 | Digital signature on engineering plans with Notarius
In this article:
Introduction
The protection and improvement of the quality of the environment form part of Canam Group's organizational values. The company upholds this commitment by rigorously complying with all applicable regulatory controls and through the introduction of various innovation and continuous improvement programs.
Canam Group’s concern for the environment took on new meaning in 2008 with the company’s decision to make it the focus of one of three development goals. In addition to its day-to-day environmental efforts, such as recycling paper and the elimination of recyclable matter, Canam Group is pleased to announce yet another continuous improvement initiative that is both technological and environmental in nature: the digital signature on engineering plans with Notarius.
The company-wide use of this technology, which is already in place in certain organizational sectors, will help reduce paper use and the need to print technical drawings starting in 2012. In fact, with the use of digital signatures, engineering plans requiring approval can now be sent exclusively in PDF format.
Recognized by professional associations
Four engineering associations in Canada have sanctioned the use of Notarius for appending digital signatures. In doing so, they have established that Notarius is the only recognized digital signature tool. These four associations are:
- Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ)
- Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC)
- Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA)
- Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Manitoba (APEGM)
All other Canadian engineering associations accept the Notarius digital signature but its use is not yet exclusive.
About Notarius
Notarius, a non-profit organization, was founded on June 19, 1996. It has since developed a public key infrastructure that delivers secure digital signatures reflecting technological and professional standards of practice.
The successful verification of an engineer’s digital signature, which equivalent to a handwritten signature, offers proof of the identity of the signatory of an electronic document by means of authentication. This provides the recipient with an assurance that the data contained in the document has not been modified by a third party and certifies that the signatory holds an engineer's permit from a professional association.
Guarantees and security
Provided that the criteria described in An Act to Establish a Legal Framework for Information Technology is met, electronic documents are deemed equivalent to hardcopy documents. An electronic document bearing a digital signature can therefore have the same legal value as a handwritten signature on a paper document, on the condition that the digital signature:
- identifies the signatory;
- can only be used by the signatory;
- is irrefutably linked to the electronic document in question;
- protects the integrity of the signed document.
The Notarius digital signature meets all of the above requirements and Canam Group complies with the legislative criteria. Consequently, a digital signature:
- confirms the signatory's identity and professional status;
- protects the file contents from unauthorized modifications;
- formally links the author to the document and prevents the sender and recipient from denying its origin and reception;
- ensures the confidentiality of documents sent electronically by allowing read only access to authorized persons.
Steps to validate a digital signature
Canam Group uses cutting-edge IT tools in all its spheres of activity. Electronic engineering documents, such as plans, spreadsheets and shop drawings, are an integral component of various design departments. Given the advent of new technologies and in order to ensure security, Canam Group has integrated the Notarius digital signature kit at its various divisions so that engineers may use it with pertinent electronic documents.
Below are the steps to validate the signature authenticity of a digitally-signed document:
1. Open the PDF document received by email using Adobe Reader.
2. Click on the digital seal of the Canam Group engineer. The following window will open (figure 1).
3. Click on Signature properties to view various information, including:
- details on the signatory;
- the purpose of the document (approval by the Canam Group engineer);
- the certificate issued by the provincial certification association;
- details on the professional status of the Canam Group engineer.
It is also possible for the recipient to validate the source of any changes made to the document as the signature is annotated when modifications are made (see figure 2).
Conclusion
A document bearing the digital signature of a Canam Group engineer, regardless of its revision status, is a secure document that is just as valid as a signed and sealed hardcopy document. Furthermore, the use of this technology is in line with the company's values regarding the protection and improvement of the quality of the environment.
Canam Group is proud to have introduced this electronic approach to the signature on engineering documents because of its speed and efficiency, but more importantly, because this technology is secure and compliant with the requirements of professional associations.
Information
For more information, please contact our experts:
Telephone: 1-877-499-6049
Online: Engineering services
Our projects
Consult the list of projects completed by Canam Canada.
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