Grant: Alliance Grants

Canada's infrastructure is deteriorating rapidly, surpassing the replacement capacity. A recent analysis by the Financial Accountability Officer of Ontario in 2021 revealed that Ontario's municipal infrastructure (e.g., bridges, roads) had a repair backlog of around $52 billion in 2020. This backlog highlights the risks of service disruption and escalating maintenance costs if repairs continue to be postponed. Unfortunately, most infrastructure assessments today rely on outdated, time-consuming, and inefficient techniques. To address this issue, there is a clear need to leverage new technologies that can cost-effectively and reliably assess the conditions of infrastructure and manage the repair and replacement processes. This project aims to harness the power of 5G technology to overcome the unique challenges associated with infrastructure assessment, collaborating with Rogers Communication. By integrating robotics platforms such as ground robots and drones, augmented reality headsets for onsite engineers, virtual reality for remote experts, and computer servers for artificial intelligence (including edge computing and cloud servers), real-time and remote interaction and communication can be achieved. These cutting-edge technologies will enable efficient and effective inspection tasks. Moreover, this initiative will foster the development of innovative ecosystems involving network providers like Rogers and their vendors, including start-ups. By tapping into the global asset inspection and maintenance market, which amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars annually, even a small fraction of cost savings achieved through technological efficiencies would yield significant benefits. Additionally, HQPs trained in this program will acquire specialized knowledge, hands-on experience, and insights into 5G technology and computer vision, enhancing their professional growth.