Asset management resource library

Are you searching for best in class Asset Management (AM) resources for municipalities? Check out our curated collection of links to guides, case studies, templates and more, all aimed at helping you implement good asset management practices.

The library is organized by common asset management topics that are found within the Asset Management Readiness Scale (AMRS) and include an assortment of resources to help guide, inform, and inspire. You can find definitions of common terms on the AM Concepts page.

Many of the resources found in this virtual library were developed with grants from the Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP). 

Asset management planning

An asset management plan (AMP) outlines how assets will be managed in one or more service areas. An AMP identifies how assets will be maintained and renewed, and the cost, level of service and risk considerations in each service area. The resources in this section will help users gain an understanding of the process and benefits of developing an AMP.

Title	Author	Type	Description
Dunnottar's asset management plan is creating a sustainable future	FCM	Case study	This case study shows how the village of Dunnottar developed a comprehensive asset management plan and 10-year capital budget.
*UPDATED* Asset Management Plan Toolkit	Northwest Territories Association of Communities (NWTAC)	Toolkit	This toolkit will guide communities through the process of developing a comprehensive Asset Management Plan. It includes a guide, a ready-to-fill template of an AM Plan, an excel template to build the asset inventory, and a Climate Vulnerability Assessment Worksheet. It was updated to reflect the realities of how  climate is impacting the ability of communities to deliver services. Now available in French
*UPDATED* Asset Management for Municipal Staff: The Technical Basics	Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA); Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA); Infrastructure Asset Management Alberta (IAMA)	Workbook	This workbook provides municipal staff with information, exercises and reference material to help them understand asset management concepts and competencies, the asset data required, and the process of building an AM plan. (See Module 3, pg. 45)
Guide d’élaboration d’un plan d’intervention pour le renouvellement des conduites d’eau potable, d’égouts et chaussées (available in French only)	Centre d’expertise et de recherche en infrastructures urbaines (CERIU)	Guide	This guide shows users how to collect data, carry out a condition assessment, and develop a plan for the management of the water, sewer, and road systems.
Asset Management Success Stories: Centre Wellington, ON and Guelph, ON	Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)	Videos	These two short videos feature successful approaches to asset management planning: a risk-based approach that monitors the conditions of assets and a computerized asset management priority decision-making system.
Asset Management Plan for the City of London, ON	City of London, ON	Example	This example of an asset management plan details the current conditions and lifecycle management strategy for the City of London’s core services, the infrastructure gap, and financing strategies to manage its assets.

 

Asset management policy

An asset management policy outlines a municipality’s commitment and mandated requirements for asset management. The policy is linked to the municipality’s strategic objectives and is shaped by its values and priorities. The resources in this section will assist municipalities in developing their own AM policy.

Title	Author	Type	Description
How to develop an asset management policy, strategy and governance framework: Set up a consistent approach to asset management in your municipality	FCM	Guide	This guide shows municipalities how to develop an AM policy, strategy, framework, and governance structure that are aligned with the municipality's strategic goals. (See Chapter 2, pg. 13)
*UPDATED* Asset Management Policy Toolkit	Northwest Territories Association of Communities (NWTAC)	Toolkit	This guide and template assist communities in developing an AM policy that is tailored to the local context and articulates Council’s commitment. It includes a ready-to-fill policy template. It was updated to reflect the realities of how climate is impacting the ability of communities to deliver services.
*UPDATED* Asset Management for Elected Officials: Development of Asset Management Policy, Governance and Capacity	Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA); Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA); Infrastructure Asset Management Alberta (IAMA)	Workbook	This workbook guides elected officials through the process of creating an AM policy, defining the human and financial resources needed, developing an AM strategy and team, and communicating the strategy to others.
Asset management insights: policy and governance	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Report	This web-based report summarizes the MAMP program’s advances in the Policy and Governance competency of FCM’s Asset Management Readiness Scale, highlighting three examples of municipalities that developed an AM strategic framework, an AM gap assessment, and an AM policy.
Asset Management Success Story: The Town of Bracebridge, ON	Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)	Video	This case study demonstrates how the Town of Bracebridge, ON formally established an AM policy and adopted asset management as a decision-making tool for infrastructure investment priorities.
How Brockton developed a sustainable infrastructure roadmap	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Case study	This case study demonstrates how the municipality of Brockton, ON completed an AM policy that set the direction for the AM team, strategy, and roadmap.
Strategic Asset Management Policy for the Township of Wilmot, ON	Township of Wilmot, Ontario	Example	This example of an AM policy includes the purpose, scope, goals, principles, and responsibilities for AM for the Town of Wilmot, ON.

 

Asset management strategy and roadmap

An asset management strategy lays out the direction, framework and approach for implementing the AM policy. The AM roadmap is a step-by-step plan outlining the actions, responsibilities, resources, and timelines needed to implement and deliver asset management objectives. The following resources will assist municipalities in developing their AM strategy and roadmap.

