A framework for assessing information quality in asset management of flood defences

For asset management of flood defences a pivotal aspect is the quality and accessibility of available data and information. In the management of flood defences inThe Netherlands, safety assessments are conducted every twelve years. To assure the quality and consistency of these safety assessments, flood defence engineers have to make use of a comprehensive toolbox and a set of guidelines (WBI 2017). The safety assessment is one of the main starting points for the different asset management processes such as day-to-day maintenance and reinforcement/reconstruction. However, there is no clear method available to assess whether the underlying information is sufficient as a basis for decision making. In this study a framework has been developed that consists of methods for an assessment of the quality of information, an assessment of the use and accessibility of information, and a rational framework for assessing the costs and benefits of obtaining additional information. Whereas many frameworks for information management start from the information itself, here the starting point is the extent to which the behavior of a flood defence is understood, in relation to the decision or management process considered. The applicability of the framework is illustrated using various cases and has been tested in multiple workshops with experts in the field.