Studies

This study, prepared by MK Jaccard and Associates Inc. with input from leading Canadian energy, land use and transportation experts, examines how the economy and the environment could be helped by rethinking the way our communities are designed and how people travel and commute. The study uses data from four communities - the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario; Winnipeg, Mantioba; Dawson Creek, British Columbia; and Fort McMurray, Alberta; and scales up its findings to the national level.

Report can be found at: The "Potential" Study: The capacity for integrated community energy solutions policies to reduce urban greenhouse gas emissions

These reports were prepared by professors and research assistants from the University of British Columbia. The reports were completed by 2009.

To become more disaster-resilient, communities must address infrastructure vulnerabilities in an integrated manner. The research addresses this issue by developing and disseminating knowledge that is needed to prioritize investments in disaster-resilient infrastructures.

The research resulted in numerous reports and case studies including:

1. Resilience Decisions Contexts
2. Creating Alternatives for Improving Infrastructure Interdependency Resilience
3. Setting Priorities for Improving Infrastructure Interdependency
   Resilience
4. Infrastructure Disruptions and Interdependencies during Flood Events
5. Transportation Sector Case Study: Characterizing vulnerability to Infrastructure Failure Interdependencies from flood and earthquake hazards

Report can be found at: Infrastructures for Disaster-Resilient Communities, School of Community and Regional Planning

Based in British Columbia, the Community Energy Association (CEA) is a non-profit society promoting energy conservation, efficiency and green energy through community planning and project implementation.

This project built on CEA's existing work in British Columbia, through presentations and workshops in 18 communities, as well as enhancements to two websites that support innovative infrastructure planning at the local level. The research resulted in numerous reports and cases studies.

1. Policy and Governance Tools
2. Energy Sustainability Case Study Guide
3. Heating Our Communities
4. Powering Our Communities
5. Utilities and Financing

This study was prepared for the Canadian Standards Association in 2007.

The authors conducted an assessment of how to expand the Canadian engineering curriculum and continuing education programs for engineering practitioners to include environmental issues, such as climate change and engineering practices for sustainable civil infrastructure. The scope included technical issues to be considered in order to accommodate the unique needs of remote northern communities, in addition to the more densely populated Canadian urban and rural communities that are south of the 60^th parallel.

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From Impacts to Adaptation: Canada in a Changing Climate 2007 is a scientific assessment of Canada's vulnerability to climate change.

Through a primarily regional approach, this assessment discusses current and future risks and opportunities that climate change presents to Canada, with a focus on human and managed systems. It is based on a critical analysis of existing knowledge, drawn from the published scientific and technical literature and from expert knowledge. The current state of understanding is presented, and key knowledge gaps are identified.

Advances in understanding adaptation, as well as examples of recent and ongoing adaptation initiatives, are highlighted throughout the report.

Report can be found at: Canada in a Changing Climate

This Conference Board of Canada report by Len Coad discusses the value of using better rate structures, demand management, conservation, investments, and other methods so that water use is more efficient. The primary focus of the report is on investment in municipal water infrastructure. As a starting point, it describes the broad revenue sources and financing methods available to municipal water provider.

Report can be found at: Improving Infrastructure Management—Municipal Investments in Water and Wastewater Infrastructure

This working paper, prepared for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) by Stephen Hammer, Lamia Kamal-Chaoui, Alexis Robert and Marissa Plouin, examines the current state of knowledge about green growth in cities and outlines the key research questions and protocols that will guide the OECD Green Cities programme. It examines the economic and environmental conditions that have pushed the green growth agenda to the forefront of policy debate and assesses the critical role of cities in advancing green growth.

Report can be found at: Cities and Green Growth: A Conceptual Framework

This C.D. Howe Institute Commentary by Steven Renzetti critically assesses the current state of municipal water pricing in Canada and finds it to be significantly flawed, with costs that include underfunded water agencies, an aging infrastructure, and excessive consumption.

