The TRM represents a national consensus on the current state of infrastructure systems, a vision for the industry and a strategy for meeting the long-term needs of Canada's CIS through technology innovation. The preparation of the TRM was led by four national bodies: the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering, the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers, the Canadian Public Works Association and the National Research Council of Canada.
Early in the TRM process, the following goals were identified:
• To promote and build support for an ongoing, long-term, holistic investment in the innovative technologies needed to renew and enhance Canada's CIS;
• To adopt the TRM as a blueprint for the renewal and enhancement of Canada's CIS;
• To develop a nationally shared vision among all partners;
• To develop a realistic and exhaustive analysis of the state of CIS, as driven by the construction industry needs; and to increase research and development.
More than 140 leaders and experts were consulted in Canada-wide Town Hall Meetings. These consultations resulted in a list of 10 Technology Road Map objectives for the next decade. A set of key recommendations for meeting these objectives was also developed to encourage CIS industry stakeholders to take immediate action.
Participants also identifed several important issues that are not directly associated with technology. These non-technology issues are related to policy and standards, to legislative framework and to resources. Because technology issues cannot be dealt with in isolation, these non-technological issues must still be accounted for in stakeholders' action plans.