Title	Author	Type	Description
How to develop an asset management policy, strategy and governance framework: Set up a consistent approach to asset management in your municipality	FCM	Guide	This guide shows municipalities how to develop an AM policy, strategy, framework, and governance structure that are aligned with the municipality's strategic goals. (See Chapter 3, pg. 26)
Asset management insights: policy and governance	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Report	This web-based report summarizes the MAMP program’s advances in the Policy and Governance competency of FCM’s Asset Management Readiness Scale, highlighting three examples of municipalities that developed an AM strategic framework, an AM gap assessment, and an AM policy.
Raising the bar on asset management in Selkirk, MB	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Case study	This case study demonstrates how the development of Selkirk, MB’s Capital Asset Management Strategy enabled the municipality to invest in a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant.
How Brockton developed a sustainable infrastructure roadmap	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Case study	This case study demonstrates how the municipality of Brockton, ON completed an AM policy that set the direction for the AM team, strategy, and roadmap.
Asset Management Strategy for the District of Summerland, BC	District of Summerland, BC	Example	This example of an Asset Management Strategy developed by the District of Summerland describes the key practices, processes, tools, and documents that staff will use to put their AM policy into action.

 

Asset inventory and data collection

Good data provides important information on which assets need to be maintained, repaired, or replaced. This starts with developing an asset inventory (a list of assets owned and their attributes). The following resources will assist municipalities to collect data on their assets and create an asset inventory.

Title	Author	Type	Description
*NEW* The case for maintenance management readiness	PEMAC Asset Management Association of Canada	Guide	This guide helps municipalities to effectively address deteriorated infrastructure through the collection of timely and effective asset master data and a transition to more proactive maintenance practices.
Sound Asset Information	Asset Management Ontario	Video	This video shows the importance of collecting data on assets, updating information, and communication between departments on asset data for sound decision making.
*UPDATED* Establishing Asset Hierarchy and Performing Data	Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), Asset Management Ontario	Toolkit	This toolkit includes a webinar recording, a template to create an asset hierarchy, an asset management information package, a video instruction to develop an asset register, and a template to analyze data gaps.
Capital Planning Tool	AIM Network	Tool	This tool allows municipalities to create an inventory of assets, costs, conditions, and risks and create a preliminary state of infrastructure report. Registration required (free)
How the Village of Warfield, BC, updated and modernized its asset register	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Case study	This case study demonstrates how a municipality captured data for its linear assets, determined replacement costs, and used an open-source asset management software for decision making.
Asset management insights: data and information	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Report	This report highlights municipalities’ advances in the Data and Information competency and shares a good practice from Perth-Andover, NB in setting up a GIS database to map and store asset information.

 

Condition assessment

Once a municipality has an inventory of its assets, a condition assessment of each asset should be performed to determine its current ability to perform as intended at a capacity that meets the needs of the community. The following resources will assist municipalities in assessing the condition of its assets.

Title	Author	Type	Description
Establishing an Asset Hierarchy from the Comprehensive Guide to AM Process	Asset Management Ontario	Toolkit	This toolkit includes a presentation to guide the establishment of an asset hierarchy with sample templates and exercises to create an asset inventory, rate the conditions of assets, create an asset hierarchy and gap analysis.
Guide d’élaboration d’un plan d’intervention pour le renouvellement des conduites d’eau potable, d’égouts et chaussées (available in French only)	Centre d’expertise et de recherche en infrastructures urbaines (CERIU)	Guide	This guide shows users how to collect data, carry out a condition assessment, and develop a plan for the management of the water, sewer, and road systems.

 

Climate change and asset management

Climate change has the potential to significantly impact a municipality’s infrastructure, levels of service, and service delivery. The following resources will assist municipalities in understanding climate risks and integrating climate change considerations into asset management planning.

Find additional curated databases of resources related to climate change and asset management here:

• Climate Cohort Knowledge Hub (Canadian Network of Asset Managers (CNAM))     
• Adaptation resource library (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)

Title	Author	Type	Description
*NEW* S’adapter au climat par le verdissement (available in French only)	Union des municipalités du Québec	Guide	This guide distinguishes between the different types of green infrastructure, debunks some of the myths associated with them, and highlights a host of diverse, inspiring and reproducible municipal examples from across Quebec.
*NEW* Asset Management through a Climate Lens	Asset Management Ontario (AMONT)	Case study series	This case study series provides an overview of concepts and considerations to use a climate change lens for green infrastructure, asset hierarchy, levels of service, risk and criticality, lifecycle management, and decision-making.
*NEW* Water asset resilience best practice in the context of climate change	Centre d’expertise et de recherche en infrastructures urbaines (CERIU)	Guide	The practical guide provides an overview of best practices for managing assets in the face of heavy rainfall, drought, and storms and is accompanied by a self-assessment tool to determine the vulnerability and resilience of municipal assets to climate change. Registration required (free)
*NEW*  Climate Cohort Case Studies	Canadian Network of Asset Managers (CNAM)	Case study	The series of case studies are from the Climate Action Cohort, which brought together municipalities to share common challenges of aging infrastructure in a changing climate.
*NEW* Asset Management Preliminary Climate Vulnerability Assessment	Northwest Territories Association of Communities (NWTAC)	Worksheet	The purpose of this worksheet is to guide a discussion on the community’s climate vulnerabilities and identify what could happen to interrupt the delivery of essential services that the community relies on.
*NEW* Asset Condition and Climate Impact Scoring Tool (ACCIST)	Ontario Society of Professional Engineers	Toolkit	The toolkit includes an Excel tool, video tutorial, and instructions to document the condition of buildings and assess the climate impacts.
Advancing the Climate Resilience of Canadian Infrastructure: A review of literature to inform the way forward	International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)	Report	This report reviews the current literature on climate change hazards, impacts, and adaptation options for six types of built infrastructure across Canada and looks at the complementary role of natural infrastructure solutions in building climate resiliency
AIMNet Solution Climate Adaptation Workbook	AIM Network	Workbook	This excel tool will assist users to assess the potential impacts of climate change on infrastructure and level of service and evaluate adaptation activities.
Asset Management for Elected Officials: Asset Management and Climate Change	Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA); Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA); Infrastructure Asset Management Alberta (IAMA)	Workbook	This workbook is designed to equip elected officials with an understanding of the impacts of climate change on asset management and the ways through which asset management can support climate change mitigation and adaptation.

