In the 1950’s and 1960’s immediately following the Second World War, billions of dollars were spent on increasing infrastructure across Canada. This time was considered the Golden Age of modern infrastructure. Governments reduced investment in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Since this time, there has been a great resurgence in the interest in our modern infrastructure. The National Research Council of Canada states that 40% of the bridges in Canada are more than 40 years old – (Aging Highway Bridges). A report provided in 2008 by Stats Can revealed that it is believed that bridges are 57% of their total life span (higher in some provinces). Other research provided by the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering pegs Canada’s infrastructure has already utilized 79% of its life expectancy.

The cost to replace or refurbish these structures is the critical questions that politicians must juggle everyday. A report by the Canadian Union of Public Employees indicates that municipalities are looking at a staggering $123-billion deficit. This deficit will only continue to grow with increase of population, growing demand for tax dollars in other departments, a determination to keep taxes low, and further downloading of responsibilities to city and town governments. The federal government recently announced that it would make the gas tax fund a permanent fixture which will supply $2-billion a year to infrastructure investment. This is only a small amount, considering the current status of the infrastructure requiring repair or replacement.

Due to the scope of the number of structures that need to be assessed, engineers are left with the dilemma of what structures need to be looked at first. Bridge structures for instance are inspected visually on a two year basis, but there is certainly more than meets the eye, especially when you consider the bridge collapse in Minneapolis and some recent problems in Quebec. Most other evaluation techniques appear to be more expensive, but the question is: are they?

Tools that can evaluate the current condition of a structure and its slow (or fast) deterioration may appear expensive, but if the technology can lengthen the service life of a structure or increase the time between maintenance requirements become a very valuable tool to the engineer. Sophisticated systems like the OSMOS technology can monitor structures and over longer periods of time can determine degradation of a structure through a reduction in overall stiffness or strain of a structural member. Using structural monitoring gives engineers a reliable tool to assess structures for making cost effective repair or replacement activities.

Although there is a need to review our aging infrastructure, there are good tools available that can be used to make these determinations. Ultimately, a technology that appears to be expensive may in fact be well worth the cost in the service life of that structure.

Treating one of Ontario's cultural landmarks with respect and care is the goal for the OSMOS system. The renovation of Maple Leaf Gardens on Carleton street is not an easy task and certainly not one that could be considered delicate. In order to provide structural monitoring for both the buildings and the workers safety - the OSMOS system was utilized throughout the revnovation. Read More...