Road administrators must allocate their budgets across a number of areas including maintenance of the road network, improvements and additions and support to road users. To ensure that the best possible decisions are made, a Road Asset Management (RAM) approach is required including the provision of proper supporting tools. The RAM is defined as: an integrated, systematic, business improvement approach based upon the evaluation of the roadnetwork from both a technical (preservation) and functional (use) perspective. The aim of the RAM is to maximise the long term benefits for road owners and road users through external efficiency by achieving the best balance between the different goals set and internal efficiency by achieving these goals in the most cost effective manner. RAM requires a holistic viewto be taken of the road network taking into account the following perspectives: network use, operation, maintenance and new construction; the various infrastructure elements (roads, bridges, tunnels, street furniture, verges and landscaped areas); specific actions against roads, traffic and road users; time dimension (present state and future needs); the interests ofthe road owner, road users and wider society which includes residents andtax payers; the positive and negative effects of the road network, which includes for example the movement of freight and people, but also their environmental impact and impact of accidents; and the present and future needs of the road administration. An integrated set of tools for RAM is called a Road Management System (RMS). The examples given in the presentation are based upon the current practice of the Swedish Road Administration (SRA). For the covering abstract see ITRD E139491.
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