 

Collaboration

Collaboration between municipalities, communities of practice, and other sector organizations can help local governments learn good practices, provide mutual support, and work more efficiently in asset management. The following resources highlight municipalities that undertook positive collaborative approaches in asset management. 

 

Title	Author	Type	Description
*NEW* Asset management insights: Municipal Collaboration	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Report and videos	This special edition report is part of a series of updates on the progress being achieved by Canadian municipalities through MAMP. The report highlights ways your municipality can advance its asset management approaches through collaboration and how collaboration can benefit small municipalities in both direct and indirect ways.
*NEW* A facilitator's guide for municipal collaboration on climate planning (A cohort approach)	Atlantic Infrastructure Management (AIM) Network	Guide	This facilitator’s guide is written to help municipal staff, community groups or third parties facilitate a program where municipalities work with each other to address shared climate concerns. It also includes a companion resource, Planning Inclusive Public Engagement On Climate Change.
Partnership produces results for five Ontario communities	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Case study	The case study demonstrates how five municipalities developed a coalition to collaborate on asset management, providing mutual support and drawing on each other’s strengths.
Collaboration breeds success	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Case study	This case study exemplifies how seven municipalities collaborated to share costs related to asset management training, asset inventory, and software.
Local governments incorporate ecosystem needs into infrastructure plans	FCM's Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program	Case study	This case study shows how six communities partnered to integrate natural assets into core asset management and financial processes
Putting Asset Management into Action at the City of Courtenay Using “The 4 C’s”: Collaboration, Capacity, Culture and Council	Asset Management BC	Case study	In this newsletter, the Chief Administrative Officer of the City of Courtney, BC shares how collaboration in the AM Community of Practice was one of the keys to advancing AM practice in his municipality.

 

Community engagement

Engaging the public during the asset management process can help the community develop an understanding and gain public support for infrastructure investment decisions. These resources will help municipalities plan engagement activities, share information, and consult with and inform the public.

Title	Author	Type	Description
*NEW* A facilitator's guide for municipal collaboration on climate planning (A cohort approach)	Atlantic Infrastructure Management (AIM) Network	Guide	This facilitator’s guide is written to help municipal staff, community groups or third parties facilitate a program where municipalities work with each other to address shared climate concerns. It also includes a companion resource, Planning Inclusive Public Engagement On Climate Change.
Asset Management Level 2: Communicating the Cost of Services	Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA), Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA)	Workbook	This workbook helps municipalities engage communities and communicate the cost of services.
Valider l'approche avec les citoyens (available in French only)	Centre d’expertise et de recherche en infrastructures urbaines (CERIU)	Workbook	In this video, seven municipal elected officials and staff share their experience validating asset management information with citizens.
Asset Management for Elected Officials: Engaging the Public in Asset Management	Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA); Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA); Infrastructure Asset Management Alberta (IAMA)	Workbook	This workbook is designed to equip elected officials with an understanding of how to engage the public in the relevant discussions about asset management
Public Consultation for Infrastructure Renewal (Infraguide)	FCM, National Research Council	Guide	This guide provides a roadmap for municipalities to carry out a public consultation process to build understanding about, and support for, required infrastructure renewal.

 

Council engagement

Getting buy-in from council is a key step to advancing asset management practice in the municipality. These resources share insights about how staff can communicate with council about AM to obtain support, as well as information that will help increase elected officials’ understanding of basic concepts, benefits, and governance of asset management.

Title	Author	Type	Description
*UPDATED* Starting the asset management conversation with your municipal council: A communication tool	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Toolkit	This toolkit includes a facilitator’s guide and two customizable presentations to start the conversation or go deeper on asset management and provide municipal council an overview of asset management and its value to the municipality.
Asset Management Success Story: Loyalist Township	Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)	Video	This video shares the good practice of a municipality that developed a governance structure, engaged council, and built internal capacity to plan effectively and use funds strategically.
One mayor’s approach to managing his community’s assets	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Case study	This case study shows how a mayor from a small municipality in Quebec applied learning from an asset management workshop and began to collect data on the municipality's assets.
The Joy of Governing (your how-to guide for optimal governance)	Association of Yukon Communities (AYC)	Guide	The Joy of Governing was developed for small northern communities to enhance understanding of governance, leadership, and the link to asset management. It is also available in Inuktitut.
Quel est le rôle du conseil municipal dans la gestion des actifs? (available in French only)	Centre d’expertise et de recherche en infrastructures urbaines (CERIU)	Brief	This brief explains the role of municipal council in overseeing asset management and linking it to the community strategy.
Guide à l'intention des élus concernant les infrastructures municipales (available in French only)	Centre d’expertise et de recherche en infrastructures urbaines (CERIU)	Guide	This municipal infrastructure guide for elected officials provides approaches for managing municipal assets like water and wastewater systems, stormwater and roadways.

