A hybrid linked data approach to support asset management

Abstract

This paper evaluates experiences with applying a linked data approach for coping with the many challenges for information management in asset management from the perspective of National Road Authorities (NRAs). As influential players, NRAs are often the initiators of innovation in the civil infrastructure sector. In this paper we focus on specifying the information standards applied by NRAs, using a hybrid, semantically enhanced linked data approach. The linked data approach originates from the World Wide Web Consortium and can be used for modelling, storing, linking and retrieving road data; integrating existing asset management software applications and giving rise to new innovative software functionalities. It is called a ‘hybrid’ approach because it also incorporates and reuses existing non-linked data information standards originating from the worlds of Building Information Modelling (BIM), Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) and Systems Engineering (SE).