MID Engineers Successfully Complete SITAMS Training to Enhance Infrastructure Asset Management

Engineers at the Central Project Infrastructure Unit (CPIU) of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) have successfully completed a comprehensive week-long training program on the Solomon Islands Transport Asset Management System (SITAMS).

The training, facilitated by an overseas consultant and held from 28th April to 2nd May, was made possible through an agreement signed last year with Australia’s Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program (SIIP) to strengthen the country’s transport infrastructure management capacity.

This training demonstrates the Ministry’s ongoing efforts, through the Transport Infrastructure Management Service Division (TIMSD), to modernize and optimize the management of national transport assets.

The training equipped MID civil engineers with essential skills and knowledge to update, maintain, and utilize the SITAMS platform effectively, thereby improving decision-making, budgeting, and planning for future infrastructure projects across the provinces.

Moffat Hoawe, Asset Manager at MID, highlighted the importance of this training in the context of recent infrastructure surveys conducted throughout the provinces. The survey team recently mapped out the condition of infrastructure assets across the country.

“This training allows us to input that valuable data from these surveys into SITAMS, transforming raw information into actionable insights,” Mr. Hoawe explained.

The system’s centralized data repository will facilitate streamlined operations, better maintenance schedules, and enhanced transparency in asset management.

He emphasized that the system will serve as a vital tool for the Ministry’s engineers, enabling more accurate assessments of infrastructure conditions, improved planning, and more effective allocation of resources.

Arrangements are underway with the Government Information Communication Technology (ICT) team to integrate SITAMS, ensuring that it can be accessed upon request by other organizations.

Patrick Reoka, MID’s Chief Planning Officer, highlighted that having a robust asset management system like SITAMS is crucial for strategic planning and the efficient execution of infrastructure programs.

Mr. Reoka also expressed gratitude to the Australian government for their support, including funding for the system’s subscription and updates provided by the software developer.

A total of 16 engineers participated in the training. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with participants expressing confidence in their newfound skills and a strong commitment to applying their knowledge in ongoing and future projects.

Looking ahead, the Ministry has plans to develop its own proprietary asset management software that will include buildings and maritime infrastructures.

MID’s new minister Hon. Ricky Fuo’o in his first briefing with the ministry’s heads of divisions yesterday emphasized his priority areas and one is to improve our road infrastructures.

Having a robust asset management system like SITAMS is crucial for strategic planning and efficient execution of infrastructure programs.

The training was made possible through an agreement signed last year with Australia’s Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program (SIIP) to strengthen the country’s transport infrastructure management capacity.

Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with participants expressing confidence in their newfound skills and a strong commitment to applying their knowledge in ongoing and future projects.

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