The Technology Road Map: Paths to Innovation

The TRM, which is the blueprint toward adopting innovations in CIS technologies, identifies the interrelationships among the components of the CIS industry and provides a basis for action plans to achieve its goals. The TRM represents the industry's consensus on:

•  a vision for the industry's future;

•  the maintenance and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure;

•  the new products and services required;

•  the technologies to create these products and to provide these services;

•  the feasibility of creating these technologies; and

•  how technological challenges can be addressed through research and development.

The TRM project began in 2002 with a background study that supported a series of Canada-wide Town Hall Meetings. Owners, end-users, operators, consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, contractors and the scientific community have participated in the TRM process, which has been both consultative and inclusive. The aim of the TRM is to encourage stakeholder organizations to develop science and technology action plans for the construction, rehabilitation and management of our CIS. These plans will maximize the benefits of Canadian investments and will bring the Canadian construction industry to the forefront, both domestically and internationally.

Ground-breaking technology in our subway systems

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's needs; and

•  to increase research and development.

Four organizations led this project to ensure the rapid, effective development and management of the TRM: the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE), the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (CCPE), the Canadian Public Works Association (CPWA) and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). These organizations represent a wide range of disciplines within the CIS community.

Numerous other organizations and associations have been involved in acquiring and distributing the information required to complete the TRM by June 2003. Among these participants were:

•  federal and provincial governments;

•  municipalities;

•  owners and operators;

•  consulting engineers;

•  construction companies;

•  manufacturers;

•  suppliers; and

•  universities and colleges.