The deterioration prediction, risk and budget forecasting methodology and algorithms are developed as part of a research project funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) and industry partners. The partners of the project included RMIT University, Integrate Australia Pty Ltd, Municipal Association of Victoria, Brimbank City Council, Glen Eira City Council, Monash City Council, Greater Dandenong City Council, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and Kingston City Council.

Algorithms for deterioration prediction and risk cost optimisation developed by the researchers were further enhanced leading to a prototype software application with the support of a technology voucher grant from the department of business and innovation awarded to Integrate Australia Private Ltd. This grant enabled continuation of the research to deliver a commercial outcome for Integrate Australia Pty Ltd in collaboration with RMIT.

The research focused on two key areas where PhD projects were defined for each. First research activity focused on the deterioration forecasting and optimised decision making for management of community buildings. The outcome of this work was a probabilistic deterioration model and a risk-cost optimisation method for building maintenance. These outcomes lead to a significant reduction in maintenance cost of community buildings through optimised decision-making. Secondly on optimised decision making on asset management of community buildings. The study derived sustainability indicators for decision making through a comprehensive survey of 700 local councils in Australia analysed and optimised using fuzzy logic. The outcomes developed a method for ranking refurbishment decision making for council buildings considering social, economic and environmental indicators.

Both of the above research work won the Asset Management Council of Engineers Australia Postgraduate Research Awards 2012 and 2013 by the respective PhD students.