상수도 분야에서 자산관리의 주요 목표는 운영 목표를 유지하고 비용을 최소화함으로써 효율성을 제고하고, 궁극적으로 원하는 LoS(Level of Service, 서비스 수준)을 지속적으로 유지하는 데 있다. 2000년대 초반부터 자산관리 기법은 전세계 상하수도 분야에 적용되어 왔으며, 한국에서도 2014년 이후 관련 연구개발(R&D)과 시범사업이 추진되었다. 그러나 LoS에 대한 이해와 적용의 부족, 불완전하거나 부정확한 데이터, 과중한 업무 부담 등의 문제로 인해 효과적인 도입에 한계가 있었다. 미국 EPA의 지침에 따르면, 자산관리의 핵심은 예측정비(predictive maintenance)와 운영ㆍ유지관리 데이터를 활용한 체계적 의사결정을 통해 자산의 기능을 최소 생애주기비용으로 유지하는 것이다. 성공적인 자산관리체계 구축을 위해서는 LoS를 중심에 두어야 하며, 이는 투자계획 수립과 성과평가에 직접적인 영향을 미친다. 또한 디지털화, 데이터 기반 분석, 지속적인 시스템 개선이 장기적인 지속가능성을 확보하는 데 필수적이다. 성공적인 자산관리 체계 구축을 위해서는 자산관리의 개념과 목표를 명확히 정의하고, 표준화된 데이터베이스 및 시스템을 구축하며, 리더십과 조기 투자계획, 핵심 원리 및 기법에 대한 교육을 병행하는 것이 중요하다. 자산관리는 과학적 데이터와 논리에 기반한 합리적 의사결정체계로 발전해야 하며, 이는 4차 산업혁명의 요구에 부합하는 방향이기도 하다. 결론적으로, LoS에 대한 명확한 이해가 없다면, 자산관리 시스템은 실효성을 상실할 위험성이 크다. 따라서, LoS 개념을 강화하는 것이야말로 고객 서비스를 극대화하고 비용 효율적인 구조를 구현하는 궁극적 목표를 달성하는 핵심 열쇠이다.

Alternative investments and Financial technology (FinTech) businesses’ recent entry and quick expansion of new financial services have propelled banking institutions into operational innovation to secure sustainable competitive advantage. Recent increases in the number of academic articles devoted to the strategic facets of asset management were stimulated by significant changes in such a competitive environment. Organizations begin to understand that a strategic approach to asset management becomes a source of long-term survival in an unstable environment and sustained competitive advantages. This study reviewed trendy financial issues: alternative investments, Robo-advisor-based asset management, and related service research in the finance and financial engineering field from the perspective of the aforementioned financial service environment.

PURPOSES: The aim of this paper is developing user-oriented flexible Level Of Service (LOS) system for integrated asset management of various road facilities. It is essential to overcome limitations of general management systems which only focus on a type of assets (e.g. pavement, bridge etc.), and to serve a customizable LOS platform for smooth implementation and future improvement of the LOS considering various managerial environments of road agencies. METHODS: This study suggested a total framework of the LOS system as a process for self-development, operation and improvement of LOS system to conduct the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) in management process. In the process, we adopted user-customizable elements regarding asset definition, service index and evaluation method to match with the managerial environment of road agencies. In addition, we conducted an empirical study on the entire process of the suggested LOS system with a real road agency (Korea Express Highway) to prove applicability of the LOS system. RESULTS: From the empirical study, we confirmed that the suggested LOS system framework were suitable for development of customized LOS system. In addition, evaluation of asset conditions by LOS ratings, and quantification of vision achievement of the Korea Express Highway were successfully made. It would be the first trial in integrated management approach with LOS systems for numerous road facilities. CONCLUSIONS : It was recognized that easy application and sustainable improvement of the LOS was the most critical point in asset management. The suggested LOS system would be a powerful weapon as a managerial tool in preparing tight budget, aging infrastructures, and increased demands for more accountability both in Korea and internationally. Implementation of the LOS system needs to be expanded to the other infrastructure members to serve satisfactory level of service to taxpayers.

This study introduces the role of level of service in the asset management for social infrastructures. An overall process to determine the level of service and performance measures were also described. The developed process was applied for actual road infrastructures, pavements, bridges and tunnels and the results were shown briefly.