 

Equity, diversity and inclusion in asset management

Equity is the process of analyzing and addressing unfair systems and practices towards the creation of equal outcomes. In asset management, equity-based strategies address specific needs, barriers and accommodations to ensure all have equal access to the services that  assets deliver. 

Title	Author	Type	Description
*NEW* Integrating equity, diversity and inclusion into municipal climate action	ICLEI Canada	Guide	This introductory resource demystifies key concepts, shares case studies and lessons learned, and provides a basic framework for making equity, diversity, and inclusion a core part of a municipality’s everyday climate planning.
*NEW* Equity Framework Getting our house in order	City of Vancouver	Example	The City of Vancouver’s Equity Framework is a conceptual and foundational document to help address injustices and inequities experienced by a broader cross-section of the society within each of the municipal departments.
*NEW* Equity and Inclusion in Asset Management	The Institute of Asset Management	Webinar	This webinar shares some of the steps taken to  integrate equity considerations into investment planning and reporting.
*NEW* Equitable Climate Adaptation: Considerations for Local Governments	ICLEI Canada	Guide	This guide provides an approach and toolkit of actionable ideas for local governments to take action to support climate change adaptation in a way that centers equity and community engagement.
*NEW* A Guide to Equitable Community-Driven Climate Preparedness Planning	Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN)	Guide	This guide provides guidance to local governments in designing and implementing a more inclusive and equitable planning process for climate preparedness and adaptation.
*NEW* Advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in municipal service delivery	FCM’s Municipal Asset Management Program	Factsheet	This factsheet shares definitions and benefits that can inform local governments who are in the early stages of incorporating equity, diversity and inclusion principles and considerations into municipal plans.
*NEW* Advancing government-to-Nation relationships	FCM’s Municipal Asset Management Program	Factsheet	This factsheet outlines principles, strategies and examples of successful relationships between municipal governments and Indigenous nations, all of which recognize Indigenous communities as equal, sovereign partners in community progress.
*NEW* Applying an Indigenous inclusion lens to climate adaptation	FCM’s Municipal Asset Management Program	Factsheet	This factsheet highlights how integrating an Indigenous lens and Indigenous knowledge into climate strategies can enhance resilience and strengthen environmental strategies, as well as contribute to broader goals related to Reconciliation.

Financial planning

Municipalities are faced with critical decisions related to which capital projects should be carried out and must consider factors like the availability of funding. The following resources help municipalities integrate long-term financial planning into the asset management planning process.

Title	Author	Type	Description
*NEW* Long-term financial planning for sustainable service delivery	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Toolkit	Find a video, guides and more to help your municipality improve its long-term financial planning for asset management.  Several resources are developed by Asset Management BC in collaboration with the Union of BC Municipalities.
Le financement en gestion des actifs municipaux (available in French only)	Centre d’expertise et de recherche en infrastructures urbaines (CERIU)	Video	In this video, seven municipal elected officials and staff share their experience on developing the financial strategy to implement the AM plan.
Understanding Costs and Funding	WaterWolf Planning Inc. (WWP)	Webinar recording	This webinar and discussion questions help community asset management teams understand different sources of funding and how cost impacts levels of service and risk tolerance decisions.
Démarche pour adopter un plan financier long terme : Ville de Gatineau (available in French only)	Centre d’expertise et de recherche en infrastructures urbaines (CERIU)	Case study	This video and case study summarize the City of Gatineau’s experience developing a long-term financial plan for asset management, including the steps, tools and benefits.
Developing a Financial Strategy Using Asset Whole Lifecycle costs	Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)	Toolkit	This toolkit includes a free webinar, template, guide and slides to help municipal employees estimate asset whole lifecycle costs to develop a financial plan.
Outil sur la planification à long terme des actifs (available in French only)	Centre d’expertise et de recherche en infrastructures urbaines (CERIU)	Toolkit	This set of three webinars and Microsoft Excel tools help municipalities document the inventory and costs of routes, buildings and rolling stock to facilitate the long-term financial planning of these assets.
Asset Management Resources Kit	Municipal Finance Officer’s Association of Ontario (MFOA)	Resource kit	This kit provides a list of tools and resources to help municipalities develop, implement and optimize their AM Plan, including financial planning.

 

Organizational culture of asset management

The successful implementation of asset management requires support across the municipality. It may require a shift in organizational culture to effectively understand and incorporate asset management into all aspects of planning and decision-making. The following resources will assist municipalities in developing an organizational culture of AM.

