Asset-management strategies for infrastructure embankments

Many of the earthworks that support UK transport networks are suffering because of their age and historical lack of investment in maintenance and repair. Current asset owners have to satisfy users' expectations of minimal delay in the context of ageing assets, imperfect knowledge of their condition, limited resources, increasing traffic, higher speeds, increasing environmental standards and an increasing threat from climate change. This paper summarises current asset-management practice for infrastructure embankments and illustrates how current research is providing information to assist asset owners in improving asset-management practice in the light of climate change. Additionally, it re-examines asset-management practice using a simple sustainability-based framework.