The Watch
LATITUDE
NEW TOOL EXPLORES THE DOLLARS AND SENSE OF INFRASTRUCTURE PEG readers are aware of society’s reliance on good, safe infrastructure. Modern economies and modern life itself thrive on public and pri- vate investment in roads, bridg- es, pipelines, solar farms, hospitals,
stock problem whose effect ripples across the province and the country. Now, a website exists that looks at the complex interplay between us, our country, and our infrastructure.
In the 2017 budget, the fed- eral government committed itself to a more evidence-
and-results-based approach to infrastructure development, and the website, the Infrastructure
schools, powerlines, water treatment plants—it’s a very long list. But many Canadians aren’t sure how variables like infrastructure investment, existing infrastructure stock, job creation, and various value-added benefits all fit together. A real-life example? Look no further than the smothering effect on the price of Alberta oil that a lack of pipeline capacity is having. That’s an infrastructure EXTENDED REACH: CANADA IS STILL THE GO-TO COUNTRY FOR ROBOTIC SPACE ARM DEVELOPMENT The U.S.-led Lunar Gateway—an international space station planned for launch in 2024 to orbit the moon— could be equipped with Canadian technology. NASA has asked Canada to contribute a new Canadarm, but this version would differ from its predecessors by relying on artificial intelligence instead of humans to guide its movements. If the Canadian government decides to invest, this would be the third Canadarm in the NASA space program. The first debuted in 1981 and flew on 90 space shuttle missions before its retirement in 2011. Canadarm2 was installed on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2001, where it helped assemble the orbiting laboratory. The device continues being used there to perform station maintenance, move supplies and equipment, and help dock visiting vehicles.
Statistics Hub, arose from that. Canadians can use the hub to see how public
and private spending on infrastructure impacts various aspects of the economy. The site shares detailed infor- mation on Canada-wide projects completed between 2009 and 2017, relying on easy-to-read charts and graphs, and clear explanations of the concepts at play.
Since the company that designed and built Canadarm2, Maxar Technologies (formerly MDA), is likely to get the contract for Canadarm3, the Canadian Space Agency recently commissioned the company to conduct preliminary studies on how the new robotic system might work. The AI functionality, of course, would add a new level of sophistication to Canadarm. As the federal government mulls over the project, the Canadian aerospace industry and Maxar Technolo- gies are running a public awareness campaign called #dontletgocanada. They want Canada to commit before the opportunity is grabbed by another space agency.
THIRD TIME’S ANOTHER CHARM? Will a third Canadarm make its name in space? If so, it might look something like this, as it orbits the moon with the Lunar Gateway. -image courtesy Maxar Technologies
WINTER 2018 PEG | 35
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker