Science and Technology in Canada: Its Importance To The Construction Sector
Keynote Address-CIB World Building Congress 2004 Toronto, Ontario
Arthur J. Carty
3 May 2004
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Introduction
Good morning everyone – bonjour à vous tous.
Thank you Sherif for your kind introduction. I am delighted that the CIB has asked me to lead off this event with a few
words on the importance of science and technology to the construction sector, both in Canada and worldwide.
CIB has once again shown its leadership in fostering innovation by creating this unparalleled opportunity for researchers,
practitioners and building managers from around the world to learn of the latest advances in construction technology and
practices.
Building The Future: The Importance Of Innovation
Your clear focus at this conference is on Building the Future. From my
perspective as Canada’s National Science Advisor, this means innovation.
(SLIDE 1)
It is now almost a cliché to say that knowledge and innovation, rather than natural resources, are the driving forces for
the creation of economic wealth, prosperity and quality of life.
In the words of Harvard economist, Michael Porter, “Relentless innovation and upgrading of productivity are the
keys to
international competitiveness in the modern economy.”
At the same time, there is a growing recognition that innovation of all kinds is essential if humanity is going to meet
the social, cultural and environmental challenges of the 21st century.
Around the world, governments, businesses and organizations are investing in the discovery and development of new
scientific knowledge and technologies, as well as the evolution and adoption of new processes and forms of
organizational
management.
Here in Canada, for instance, our federal government has increased R&D spending by $13 Billion (Cdn) of incremental $ since 1997.
So what has this got to do with the construction sector?
Plenty. I would say.
Because the design, construction, operation and maintenance of our built environment are foundational activities that
underpin almost every aspect of economic activity and daily life.
(SLIDE 2)
At present, the construction sector accounts for some 15% of GDP worldwide. It is one of the largest economic activities
in almost every nation of the world.
But what if we increased the sector’s capacity for innovation? And, in particular, what if we increased the uptake and
application of science and technology?
Studies in New Zealand and Australia have suggested that a 10 percent increase in
efficiency in construction – through the
broader application of innovative technologies, processes and management techniques -- could lead to a 1 to 2.5 percent
gain in GDP.
(SLIDE 3)
The impact of such a shift on national, regional and local economies would be significant – increasing productivity and
business profitability, and generating higher-skilled jobs.
And there would be other benefits. A more innovative construction sector would be able to substantially increase the quality,
durability and safety of the built environment – from bridges and power generation facilities, to high-rise apartment
buildings and single-family homes.
And it could do this, not just here in the heart of the developed world, but in more remote and developing parts of the
world as well.
It would also be better equipped to respond to new and pressing challenges, such as concerns about
public security,
occupant health, environmental impact and sustainability, and respect for community practices and preferences.
Now, this might be easier said than done.
The fragmented nature of the industry -- dominated by small and medium-sized businesses in almost every part of the
world -- makes it difficult to invest in R&D, as well as to disseminate its results. Small firms often consider the
risk of innovation too high.
But innovation is going to be a must if the sector is to move successfully into the
21st century.
So what I’d like to do – drawing on our experience here in Canada – is to attempt to inspire you with a few examples of
how researchers in private and public labs across Canada are producing meaningful breakthroughs for the Canadian
construction sector.
Canada’s Construction Sector and Innovation System
So let me start with a quick profile.
(SLIDE 4)
Canada’s construction sector is one of the largest and most valuable segments of our economy – generating
11.2 percent of GDP. Some 215,000 firms – mostly small and medium-sized enterprises -- employ over 850,000 people in construction and
another 180,000 in the design and manufacture of building products. Together they maintain and
repair over $5 trillion in
assets.
On the S&T front, the sector is supported by a well-developed innovation system. Government and university laboratories
increasingly work together – and with industry – in partnerships and networks to generate new knowledge and technologies
that will assist the construction sector in responding to current or emerging needs.
(SLIDE 5)
The system also includes a dynamic set of National Building Codes to ensure public safety and standards, to enable
organizations to evaluate and certify new technologies, and to provide a range of mechanisms to demonstrate and disseminate
new technologies and construction-related information.
Several of these organizations – such as the National Research Council of Canada and the Canada Mortgage and Housing
Corporation – are key sponsors of this conference.
As a sidebar, I’d like to note that Canada is currently in the process of introducing a new system of
Objective-based Codes
that we hope will facilitate greater flexibility and innovation at the project level. We expect these to be in place some
time next year.
Canadian S&T – Making A Difference
(SLIDE 6)
Turning now to the science, Canada’s construction innovation system has a distinguished history of developing new
scientific knowledge and technologies that have been of significant benefit to both consumers and industry.
Canada’s leadership in housing energy efficiency springs to mind as an example. The early development and adoption of
energy efficient building technologies -- driven in part by our harsh winter climate -- has made Canadian industry a world
leader in this field, as well as in the development of related expertise in ventilation, indoor air quality and healthy
housing.