Report can be found at: The Case for Smarter Water Policy

In the face of climatic changes, engineers may have to reconsider existing assumptions relative to infrastructure capacity and vulnerability. Based on this concern, Engineers Canada conducted an assessment of the vulnerability of four categories of Canadian public infrastructure:

• stormwater and wastewater;
• water resources;
• roads and associated structures; and
• buildings.

Report can be found at: Canada's First National Engineering Vulnerability Assessment of Public Infrastructure

This study, prepared for Infrastructure Canada by the Vancity Community Foundation, addresses the unique contribution non-profit organizations can make to public infrastructure as a result of their close connections to community. Non-profits are able to leverage non‑traditional sources of funds, generate social and financial returns on investment, and tailor infrastructure solutions to local needs. The paper explores the benefits of and barriers to non-profits engaging in infrastructure provision, as well as possible enablers.

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This study by the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) explores the value case for accessible transit in Canada. It touches on a range of possible social and economic impacts for mobility-restricted users and the wider community. The work is based on case studies, consultation interviews with experts, and a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the potential economic and social benefits associated with enhanced accessibility. The study also compares of the cost of specialized transit to the cost of accessible conventional transit services. The work was funded in part through a contribution from Infrastructure Canada.

Report can be found at: Report: The Value Case for Accessible Transit in Canada

This report was prepared by Anna Kramer, Urban Planning, University of Waterloo in 2010.

This report synthesizes the current research on the cost of roads, sewer and water infrastructure. It includes the fiscal costs for the whole life cycle of infrastructure – from construction, maintenance, operations, and replacement – as well as 'external' costs such as air and water quality, land and energy consumption, and wider social and environmental costs.

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The study was prepared by PriceWaterhouseCoopers in 2008.

The objective of this paper is to conduct a literature review that assesses the impacts of aging demographics on public infrastructure in developed countries. The paper introduces the demographic context and its broad implications for the provision of public services, such as public infrastructure. It then focuses on the impacts for engineering works and social infrastructure.

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This website lays out the Government of Canada's Northern Strategy which focuses on four priority areas: exercising our Arctic sovereignty; promoting social and economic development; protecting the North's environmental heritage; and improving and devolving northern governance, so that Northerners have a greater say in their own destiny. Addressing critical infrastructure needs is one component of the overall strategy.

Report can be found at: Canada's Northern Strategy

This Conference Board of Canada report gives an overview of how cities rank on the features that make Canadian cities attractive to skilled workers and mobile populations. Given looming labour shortages, cities without the ability to attract new people will struggle to stay prosperous.

Report can be found at: Benchmarking the Attractiveness of Canada's CMAs

This paper by Steven R. Dang and Nancy Duxbury explores the contributions of academic research and professional planning literature to understanding various approaches to, and issues involved in, planning for cultural infrastructure on a municipal or regional scale.

Report can be found at: Planning for Cultural Infrastructure on a Municipal or Regional Scale

This report addresses the realm of cultural infrastructure in Canada. Based on research and events organized by the Centre of Expertise on Culture and Communities at Simon Fraser University (2005-2008), the report sets out the key concerns, issues, and observations that have emerged in three main areas:

• The state of cultural infrastructure,
• The policy-funding frameworks that govern and support cultural infrastructure, and
• New and emerging partnership models and trends.

Report can be found at: The State of Cultural Infrastructure in Canada

This study prepared for Infrastructure Canada by Dr. Larry Blain explores innovative infrastructure financing tools for local governments. It documents the current situation in Canada regarding local government access to long-term infrastructure capital, identifies innovative procurement methods, describes the challenges faced by local governments when considering the use of these methods, and provides an overview of the guidance required to facilitate effective planning and implementation of innovative procurement. Particular attention is paid to project size and to local government size and capacity as factors influencing a project's ability to attract private sector participation.

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The study was prepared by David P. Amborski, with Paul Nichols, School of Urban and Regional Planning, Ryerson University in 2010.

