Dubai, UAE, Middle East

An effective data-driven asset reliability program for one of the world’s busiest airports  

In 2018, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) tasked Dar with elevating asset reliability assurance within the Dubai International Airport (DXB), one of the world’s busiest and most strategic airports. This essential venture included identifying and addressing the critical issues required to safeguard those assets which carry the highest risk of potential impact to airport operations.

Facilities Management

Airports

The challenge:

Given the complexity of the airport’s systems and operations, there was a need for a data-driven asset reliability program for key assets within the airport — a program that can dictate and guide measures designed to elevate reliability within operation-critical assets, ensuring uninterrupted operations, and empowering stakeholders to meet the forecasted growth at DXB.

The solution:

The Project Reliability Assurance (PRA) initiative included extensive facilities condition assessments to identify and monitor the assets which require repair or sweating or replacement. These condition assessments included:

• Site inspection, as-built verification, and reporting: Conducting site inspections, reporting on the related outcomes, providing a visual overview of assets’ conditions, and providing visual verification of the as-built/BIM model. 
• Detailed assessment studies and reporting: Performing detailed assessment studies (inclusive of manufacturers and third-party assessors, where needed) for the critical assets and providing outcome recommendations. 
• As-built gap analysis and desktop studies: Conducting studies over the available documentation (as-built), identifying available information, and determining how it is going to be utilised on site during the verification as well as during the formalisation of the asset registers (list of critical assets, available drawings, DA Asset GAP analysis, etc.) 
• CAD to BIM validation: Validating all BIM works (BIM modelling is based on the available as-built drawings and the BIM model was validated and completed following the site surveys and laser scanning on site.)  

Results:

As a result of these extensive measures, Dar was able to:

• Collect data on more than 70,000 assets, correlating as-built equipment numbers with the DA Asset List numbers, updating existing as-built drawings, and identifying operations-critical assets that require immediate interventions.
• Set a program for timely and efficient maintenance activities, including routine and heavy maintenance, improvements and upgrades, and preventative maintenance measures.
• Identify opportunities to extend the lifespan of existing equipment (through maintenance, re-life, or sweating), mainly by performing the manufacturer-recommended maintenance and corrective measures, without necessitating any interruptions to the airport’s 24/7 operations.