Title	Author	Type	Description
*NEW* Tip sheet: Preserving asset management knowledge	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Tool	The tip sheet helps municipalities to ensure that critical asset management expertise and insights are retained within the organization, even as personnel changes.
*NEW* Access to municipal asset data enables collaboration in The Pas	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Case study	This case study shows how the municipality of The Pas, MB, located on Treaty 5 territory, took their existing data and created a robust asset inventory database, developed an asset renewal and replacement forecast, and formalized an AM plan.
*NEW* Advancing asset management practices in Wallace-Woodworth	FCM’s Municipal Asset Management Program	Case study	This case study showcases how the municipality of Wallace-Woodworth, MB developed an asset management policy, created an asset registry for roads and culverts, and formalized asset management planning to institutionalize knowledge.
*NEW* Retaining organizational knowledge in Thunder Bay	FCM’s Municipal Asset Management Program	Case study	This case study shows how the municipality of Thunder Bay, ON created a centralized asset register to better document and share asset management knowledge throughout the organization for improved AM awareness.
NEW* Asset management insights: Contribution to practice	FCM’s Municipal Asset Management Program	Report	This web-based report provides data and examples of how local governments are advancing asset management practices.
Asset Management Competency Framework: Changing organizational culture in a tangible way	Canadian Network of Asset Managers (CNAM)	Toolkit	The Asset Management Competency Framework for Canadian Communities (AMCF) is a web portal and toolkit that explains the different skills and knowledge needed for effective asset management, the job types where those competencies are relevant, and how all the pieces fit together across a municipality. Registration required (free)
North Battleford’s asset management culture shift	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Case study	This case study demonstrates how North Battleford is building asset management capacity across the organization through training, establishing a committee, adopting a policy, and hiring an AM coordinator.
How Lethbridge County doubled down on its asset management	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Case study	This case study shares the success of a municipality that has moved from asset management theory to practice, by creating a cross-functional team, providing group training, and developing an AM policy.
Practical advice for common AM challenges	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Webinar recording	This webinar provides lessons and advice from municipalities on getting started in asset management. Hear from the City of Edmunston, New Brunswick about how they engaged employees and council. (Starts at 7:19 in the video)

 

Organizational maturity and readiness assessment

Municipalities may be at different levels of readiness to implement asset management practices. The following tools help municipalities assess their current maturity with relation to asset management and identify priority areas for action.

Title	Author	Type	Description
Asset Management Readiness Scale	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Tool	This self-assessment tool will help staff and elected officials assess the current asset management practices in the municipality and guide actions to move along the maturity scale.
AssetSMART 2.0: A tool to assess your community's asset management practices	Asset Management BC, Union of BC Municipalities	Tool	This tool enables municipalities to assess their capacity to manage their assets, identify strengths and areas for improvement, and establish priorities.
Self-Assessment and Roadmap tool	AIM Network	Tool	This excel tool allows municipalities to assess their current capacity with respect to people, governance, finance, and core assets, and use the information to develop a work plan to advance asset management practice.

 

Governance structure and asset management teams

Asset management is a multi-disciplinary practice that requires the involvement of actors with various competencies and roles. The following resources will assist municipalities in setting up their cross-functional teams and the governance structure to oversee the AM process.

Title	Author	Type	Description
*NEW* Asset management insights: People and leadership	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Report	This report is the fourth in a series of updates on the progress being achieved by Canadian municipalities through MAMP. The report highlights progress in AM leadership through the development of cross-functional teams and learning about building dynamic teams.
Development of Asset Management Policy Governance and Capacity	Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA), Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA)	Workbook	This workbook assists municipal staff in defining the human and financial resources required to implement the AM policy.
*UPDATED* Developing Asset Management Governance Structure	Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), Asset Management Ontario	Webinar recording	This webinar and slide deck will help users develop an asset management governance structure and foster collaboration across departments to inform Council decision-making.
How to develop an asset management policy, strategy and governance framework: Set up a consistent approach to asset management in your municipality	FCM	Guide	This guide shows municipalities how to develop an AM policy, strategy, framework, and governance structure that are aligned with the municipality's strategic goals. (See Chapter 4, pg. 47)
*UPDATED* AM Implementation Playbook	Northwest Territories Association of Communities (NWTAC)	Toolkit	This guide, worksheet and annual schedule template helps put AM planning into practice to identify decision-making streams and create an Asset Management team.
Asset Management Competency Framework: Changing organizational culture in a tangible way	Canadian Network of Asset Managers (CNAM)	Toolkit	The Asset Management Competency Framework for Canadian Communities (AMCF) is a web portal and toolkit that explains the different skills and knowledge needed for effective asset management, the job types where those competencies are relevant, and how all the pieces fit together across a municipality. Registration required (free)
Comprehensive Guide to AM Process: Leadership and Governance	Asset Management Ontario	Guide	This presentation provides guidance on developing the governance structure for the AM program, including different governance models and roles of key actors.
Committee Terms of Reference Template	AIM Network	Template	This template can be readily adapted to create the Terms of Reference for an Asset Management Committee.

 

Land use planning and asset management

Local governments provide the services needed to support land uses and invariably these services rely upon assets (e.g., roads, treatment plants) and land use plans can impact the affordability of services. The following resources help municipalities connect land use planning and asset management to provide affordable, reliable services now and in the future.

Title	Author	Type	Description
Infrastructure and Land Use Planning (Infraguide)	FCM	Guide	The guide highlights best process for the integration of municipal land use and infrastructure planning, and provides the tools and considerations needed to implement a more integrated approach to planning at the policy and operational levels.
Land use planning and asset management	Union of BC Municipalities, Asset Management BC, and the BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing	Primer	This primer provides an overview of the key concepts, the importance, and the steps in connecting land use planning and AM processes. It includes a Tips for Planners checklist in the appendix.

 

Levels of service

Levels of service are specific parameters that describe the extent and quality of services that the municipality provides to users. The parameters can include safety, customer satisfaction, quality, quantity, capacity, reliability, responsiveness, environmental acceptability, cost, and availability. The following resources will assist municipalities in determining their current levels of service provided and identify gaps.