This study focuses on provincial regulation of municipal capital borrowing. The study has two general objectives:

• To determine whether or not the existing arrangements, procedures, and regulations relative to municipal capital borrowing, are appropriate given current interest in redefining the roles and responsibilities of provincial and municipal governments in Canada; and
• To assess whether the above regulatory process is supportive or a hindrance to municipal infrastructure planning and the development of multi-year capital budgets.

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This study was prepared by Harry Kitchen, Department of Economics, Trent University in 2006.

This study has identified current practices in the financing of public infrastructure projects and examined how municipalities set prices for services provided.

Report can be found at: Municipal Infrastructure Financing: A Prescription for the Future

This report by Casey Vander Ploeg is part of the Canada West Foundation's Western Cities Project. It sets out to deliver information on tools for infrastructure financing, funding, and delivery that are both traditional and innovative. The report assesses the applicability of these tools and the role of governments in advancing their usage.

Report can be found at: Financing, Funding and Delivery of Urban Infrastructure

The focus of this paper by Barry Bosworth and Sveta Milusheva of The Brookings Institution is an evaluation of some of the new approaches to financing infrastructure projects. They include extension of the Build America bond program that was introduced in 2009-10, proposals for an infrastructure bank, and public-private partnerships.

Report can be found at: Innovations in U.S. Infrastructure Financing: An Evaluation

This Conference Board of Canada report by Mario Iacobacci assesses the benefits and drawbacks of public-private partnerships (P3s). P3s have become an increasingly important means of procuring public infrastructure in Canada, yet they remain controversial. This report tracks the performance of P3 projects that reached financial close in 2004 or later under the auspices of provincial P3 agencies or offices.

Report can be found at: A Pan-Canadian Assessment of Public-Private Partnerships for Infrastructure Investments

The objective of this survey-based study published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development was to understand the main problems encountered by pension funds when investing in infrastructure.

Report can be found at: Pension Funds Investment in Infrastructure: A Survey

This C.D. Howe Institute Commentary by Harry Kitchen seeks to answer the question, "How best to finance major municipal infrastructure projects?"

Report can be found at: How to Fix the Financing of Municipal Infrastructure in Canada

This paper by Don Drummond and Derek Burleton discusses the benefits of private sector involvement in public infrastructure in light of the Ontario Government's May 2005 Budget which announced $30 billion in infrastructure funding over five years. It addresses some misconceptions about public-private partnerships.

Report can be found at: Ontario's $100B Infrastructure Needs Are too Rich for the Public Purse

This article by Richard Bird and Thomas Tsiopolous sets out some general principles that should be followed in deciding which public sector activities should be charged for and what charges should be imposed. It provides a brief quantitative overview of user charges in Canada and considers some important aspects of proper charging policy in specific areas of interest, ranging from parks to health care, at the provincial and municipal levels.

Report can be found at: User Charges for Public Services: Potentials and Problems

This study prepared for Infrastructure Canada by The Natural Step Canada examines the state of implementation of community sustainability plans and the degree to which these plans are influencing municipal infrastructure decision-making in Canada. It identifies common trends, barriers, success factors, and tools available to assist municipal governments with the implementation of their community sustainability plans in the context of infrastructure-related decisions.

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This study was prepared by the Transportation Association of Canada in 2008.

This project evaluates long-range transportation planning needs of Canadian communities, particularly small and medium-sized municipal planning agencies that may not have in-house transportation planning expertise. It also identifies the municipal transportation data collection protocols and models that will facilitate the planning function.

Report can be found at: Best Practices for the Technical Delivery of Long-Term Transportation Planning Studies in Canada

This publication authored by D.J. Vanier, L.A. Newton, and S. Rahman of the National Research Council is one of two that describes the Framework for Municipal Infrastructure Management for Canadian Municipalities. It delves into the details of the "What" and the "How" of the proposed Framework for Municipal Infrastructure Management for Canadian Municipalities (the MIM Framework). It outlines implementation issues faced by technical staff in municipalities, describes available opportunities and technologies to address these opportunities, and suggests potential solutions to the current municipal infrastructure management challenges.

