER approach is radically different than traditional expert-based assessment tools, and provides a greater level of objectivity at a fraction of the cost (typically 25 percent of the cost of traditional methods), all while providing a self-updating performance model that informs stakeholders using leading performance indicators rather than trailing metrics. Together, the SMS and extant NNSA Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) capabilities provide the organization with complete infrastructure analysis from requirements identification, data management, through project execution. The BUILDER Sustainment Management System (SMS) is a web-based software application developed by ERDC’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) to help civil engineers, technicians, and managers decide when, where, and how to best maintain building infrastructure. Because building assets are so vast and diverse, a “knowledge-based” philosophy drives the BUILDER process. The process starts with the automated download of real property data, and then more detailed system inventory is modeled and/or collected which identifies components and their key life-cycle attributes such as the age and material. From this inventory, Condition Index (CI) measures for each component are predicted based on its expected stage in the life-cycle. Objective and repeatable inspections can then be performed on various components to verify their condition with respect to the expected life-cycle deterioration. The level of detail and frequency of these inspections are not fixed like other processes; they are dependent on knowledge of component criticality, the expected and measured condition and rate of deterioration, and remaining maintenance and service life. This “Knowledge-based” inspection focuses attention to the most critical components at the time. In addition to these condition assessments, functionality assessments can be performed to evaluate user requirement changes, compliance and obsolescence issues. This provides a comprehensive picture of the overall performance of building assets and their key components. |
Problem
The Department of Defense owns almost 300,000 buildings comprising 2.3 billion square feet. It spends about 55 percent of its installation real property maintenance funds on maintenance and repair (M&R) of these buildings. But, because of tighter resources on funding and personnel, inspection and preventative maintenance programs for critical building systems and components have been abandoned at many installations. This has forced building managers into a largely reactionary mode, responding to unexpected component breakdowns and system failures at the most inopportune and expensive time. In addition, many buildings currently serve some function to the mission that is much different than the originally intended purpose when designed. The total result is that work cannot be planned, programmed, and budgeted efficiently. BUILDER SMS addresses these issues by providing managers responsible for the building assets with a support tool for sustainment, restoration, and modernization (SRM) decisions. Program Objective
BUILDER is a web-based software application developed by USACE-ERDC’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL) to help organizations make critical asset management decisions. It is a facility assessment and investment forecasting tool that uses a guided inspection process to generate a component condition score, uses this score to develop component-specific performance models, and leverages an enterprise specified rules-based approach to determine work requirements. This provides an objective, repeatable, and efficient assessment process driven by a “knowledge-based” philosophy. The BUILDER approach is radically different than traditional expert-based assessment tools, and provides a greater level of objectivity at a fraction of the cost (typically 25 percent of the cost of traditional methods), all while providing a self-updating performance model that informs stakeholders using leading performance indicators rather than trailing metrics. Together, the SMS and extant NNSA Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) capabilities provide the organization with complete infrastructure analysis from requirements identification, data management, through project execution. |
Program Goals
Once BUILDER is fully implemented across the NNSA complex, BUILDER will:
Additionally, the BUILDER program will assert full implementation upon completion of the following activities:
Once BUILDER is fully implemented across the NNSA complex, BUILDER will:
- Document the current condition, functionality, and remaining service life of all NNSA infrastructure (horizontal and vertical assets) and provide short and long-range work plans based on sound investment strategies, prioritization criteria, and budget constraints.
- Provide NNSA sites with an opportunity to reduce and/or replace existing systems capturing duplicate information.
- Integrate into enduring site infrastructure data systems and practices.
- Prevail as the database of record for NNSA infrastructure condition including deferred maintenance and repair needs.
- Meet all identified and specific decision making needs at the facility, site, and enterprise levels.
Additionally, the BUILDER program will assert full implementation upon completion of the following activities:
- FIMS data for all real property assets is completely migrated and updated on a monthly basis to ensure BUILDER is a live system.
- BUILDER utilities capability developed and integrated.
- Unit cost data is updated annually from an accepted, agreed upon, authoritative source.
- All existing facilities are fully assessed, to include condition and functional assessments, for BUILDER’s needs and any missing data in the BUILDER system is identified and populated.
- BUILDER processes, procedures, and contracting requirements are established to fully integrate and collect data for any new NNSA infrastructure.
Benefits
BUILDER is an asset management solution to repeated GAO criticisms of existing DoD facility management practices. It is an important tool in ensuring mission readiness, and sustaining building infrastructure investment. With information about condition, functionality, and remaining service life, short and long-range work plans can be developed based on sound investment strategies, prioritization criteria, and budget constraints. Penalty costs are reduced allowing more work to be accomplished with the resulting improvement in mission readiness. Simulations can be run to show the future impact of current M&R decisions. The result is a flexible list of work items expected to be accomplished based on actual funding levels. In all, the BUILDER process provides a more proactive means of asset management and resource allocation. In addition, the knowledge-based principles have been proven to significantly lower the cost of re-inspections while providing more meaningful SRM decision support metrics.
BUILDER is an asset management solution to repeated GAO criticisms of existing DoD facility management practices. It is an important tool in ensuring mission readiness, and sustaining building infrastructure investment. With information about condition, functionality, and remaining service life, short and long-range work plans can be developed based on sound investment strategies, prioritization criteria, and budget constraints. Penalty costs are reduced allowing more work to be accomplished with the resulting improvement in mission readiness. Simulations can be run to show the future impact of current M&R decisions. The result is a flexible list of work items expected to be accomplished based on actual funding levels. In all, the BUILDER process provides a more proactive means of asset management and resource allocation. In addition, the knowledge-based principles have been proven to significantly lower the cost of re-inspections while providing more meaningful SRM decision support metrics.