AASHTOWare Project™ Asset Tracker Update

November 21, 2024

Let’s start by refreshing your memories on what exactly AASHTOWare Project™ Asset Tracker is all about. Asset Tracker is a new AASHTOWare Project ‘software as a service’ application meant to connect agency assets with pay item data stored in the AASHTOWare Project unified database. Asset Tracker will help fill gaps in the digital workflow of a highway construction project by connecting design, estimation, letting, and construction via a common asset ID. As many of you know, AASHTOWare Project is pay item centric (estimate Items, project Items, contract Items). Asset Tracker will hold the pay item information at the asset component level and will maintain the connection between these asset component quantities and the pay item data housed in AASHTOWare Project. Once this connection is made, the depth of information that becomes available between the connected systems is extensive. Imagine having easy access to construction and material related attributes like install date and material brand available to your operations management areas.

The AASHTOWare Project Task Force (PTF) gave approval to start the Asset Tracker project on July 1, 2024, after a successful solicitation for funding. The project is scheduled to be completed and ready for release by July 1, 2025. Seven agencies eagerly jumped to commit money, time, and resources to this project. These agencies are Connecticut, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio, and Oklahoma. Systems Management Analyst for the Kansas DOT and current PTF member Megan Murray believes that this will be “A digital delivery tool that will eliminate data silos and enhance AASHTOWare Project for our staff by creating efficiencies in workflows, eliminating redundant data entry, and offering assurance of data accuracy”. That powerful statement captures the essence of why the Kansas DOT felt compelled to join this development effort.

The project is currently 3 months in and the team consisting of agency subject matter experts, PTF product owners, and Infotech® development resources has made substantial progress. They utilize the hybrid agile development methodology and are currently on Sprint 8. They have established the system framework and have connected to AASHTOWare Project Cost Estimation to query active projects, concepts, and cost estimates. They have added the ability to add/import and maintain assets and associated item quantities. They also have included the ability to maintain non-asset related items such as mobilization. The system now has the capability to roll up pay items at the asset component level and the team is currently working on the integration to push those rolled up items to AASHTOWare Project.

Here is an exciting glimpse into the potential of what this application could become. Notice how the pay items in Figure 1 include an asset ID and can be grouped into an asset component in Figure 2

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Please stay tuned for future AASHTOWare newsletter articles on development progress and sneak peeks into this innovative digital delivery tool designed to improve your AASHTOWare experience and connect your data in a purposeful way. Let’s keep on collaborating!