Report can be found at: Implementation Details to Support a Generalized Framework for Municipal Infrastructure Management

This publication authored by A. Manuilova, D.W. Dormuth and D.J. Vanier of the National Research Council seeks to establish a general procedure to quantify user components of social costs related to municipal infrastructure rehabilitation and construction projects. User costs include travel delay costs, vehicle operating and maintenance costs, and cost of accidents. Existing user costs quantification models are identified and modified where necessary to represent Canadian urban environment. The proposed methodology is applied to actual infrastructure rehabilitation and construction projects carried out in the City of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada in summer 2006.

Report can be found at: A Case Study of Use and External Components of Social Costs that are Related to Municipal Infrastructure Rehabilitation

This chapter by D.J. Vanier of the National Research Council describes methods and techniques required to support the general concept of sustainable municipal infrastructure. The author's hypothesis is that implementing proper asset management techniques can lead to sustainable municipal infrastructure. A municipal infrastructure asset management methodology is presented in this chapter.

Report can be found at: Towards sustainable municipal infrastructure asset management

This publication authored by D.J. Vanier, S. Tesfamariam, R. Sadiq, and Z. Lounis of the National Research Council identifies a number of prioritization techniques that can be used to compare and rank repair and renewal projects. This research does not attempt to develop models to select the "correct projects" or even to identify the best decision model or prioritization technique; rather, it attempts to illustrate by example the results of specific decision-making paradigms.

Report can be found at: Decision models to prioritize maintenance and renewal alternatives

This publication authored by M.R. Halfawy, L.A Newton, and D.J. Vanier of the National Research Council provides a review of municipal infrastructure asset management systems currently available, and discusses the evaluation process of a number of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software systems. The key features, capabilities, and limitations of the evaluated software are presented. The main objective of the paper is to provide infrastructure asset managers with an objective review of existing systems and technologies, and to identify a number of considerations that need to be addressed in the process of selecting asset management systems. The paper also highlights areas where further research and development are needed in order to extend the scope and capabilities of existing systems to better support the sustainable management of infrastructure assets.

Report can be found at: Review of commercial municipal infrastructure asset management systems

In this publication authored by S. Tesfamariam and D.J. Vanier, of the National Research Council, the authors examine numerical optimization techniques as a decision support system. In this paper, the analytical hierarchical process (AHP) is utilized to elicit decision-making preferences from stakeholders, and to compute the corresponding relative weights of their decision preferences towards the rehabilitation alternatives and the multi-objective optimization (MOO) parameters. The decision making approach of the various Municipal Infrastructure Investment Planning (MIIP) consortium project participant are highlighted and discussed. The potential applications of the AHP weights in the optimization problem are highlighted with examples.

Report can be found at: Analytical hierarchy process for eliciting decision preferences in asset management

This paper by S. Rahman and D.J. Vanier of the National Research Council assesses the use of life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) as a decision support tool for managing municipal infrastructure. It describes the fundamentals of LCCA and its calculation methods, and describes and assesses existing LCCA tools and techniques.

Report can be found at: Life cycle cost analysis as a decision support tool for managing municipal infrastructure

This paper authored by D.J. Vanier of the National Research Council provides a retrospective overview of asset management in the construction industry; emphasis is placed on assessing decision-support tools for municipal infrastructure planning. The study identifies the extent of the asset management market in North America, addresses the need for decision-support tools for municipal-type organizations, and identifies the challenges for maintenance, repair and renewal planning faced by asset owners and managers.

Report can be found at: Why industry needs asset management tools

The report on geographic information systems (GIS) and software interoperability, authored by D.J. Vanier of the National Research Council, consists of two parts: Part 1 positions GIS as an integrated decision support tool for municipal infrastructure asset management and Part 2 investigates the interoperability potential and opportunities of GIS for municipal infrastructure asset management. As such, this report presents a comprehensive evaluation of the state-of-practice of GIS in municipalities, and more specifically overviews and details recent research, development, and implementation of this technology. In addition, both parts of this report make reference to over 50 papers in related fields.