Title	Author	Type	Description
*NEW* Thematic package on levels of service	FCM’s Municipal Asset Management Program	Toolkit	Find a customizable PowerPoint presentation to help you communicate the benefits of documenting levels of service, an infographic to visualize the process, case studies, and how-to tools.
Understanding Service	WaterWolf Planning Inc. (WWP)	Webinar recording	This webinar and accompanying discussion sheet will guide asset management teams to define, assess and adjust levels of service, and to assign roles to team members.
Levels of Service Template	AIM Network	Tool	This excel tool can be used by municipalities to assess current levels of service, identify gaps, and communicate the results. Registration required (free)
*UPDATED* Understanding Levels of Service	Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), Asset Management Ontario	Toolkit	The toolkit includes a webinar recording (registration required (free)) and tools to identify existing levels of service and establish future targets, such as a levels of service template, an asset hierarchy and levels of service worksheet, asset evaluation template and the Municipal metrics catalogue.
*UPDATED* Asset management levels of service guide	Northwest Territories Association of Communities (NWTAC)	Toolkit	This guide and template are designed to support communities in interpreting and documenting customer Levels of Service.
Asset Management for Elected Officials: Communicating Levels of Service	Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA); Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA); Infrastructure Asset Management Alberta (IAMA)	Workbook	This workbook is designed to assist elected officials in defining levels of service, incorporating it into decision making, and communicating with the community
Considering climate change in levels of service	FCM's Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program	Fact sheet	This fact sheet will help municipalities begin to integrate climate change considerations in level of service.
Developing Levels of Service (Infraguide)	FCM and National Research Council	Guide	This guide outlines the rationale and basic steps to developing levels of service.

 

Lifecycle cost

Lifecycle costs are the true costs involved in owning and utilizing a community asset over its useful life: from initial planning, to purchase, to operations, to maintenance, to renewal and/or decommissioning. The following resources will help municipalities calculate lifecycle costs and use that information to evaluate and compare capital projects.

Title	Author	Type	Description
*NEW* Developing Financial Strategy Using Asset Whole Lifecyle Costs	Association of Municipalities of Ontario	Toolkit	The toolkit includes a webinar, presentation, financial model template, and guide to estimate whole lifecycle costs of assets to understand current and future financing requirements.
Lifecycle Cost Case Study: Halton Region, ON	PEMAC Asset Management Association of Canada	Video	This video case study highlights how a team at Halton Region leveraged the principles of asset management and a “one team” approach to demonstrate that a whole lifecycle approach can yield significant benefits, including cost savings.
Whole Lifecycle Perspective in Asset Management	Asset Management Ontario	Video	This video explains how to take informed decisions considering the lifecycle of an asset, including the cost to own, maintaining, operate, repair, and dispose of over its life.
Lifecycle Cost Guide for Buildings, Arenas and Pools, and workbook	Northwest Territories Association of Communities (NWTAC)	Toolkit	This guide and excel workbook will help users to calculate the lifecycle cost of new capital building arenas and pools, and evaluate the projects based on the cost over the full life of the asset.
Lifecycle Cost Guide for Fleet and Equipment, and workbook	Northwest Territories Association of Communities (NWTAC)	Toolkit	This guide and excel workbook will help municipalities calculate the lifecycle cost of new fleet and equipment, and evaluate the projects based on the cost over the full life of the asset.
Timely Preventative Maintenance for Municipal Roads (Infraguide) (including a Lifecycle cost analysis tool)	FCM and National Research Council	Guide	This guide highlights the main features of a preventive maintenance program for municipal pavements and the steps required for its implementation, applying a Lifecycle Cost Analysis.

 

Natural assets

Natural assets such as aquifers, forests, streams, riparian areas and foreshores can provide municipalities with vital services equivalent to those from many engineered assets. With effective management, natural assets can become a sustainable provider of one or more municipal services. These resources will help municipalities understand the benefits and approaches to managing natural assets.

Title	Source	Type	Description
*NEW* Nature is Infrastructure: How to Include Natural Assets in Asset Management Plans	Natural Assets Initiative (NAI)	Guide	This guide provides direction for Canadian local governments to undertake natural asset management by aligning with approaches already in place to manage built assets.
*NEW* How Parkland County has uncovered the value of natural infrastructure	FCM's Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program	Case study	The Alberta municipality of Parkland County has been experiencing both extreme weather events and degradation of natural infrastructure. By partnering with local NGOs and academia, they were able to complete a mapping, modelling and analysis to better understand the value of these ecosystems and build a quantifiable business case for preserving and restoring them.
*NEW* Comment intégrer les Infrastructures végétalisées pour diminuer les impacts de changements climatiques?	Centre d’expertise et de recherche en infrastructures urbaines (CERIU)	Online course	This training aims to help managers consider the impacts of climate change to integrate green infrastructure practices. Registration and fee required
*NEW* Legal Primer – Natural Asset Management by Local Governments in Canada	Natural Assets Initiative (NAI)    Guide		This primer highlights potential legal issues and liability for local governments, as well as legal tools to help ensure nature and the services it provides are protected. It provides practical, relevant information on environmental governance related to natural assets and management of nature’s services in Canada.
Municipal Natural Asset Initiative pilot project reports	Natural Assets Initiative (NAI)	Reports	This series of reports summarizes the methodology and results of pilot projects in 11 Canadian municipalities to assess the value of natural asset solutions in addressing climate-related challenges.
Developing Levels of Service for Natural Assets: A Guidebook for Local Governments	Natural Assets Initiative (NAI)	Guide	This guide shows how local governments can approach defining natural asset service levels in the asset management process. The follow-up Guide to Next Steps provides guidance on what to do after completing the natural asset inventory.
Integrating Natural Assets into Asset Management	Union of BC Municipalities, Asset Management BC, and the BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing	Primer	This primer introduces the key concepts, rationale, and an approach for including natural assets throughout the AM process.
Natural assets bolster climate resilience	FCM's Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program	Resource library	This page outlines the resources available to municipalities to help improve understanding, valuation and management of green infrastructure in the context of climate change.
Natural Infrastructure Solutions for Climate Resilience	International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)	Infographics	These four infographics visually demonstrate natural infrastructure solutions for coastal, riverine, rural and urban settings.

