In Vaasa, the debt for the repair of street infrastructure came as a surprise. The new calculations show that the amount is 34 million euros instead of 68 million. How did this happen?
Text: Sari Okko
"The repair debt was calculated for the first time in the 1990s. When the calculations were updated a couple of years ago with the help of the KEHTO municipal project, Rapal's tools and the thesis, the results were something else than we thought. The repair debt doubled", director of municipal engineering in Vaasa Markku Litmanen says.
The street value of Vaasa was calculated at 220 million and the repair debt at 68 million euros. In addition, the water utility received an 8 million euro repair debt pot for the stormwater network as a gift.
Litmanen considers different calculation models to be one of the reasons for the difference between old and new debt, but there are other reasons as well.
"There has simply not been as much invested in the overhaul as there should have been. For example, sufficient structural repair work has not been done, but progress has largely been made with surface work."
"The reason can also be found in the fashion phenomenon of the 1980s, i.e. lightened municipal technology, which was used to influence costs by, for example, thinning structural layers and using cheaper coverings. Now these structures from 30 to 40 years ago are a problem."
Help with the new meter
CEO of Suomen Kuntotekniikka Oy Jari Marjeta has 20 years of experience in infrastructure repair debt. The man has been involved in the projects of the KEHTO forum, where the effort has been to create a national and common way to process infrastructure condition data.
"The calculation model still needs to be developed. Since the initial data and measurement methods are very multifaceted, it is difficult to put the municipalities on the same line," says Marjeta.
Something completely new is coming into use this year. Suomen Kuntotekniikka has developed a measurement method based on ground radar. With it, information is obtained not only about the damage, but also about its causes and depth.
"By the end of June, the measurements should be analyzed and the results reported by the end of the year. There will also be historical information, because something similar has not been done before".
Fix only what is necessary
According to Marjeta, the streets to be repaired should not be chosen on artificial grounds, but based on measured and researched information. Once the repair debt has been calculated, its development can also be predicted. With the help of new data and digital methods, remedial actions can be planned and predicted even better, so that the right things are done at the right time.
"Often, and especially in smaller municipalities, information about the condition of the streets may be in an Excel table, on graph paper or only in the head of the street master, in which case the information cannot necessarily be used in decision-making."
The calculator for predicting the repair debt is based on the idea that the condition of the streets deteriorates following a certain graph. At some point, a critical point is reached, when the condition of the street deteriorates, the change accelerates and the condition even collapses.
According to Marjeta, Kuntainfra's repair debt program requires mapping of the entire road network preferably every 5–8 years. When the overall condition is clear, the fairways are ranked in order of importance on a scale of 1–5.
"In practice, the fifth-class fairways go almost directly to the basic improvement program. Something needs to be done for the lanes in classes 3–4, although not everything needs to be renewed. In the second class, it is enough, for example, to renew the surface layers. When the water that weakens the structures is removed and a new surface is put on, the service life of the fairway can even be doubled."
With the fitness technology calculator, scenarios can be created about how the repair debt develops with different budgets and how much should be invested annually in order to maintain the current condition.
"Repair debt starts to build up in the third grade, so regular fitness surveys are worthwhile. It also helps in managing the repair cycle. With the help of the fitness data warehouse, asset management becomes easier and the information is available to all operators in the municipality."
A painful sky
Vaasa has invested in renovation for a couple of years now, which has offered better opportunities than before thanks to the recession and social security reform.
"If there's anything good to be said about sotes, it's that we've been left with more resources for street infrastructure due to the transfer of large real estate projects," says Markku Litmanen from Vaasa.
Although 1,5 million euros more per year have been invested in the renovation than before, the repair debt keeps growing.
"The sky looks pretty painful. In municipal engineering, you can't go fast, it's more like a marathon. However, we are trying to halve the repair debt from the current level. I believe that we have about a ten-year run ahead of us."
"Everything starts from planning and building properly. The old wisdom applies here too: you shouldn't save on the wrong things."
The story has been published before In Infra magazine 1/2017. In addition to Vaasa, greetings from Oulu, Varkaus, Joensuu, Imatra, Hyvinkää and Turku have been brought in the newspaper's series of municipal stories.
More success recipes for municipalities: Infra.fi/Resepti