Report can be found at: Geographic Information Systems and Interoperability of Software for Municipal Infrastructure Applications

This client report authored by D.J. Vanier, L.A. Newton, and S. Rahman is one of two to describe the Framework for Municipal Infrastructure Management for Canadian Municipalities. This client report details the "top level" processes for municipal infrastructure management (MIM); it primarily deals with decision-making. That is, it addresses what information is needed by upper management to manage municipal assets.

Report can be found at: Framework for municipal infrastructure management for Canadian municipalities

This report authored by L.A. Newton and D.J. Vanier of the National Research Council presents the findings from data collection and analysis and provides a comprehensive review of the state of sewer infrastructure at 11 Canadian municipalities. Sewer asset data were obtained from eleven municipalities: the cities of Edmonton, Hamilton, Prince George, Ottawa, Regina and the regional municipalities of Durham, Halton and Niagara. In addition, three non-MIIP municipalities, Saskatoon, Niagara Falls and the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD), contributed data to the study. Data for over 11,200 km of sewer pipes were collected, including approximately 9,000 km of sanitary sewer pipes, the focus of this research. Of this total length, condition data for 3,400 km of sanitary pipes were available and used to model pipe performance.

Report can be found at: The State of Canadian Sewers - Analysis of Asset Inventory and Condition

This report was authored by S. Rahman, D.J. Vanier and L.A. Newton of the National Research Council. The construction, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation and renewal of municipal infrastructure cause considerable disruption and inconvenience, that cannot be easily quantified, to a municipality and to the general public. These costs are typically called social costs. There are however, a number of other indirect costs that are incurred by a municipality, by specific individuals, or by society that can also be directly associated to a specific infrastructure project. The objectives of this report are to present an overview of the existing research in this field and to outline the importance of considering, identifying, quantifying and verifying social and indirect costs when selecting which technologies are the most cost-effective for the life cycle of municipal infrastructure. The impact of social costs on life cycle cost analysis, an assessment of social costs and examples from case studies are discussed. This report proposes an itemization and quantification protocol that municipalities can use when making decisions regarding the life cycle management of infrastructure.

Report can be found at: Social Cost Considerations for Municipal Infrastructure Management

This paper authored by S. Rahman and D.J. Vanier of the National Research Council reviews various aspects of a condition assessment protocol developed by the Water Research Centre (WRC) and compares this protocol with guidelines developed by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and others used by Canadian municipalities and utilities. The report also discusses survey results from a number of municipal organizations, outlining the present condition of existing infrastructure, usages of condition assessment protocols, and costs for upgrading the ageing municipal infrastructure. A detailed comparison of defect coding systems, the assigned "deduct" values for various types of defects, and condition grading systems for the different protocols are discussed. The report also compares maintenance priority rankings based on criticality and consequence of failure.

Report can be found at: Evaluation of Condition Assessment Protocols for Sewer Management

This report authored by L.A. Newton and D.J. Vanier of the National Research Council summarizes five case studies in the field of strategic asset management from a number of partners within the Municipal Infrastructure Investment Planning project. The objective of this report is to present examples of best practices in the field of investment planning from municipal infrastructure assets.

Report can be found at: Case Studies on Municipal Infrastructure Investment Planning

The report was authored by D.J. Vanier and S. Rahman of the National Research Council. Managers of mixed urban infrastructure assets in federal departments, provincial governments, municipalities, school boards, and universities, etc. have to manage a diversified set of built assets, from complex underground networks (e.g. water distribution, sewers) to buildings, roadway systems, parks, transit systems, and other assets collectively known as infrastructure. These built assets are subject to deterioration due to ageing, climate, geological conditions, or changes in use. Because of a lack of adequate funding and appropriate decision support technologies, certain components of our urban infrastructure have been neglected or receive only remedial treatments. Consequently, these built assets do not last their originally predicted service life, unless they undergo major rehabilitation and renewal.

