An Invitation to Action
The Message from the Chair
Reg Andres, PEng
Chair of the CIS-TRM Expert Panel and Vice-President
of R.V. Anderson Associates
Limited
Public health, environmental protection and economic prosperity are crucial to nurturing vibrant Canadian communities, the building blocks of a successful nation. The viability of these communities relies on a healthy and durable infrastructure that can deliver the essential services associated with fresh water, waste water and transportation.
But the existing infrastructure systems, on which these services rely, are aging rapidly at a time when many communities are growing. These systems have reached a critical stage in their history and are challenging Canada's civil infrastructure systems (CIS) industry with unprecedented levels of decision-making, intervention and investment.
Canada's CIS represents a $25 billion annual industry. The diversity and complexity of its components and stakeholders present a significant challenge to finding a common vision and an integrated approach to industry needs. There are more than 3,000 CIS owners under federal, provincial, territorial and municipal jurisdictions across Canada, serving customer bases ranging in size from a few people to several million. In addition to owners, the CIS industry includes the engineering profession and many organizations representing a variety of industry interests, including those of contractors, builders, policy makers, researchers and academics. All are stakeholders with individual and specific mandates.
The diversified infrastructure industry, supported and guided by a partnership of national professional associations, undertook the challenge of developing a national consensus that would identify needs and a strategy to meet the challenges of Canada's CIS. The result was the infrastructure Technology Road Map (TRM), developed as a blueprint for technological innovation for the entire CIS industry. Te n objectives were established for the next 10 years, using input from more than 140 Canadian industry leaders and experts to address the long-term management issues of Canada's CIS.
The TRM is an invitation to action for the CIS community. Senior government agencies, municipalities, consultants, contractors, research organizations, academic institutions and professional associations - all of whom have an interest in civil infrastructure systems - are challenged to review this document and:
• adopt the TRM objectives as the national vision for the long-term management of the CIS;
• within the mandate of their organizations, develop an action plan that will achieve the TRM objectives, and
• if necessary and possible, expand the mandate of their organizations to create the opportunities necessary to meet the objectives of the TRM.
The challenge facing Canada's CIS is significant. It requires a national action plan and a common national vision. Collectively, the CIS industry has the potential and the capability for making a positive impact on the future. You are invited and encouraged to become a leader in developing the solutions that our community needs.
Reg Andres, PEng
Chair of the CIS-TRM Expert Panel and
Vice-President of R.V. Anderson Associates Limited
Improving the efficiency and convenience of our transportation structures