(SLIDE 7)
A multitude of fascinating research projects are currently underway in this area – from research on advanced building
envelope systems at the National Research Council’s Institute for Research in Construction to
Natural Resource Canada’s
ekoCOMFORT initiative. The latter has led to the development of the first energy efficient, all-in-one units capable of
providing space- and water-heating and continuous whole-house ventilation for residential use.
Research in this area is absolutely essential to enable Canada to meet its requirements under the Kyoto Accord on Climate
Change.
But what I most want to draw to your attention is the way in which “traditional” construction related research is merging
with other fields of scientific inquiry and technology development.
(SLIDE 8)
Take for instance the leading-edge research being pursued under the umbrella of ISIS Canada – one of Canada’s Networks of
Centres of Excellence, funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), now known as
Science and
Engineering Research Canada.
Through this initiative, teams of public, private sector and university researchers are combining skills and expertise from
the disciplines of civil and electrical engineering with the latest developments in advanced materials to broaden the scope
for innovative structural designs and extend the life span of structures of all kinds.
(SLIDE 9)
This work centres around two streams of research and development:
-
First of all the application of corrosion resistant, super strong, light weight fibre reinforced polymers (FRPs) to
structures – either in the form of FRP wraps for rehabilitation or FRP replacements for conventional steel reinforcement
bars; and,
-
Secondly the installation of miniature sensors, light sources and fibre optic cable during the construction or
rehabilitation of structures to provide real-time data that can assist in monitoring structural health.
A number of high-profile demonstration projects are already indicating the cost-effectiveness and flexibility of these new
construction technologies and processes. These range from the installation of FRPs and structural health monitoring systems
on the massive 13 km long Confederation Bridge that spans the Northumberland Straight between New Brunswick and
Prince Edward Island, to painstaking rehabilitation work on a heritage, timber-based, covered bridge in tiny
Compton Station, Quebec.
Other projects have involved the application of these new solutions to parking garages, schools, pipelines, and nuclear and
hydro power facilities.
Another key area attracting a lot of research effort – especially following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 –
is
the area of fire risk management.
In Canada, the National Research Council’s Institute for Research in Construction has strengthened its research program in
this crucial area of construction-related research. NRC scientists and engineers are engaged in several collaborative
projects with their industry and university counterparts to develop better techniques of evaluating the fire performance of
building materials and come up with innovative fire suppression systems.
(SLIDE 10)
Here too the convergence of scientific disciplines and technologies is having an impact – particularly the
integration of
information technologies. Again to use NRC as an example, the Institute for Research in Construction is using computational
modeling systems to study fire-safety and smoke management issues in large, complex spaces – from underground tunnels to multiple atriums and interconnected floor spaces.
They have also developed and made available a Fire Risk Evaluation and Cost Assessment Model – known as
FIRECAM™ -- that
can be used to evaluate the level of fire safety provided to occupants in an apartment or office building by a particular
fire safety design. The computer program can also be used to assess the associated costs of a design, including capital
expenditures, maintenance and expected fire losses. It is an excellent example of how IT can assist with decision-making
processes relating to both the design and management of built assets.
Looking Ahead
While I don’t have time to go into more detail, these few examples underscore the important role S&T can play in assisting
the construction sector in meeting some of the challenges it will face -- not just in Canada, but worldwide – as we move
further into the 21st century.
That said; R&D is only one piece of the puzzle. For the construction sector to prosper, scientific and technical innovation
must also be complemented by process and managerial innovation.
(SLIDE 11)
There is a growing consensus that construction and materials management processes must become more efficient in order to
remain profitable. Entrepreneurs and asset managers must be able to forecast and respond to increasingly complex business
scenarios and trends in consumer demand.
Skills sets throughout the sector must be enhanced, both to be able to incorporate IT and robotics into the industry and to
have the capacity to apply multidisciplinary solutions to construction challenges.
Conclusion
I’d like to close with some words from science writer and philosopher, Arthur C. Clarke and I quote
“The world needs
uninhibited thinkers, not afraid of far out speculation; it also needs hard-headed conservative engineers who can make
their dreams come true.’’
This is really what we need: both creativity and innovation.
Here in Canada – and around the world – there is an increasing urgency for the construction sector to become more
innovative and productive. The sector simply must adopt a new way of working that embraces
science and technology,
as well as multidisciplinary collaboration and integrated decision-making.
Achieving this goal will require a sector-wide response.
The construction sector has a tremendous impact on national, regional and local economies around the globe.
It also has a
fundamental role to play in enhancing the quality of the human condition and the sustainability of the environment worldwide.
The construction sector needs innovation champions.
My challenge to you then is to become those champions. To use your time here to exchange perspectives and to commit to
working together to increase the sector’s innovative capacity to ensure that it achieves its fullest potential in the
years to come.
Thank you.
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