 

Operation and maintenance of assets

Part of asset management is having a plan and budget for the maintenance and operations of existing assets. These resources will assist municipalities to plan for maintaining and operating assets.

Title	Author	Type	Description
*NEW* Tools: Operations and maintenance for climate resilience	FCM's Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program	Toolkit	Discover low-cost and effective strategies and tools to help your municipality build the resilience of services through the assets and programs you already have, while also reducing your carbon footprint.
Equipment inspection forms (daily and monthly) and videos (for water trucks, sewer trucks, graders, ambulance and more)	Northwest Territories Association of Communities (NWTAC)	Tool	This collection of forms and videos allows municipalities to conduct maintenance on key assets in their communities.
Guide de gestion de l’entretien des voies cyclables (available in French only)	Centre d’expertise et de recherche en infrastructures urbaines (CERIU)	Guide	This guide helps municipalities evaluate the condition of their bike paths, plan maintenance activities and identify actions to ensure the paths are safe in all seasons.
Guide de gestion de l’entretien pour la conservation des chaussées municipales (available in French only)	Centre d’expertise et de recherche en infrastructures urbaines (CERIU)	Guide	This guide helps users plan for the preventative, corrective, and palliative maintenance of municipal roadways.
InfraGuide: National guide to sustainable municipal infrastructure	FCM, National Research Council	Guide	This is a series of reports that include several guides on the maintenance of specific assets, such as roads, sidewalks, drainage systems, and small water systems.
The Role of Operations and Maintenance in Asset Management	Union of BC Municipalities, Asset Management BC, and the BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing	Primer	This primer demonstrates the importance of operations and maintenance (O&M) activities in the lifecycle of the asset, makes the case for proactive maintenance to improve service delivery and reduce lifecycle costs, and provides guidance to improve your municipality’s O&M practices and AM process.

 

Operationalizing asset management

Once municipalities have their asset management policies, strategies and plan in place, the next step is to put it into practice. These resources help municipalities to operationalize asset management, embed it across the organization, and implement plans.

Title	Author	Type	Description
*NEW* How to implement asset management in your municipality	FCM’s Municipal Asset Management Program	Toolkit	This thematic package introduces how to implement, or operationalize, asset management once an AM policy and plan are complete, including an introductory video, case study, checklist and webinar recording.
AM Implementation Playbook (Guide, worksheet and annual schedule template)	Northwest Territories Association of Communities (NWTAC)	Toolkit	This guide helps put AM planning into practice and includes a worksheet to identify decision-making streams and create an Asset Management team.
Operationalizing Asset Management: It’s about People, Too	Asset Management BC (AMBC)	Article	This article shares the experience from the City of Courtenay who adjusted the organizational structure, provided staff training, and organized working groups to operationalize AM in their municipality.
Operationalizing Asset Management	Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM)	Presentation	This presentation provides an overview of operationalizing asset management by identifying and removing barriers.

 

Risk

Good asset management practice includes the assessment of risk, the likelihood and consequence of an undesirable event or circumstance that could negatively impact the ability of assets to meet the objectives of the community it serves. The following resources provide guidance and tools to assist municipalities in assessing and planning for risks related to their assets and service delivery.

Title	Author	Type	Description
Understanding Risk	WaterWolf Planning Inc. (WWP)	Webinar	This webinar, discussion questions and outline helps community asset management teams understand how to identify different types of asset risks, their associated impact and likelihood of occurrence, and options for risk mitigation.
Risk-based Perspective in Infrastructure Asset Management	Asset Management Ontario (AMONTario)	Video	This video provides an introduction on risk and how to take a risk-based perspective in asset management.
*UPDATED* Using Risk Assessments to Identify Local Priorities	Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), Asset Management Ontario	Toolkit	This webinar recording, risk assessment template, and asset and climate risk and priority models template guide municipalities through the steps in the risk assessment process to prioritize infrastructure investments.
Asset Management for Elected Officials: Asset Management and Risk	Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA); Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA); Infrastructure Asset Management Alberta (IAMA)	Workbook	This workbook is helps elected officials identify risks in the municipality, understand the process of risk management, and identify the tools to use for risk management.
Risk Management Toolkit	Asset Management Ontario	Toolkit	This toolkit includes a presentation, example risk assessment exercises, example partial database, and risk assessment tool & map to provide guidance and tips on the asset risk management process.
Prioritized decision-making toolkit	Asset Management Ontario	Toolkit	This presentation explains prioritized decision-making using an enterprise risk management approach and includes example risk assessment exercises, example levels of service exercises, an example infrastructure summary, and tips for assessing risk.
Managing Risk (Infraguide)	FCM and National Research Council	Guide	This guide provides an overview of the risk management process, risk analysis, and case studies that highlight best practice.