Report can be found at: A Primer on Municipal Infrastructure Asset Management

This report was authored by M.R. Halfawy of the National Research Council. Municipal infrastructure management decision-making is inherently an integrated process that requires the assimilation of a multitude of data, processes, and software systems. Current work practices have resulted in significant process and data fragmentation, which have subsequently created much inefficiency that impede the implementation of effective management strategies. There is a broad consensus in the industry that adopting integrated multi-disciplinary approaches is a key requirement for implementing efficient, sustainable, and proactive asset management programs. This paper discusses the main challenges for implementing integrated municipal infrastructure management environments (MIMEs), and proposes specific solutions to address these challenges. The proposed solutions address the systematization and coordination of work processes, the development of centralized shared data repositories based on non-proprietary integrated data models, and the organization and integration of distributed software tools into a modular and extensible enterprise-wide software environment. The implementation of a prototype sewer management environment based on the proposed solutions is also presented.

Report can be found at: Integration of Municipal infrastructure management processes

This Statistics Canada analytical paper was prepared by Mychèle Gagnon, Valérie Gaudreault and Donald Overton. Like many other developed countries, Canada invests billions of dollars a year to repair, upgrade and expand its public infrastructure. Whether it involves paving roads, renovating bridges or upgrading sewer and water systems, all levels of governments and the private sector work together to ensure that Canada's public infrastructure is safe and meets the needs of a growing population and economy. This study sheds light on the age, status and trends of five key public infrastructures from a provincial perspective, and compares average ages with the useful life of each infrastructure. Five public assets are covered in this study: highways and roads, bridges and overpasses, water supply systems, wastewater treatment facilities and sanitary and storm sewers.

Report can be found at: Age of Public Infrastructure

This paper was prepared by Matthew E. Kahn and David M. Levinson as part of the Hamilton Project by The Brookings Institution. It proposes a new framework to support and improve the U.S. highway infrastructure in order to shift the focus of infrastructure spending toward the maintenance of the existing transportation system, and make certain that new transportation infrastructure is priced more efficiently and fairly.

Report can be found at: A New Strategy for America's Highways

This policy brief from Sustainable Prosperity examines how development charges can be designed to provide the right incentive for more compact urban development, by changing the incentives for developers and consumers.

Report can be found at: Managing Urban Sprawl

This toolkit, made available by the Canadian Urban Institute, provides municipal and provincial staff members, councils and policymakers in Ontario and elsewhere with the resources they need to achieve an Integrated Community Energy Solution(ICES) action in their community. Case studies are grouped under six broad categories where ICES actions can be achieved: land use, transportation, buildings, infrastructure, waste, and water.

Report can be found at: ICES Municipal Policy Toolkit

This study by Karen Wilkie and Robert Roach of the Canada West Foundation argues that the benefits of urban natural capital – everything from wild areas and water resources to soccer fields and community gardens – are not well understood and public policy approaches to urban natural capital tend to be disjointed, shortsighted, and of much lower priority than other policy objectives. This study seeks to rectify these policy shortcomings by systematically outlining the main benefits of urban natural capital.

Report can be found at: The Benefits of Natural Capital

This study explores daily household decisions around water use, travel choices, waste disposal and recycling, and the impact of those decisions on infrastructure investment needs. Empirical data on Canada's levels of water use, energy use, waste generation and recycling rates, and Canadians' modes of transportation is compared to demand in select OECD countries. Existing research, case-studies and 'nudges' are included as examples of strategies used to address and influence behaviour.

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This case study prepared for Infrastructure Canada by Urban Design 4 Health explores how a policy focus on non-auto modes of transportation has affected travel patterns in Vancouver, British Columbia. It examines the changes in infrastructure and transportation performance since the adoption of Vancouver's 1997 Transportation Plan, and documents the effectiveness of policy and planning strategies and lessons learned.

Report can be found at: Lessons from the City of Vancouver