New BCT Technology to Forever Change how Infrastructure is Managed

FREDERICTON, NEW BRUNSWICK — (Marketwire) — 01/25/11 — An innovative technology developed in New Brunswick and now ready for market is opening the doors for budget concerned governments worldwide to keep infrastructure safe while saving money.

Inversa Systems Limited’s Backscatter Computed Tomography (BCT) optimizes the management of civil infrastructure by providing clients with valuable information on the internal state of structures. Similar to a medical CT or CAT but used on an industrial scale, the portable BCT allows engineers to diagnose infrastructure much like medical CT allows physicians to diagnose patients.

“The BCT will forever change how infrastructure is managed,” says Jake Arsenault, CEO of Fredericton-based Inversa Systems Ltd. “Inversa’s technology is portable and looks into structures from a single side, allowing the internal examination of large civil infrastructure. This provides decision makers with much needed additional information to make safe and cost effective maintenance and replacement decisions. North America’s aging civil infrastructure has created the need for Inversa’s technology.”

In addition to receiving strong interest from the private sector, the BCT has attracted significant attention from government departments interested in finding better ways to monitor infrastructure. Originally developed at the University of New Brunswick, the BCT technology recently completed testing with the New Brunswick Department of Transportation. During the work, the BCT device solved the problem of managing an important but aging and costly piece of infrastructure-roadway culverts.

“Failure of this part of the system would be catastrophic, costly and a huge inconvenience,” says John Bowles, President of Inversa Systems Ltd. “But engineers can now literally look through the metal of a culvert wall and examine the backing material to see if the structure’s support has been compromised by age or harsh weather conditions. The diagnostic information allows for optimized repair/replacements decisions to be made.”

Information that allows the repair of a culvert instead of a replacement can save governments 75% of the cost of replacing a culvert.

“The savings generated from only one avoided culvert replacement alone, justifies the technology’s use”, says Bowles. “Such savings will enable proper maintenance of more civil assets with the same budget. Good news for jurisdictions with aging roadways and recent fiscal restraints. The technology will also increase roadway safety.”

In addition to the civil market, Inversa Systems Ltd. is also actively working with oil & gas companies, chemical process facilities and aerospace researchers. These industries share similar needs and appreciate the view into infrastructure that BCT provides.

For more information on BCT, please visit the Inversa Systems Ltd. website atwww.inversasystems.com.

Contacts:
Inversa Systems Ltd.
John Bowles
President
506-476-5648
www.inversasystems.com