 

Software

There are a variety of programs and operating processes that can facilitate the collection, storage, statistical analysis, and mapping of data to inform asset management decisions. The following resources provide information to help municipalities consider asset management software.

Title	Author	Type	Description
*NEW* The Municipal Geoportal Project	Association francophone des municipalités du Nouveau-Brunswick	Tool	The geoportal, with an accompanying guide, is a tool to visualize municipal infrastructure data and help municipalities access information and data that guide infrastructure decision-making. Watch video testimony about how the geoportal is helping to improve data management.
Open-source software series	Selkirk College	Video series	This series of videos introduces the concepts of Open Data and Open Source Software, and demonstrates how to use the software for asset management: QGIS (Part 1, Part 2), Civitas (Part 1, Part 2), and OpenStreetMap (Part 1, Part 2).
Ville de Dollard-des-Ormeaux: Implanter la géomatique (available in French only)	Centre d’expertise et de recherche en infrastructures urbaines (CERIU)	Case study	This video and case study summarize how the municipality Dollard-des-Ormeaux organized its asset database and put in place a geographic mapping of infrastructure.
Questions to ask BEFORE your municipality considers asset management software	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Guide	This guide provides basic information on AM software, what it can do, and the questions to ask internally and to suppliers before procuring software.
AIMnet Solutions	AIM Network	Toolkit	This page contains information on AIMnet Solution, a system of integrated computer software developed specifically to meet the asset management planning needs of smaller communities faced with limited resources. Registration required (free)
Practical advice for common AM challenges	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Webinar recording	This webinar provides lessons and advice from municipalities on getting started in asset management, creating a team, using software, hiring a consultant, and taking an asset inventory.
The City of Guelph’s Asset Management Success Story	Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)	Video	This case study features how the municipality adopted a computerized asset management priority decision-making system with infrastructure data such as costs, risks and service levels to support budgetary and operational decision-making processes.

 

Working with a consultant

Many municipalities will not have the capacity or human resources to complete all of the steps in the asset management process and will choose to hire consultants to carry out specific tasks or projects. These resources will help municipalities through the process of hiring and working with a consultant to ensure positive partnerships and effective results.

Title	Author	Type	Description
Scoping your asset management project	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Tip sheet	These tips will help municipalities clearly define and communicate the objectives of an AM project to consultants to facilitate the evaluation and selection process.
Owning the products developed with an asset management consultant	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Tip sheet	These tips will help ensure that the finished work of a consultant-led AM project can be edited, adapted, and shared by the municipal team.
Ensuring continuation of asset management once consultant services are complete	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Tip sheet	These tips will help to engage the municipal team during the planning and development of a consultant-led AM project to ensure post-project momentum.
Selecting a Professional Consultant (Infraguide)	FCM and National Research Council	Guide	This guide will help users select a professional consultant, using an approach that considers the long-term value of selecting the most qualified and competent consultant, rather than lowest cost consultant.
Practical advice for common AM challenges	FCM's Municipal Asset Management Program	Webinar recording	This webinar provides lessons and advice from municipalities on getting started in asset management. Hear from the Township of Frontenac, Ontario about how they worked with a consultant on their asset management project. (Starts at 16:45 in the video)

Resource databases and libraries from across Canada

Find other excellent asset management resources from communities of practice and associations across Canada.

Organization	Description
Municipal Finance Officer’s Association of Ontario Asset Management Resources	This resource library curates important documents, videos, and policies related to the 12 areas in MFOA’s asset management framework.
Gestion des actifs municipaux du Quebec (Centre d’expertise et de recherche en infrastructures urbaines) (available in French only)	This online platform includes a collection of resources to inform and guide municipalities in Quebec on how to implement municipal asset management. Registration required (free)
Asset Management Saskatchewan	This community of practice includes a resource library to enhance knowledge and abilities in municipal asset management in Saskatchewan.
Asset Management Ontario	This community of practice includes a collection of guides, templates and other resources to strengthen the public sector asset management in the Province of Ontario.
Asset Management British Columbia	This community of practice has a searchable library of resources on municipal asset management.
Infrastructure Asset Management Alberta	This community of practice has a library of guides, studies, and links to a selection of asset management resources.
Association of Yukon Communities AM Community of Practice	This community of practice includes a selection of resources to help communities get started on asset management.
Atlantic Infrastructure Management (AIM) Network	This Atlantic Canada community of practice includes a selection of tools, templates and resources on asset management for municipalities in the Atlantic region.
Asset Management in the Northwest Territories (Northwest Territories Association of Communities)	This resource library is a collection of guides, templates, and other resources to assist northern communities in implementing asset management practice.
Canadian Network of Asset Managers (CNAM)	This national community of practice has a collection of links to key AM resources, web pages, training and funding opportunities.
PEMAC’s Shared Learning Library	This resource library is a growing body of community-created knowledge maintained by the PEMAC member community and includes articles, presentations and webcasts covering a wide range of asset management topics.

 

* “New” or “Updated” resource listings are as of between September 2022 and October 2024.