Engineering and Geoscience in the Forest Sector
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Friday, October 17, 2008
WATER, WIND, ROADS, AND WIRES: RESOURCE GEOTECHNICS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS IN COASTAL BC
Mike Wise PEng
9:00 - 9:40 am
Coastal BC has vast resources for renewable energy projects, particularly small hydro and wind farm projects. Many of these projects are under development by Independent Power Producers (IPP’s) who are studying project sites in pursuit of a contract to sell power to BC Hydro. The successful development of IPP projects must simultaneously address technical, commercial, and regulatory requirements. In this context, this presentation will discuss the role of professionals in the planning, permitting, design, and construction of renewable energy projects and related infrastructure.
0.75 PDH - Informal
SMALL HYDRO PROJECT CONCEPTUAL ASSESSMENTS: A UNIQUE BALANCING OF TECHNICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INTERESTS
Mike Walsh PEng, Eric Miller RPF RPBio
9:40 - 10:15 am
In the past, the engineering world typically determined the viability of a project through an evaluation of hard costs in relation to the resulting benefits; addressing environmental and social issues as intangibles only to be reviewed during further design stages of a project, after its approval. This concept was quite prevalent in many industries, however, as our society has become more aware of the developmental impacts of our industrialized world, a greater sense of value has been put towards these issues. Consequently, the method for determining what would be a viable project has taken on a broadened scope; one that is a significant change from our old way of thinking. This change has had a substantial impact on the development of small hydro projects and has required a renewed thinking in this industry. This presentation will present an alternative project assessment methodology that has been implemented by some proponents in the small hydro industry.
0.5 PDH - Informal
OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND THE FOREST SECTOR
Wayne Miller PGeo EngL, Olindo Chiocca PEng, Tedd Robertson PGeo EngL
10:45 - 11:25 am
Economic fluctuations in the resource industry are a common occurrence. Therefore, it is imperative that engineering and geoscience firms diversify their clientele and the resource sectors they are involved in; this in order to create a more stable stream of income and a more interesting and invigorating work environment. Wayne Miller, P.Geo, Eng.L., of Sitkum Consulting Limited and his associates will lead a forum discussing the transition of Sitkum from a 97% forestry-based consulting firm in 2000, to where, in 2007 almost 50% of the company revenue was derived from non-forestry related industries. This session will also discuss market trends, skill set applications and their transition between industries, differing regulations between industries, how transition between industry affects process, emerging industries, and the potential opportunities open to professional engineers and geoscientists in the resource industry.
0.75 PDH - Informal
TERRAIN STABILITY AND AVALANCHE REQUIREMENTS IN THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATION
George Matheson PEng
11:25 – 12:00 pm
WorkSafeBC is in the process of updating the requirements for worker health and safety related to workplace exposure to terrain stability (landslides) and avalanches. This presentation will outline the process for regulation review, the key issues that have been identified during the review for terrain stability and avalanches, and the current status of these topics in the review process.
0.5 PDH – Informal
CONSTRUCTING REINFORCED SOIL ARCHES
Calvin VanBuskirk PEng PGeo
1:45 - 2:15 pm
The construction, maintenance and replacement of crossing structures on resource roads are critical aspects of this transportation infrastructure. Cost effective means of constructing, maintaining and replacing crossings are vital to maintaining the transportation system. Historically, economical crossings involving log box culverts and log stringer bridges were constructed with locally available materials (logs and soil). However, these structures had limited and, in some cases, short design lives. By utilizing the knowledge of the behaviour of Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) with the understanding of soil arching and underground support principles, GRS arches can be constructed using local mineral soil fill reinforced with economical geotextile fabrics. This presentation provides the rationale for constructing GRS arches and the benefits of this construction technique. In addition, a number of brief case histories illustrating the application of GRS arch construction on resource roads are presented.
0.5 PDH - Informal
DEGIFS PRACTICE PERSPECTIVES: LEGISLATED LANDSLIDE HAZARD AND RISK ASSESSMENTS FOR PROPOSED AND EXISTING RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
Bob Gerath PGeo
2:15 - 3:00 pm
Professional engineering and geoscience transitions from operational forestry assessments to BC legislated landslide hazard assessments will be welcomed by residential development permitting jurisdictions. However, practitioners are likely to face new and perhaps unexpected challenges. They include different reporting and risk assessment frameworks, peer and/or independent professional reviews, elevated levels of professional liability and community interactions. These and other issues will be reviewed.
0.75 PDH - Informal
EXPEDITED ROAD CONSTRUCTION ACROSS SOFT GROUND
Calvin VanBuskirk PEng PGeo
3:30 pm - 4:15 pm
The construction of stable roads across soft, compressible soils typically requires ground improvement techniques such as preloading with wick drains or the use of lightweight fills to limit the potential for excessive short-term and long-term maintenance. Pile-supported, Geotextile Reinforced Soil (GRS) embankments provide a practicable, viable alternative approach for road construction across soft or very soft ground. Pile supported GRS embankments eliminate the costs and potential buoyancy problems associated with lightweight fills and the time and expense associated with preloading. In addition, the embankment loads are carried by the piles, not the soft, compressible soils. This virtually eliminates the post construction settlement. A pile supported GRS embankment was recently constructed as part of an upgrading project for a small rural road that accessed a subdivision within the Sheridan Lake area about 35km east of 100 Mile House. The technique was selected to permit an expedited construction schedule and reduce the short-term and long-term maintenance. The embankment structure also provided support for a small open bottom box culvert structure that was installed to improve fish passage.
0.75 PDH - Informal
HAZARD AND DESIGN CONCERNS FOR OVERHEAD TRANSMISSION LINES IN REMOTE LOCATIONS
Blain Good PEng PGeo
4:15 - 4:45 pm
Compared to other linear lifeline projects, hazard concerns for overhead electrical transmission lines are simplified somewhat by the ability in many cases to place support structures to avoid hazards. Proper planning and assessment is required and design must take a range of hazards and other concerns into account to accomplish this. This presentation will be a discussion of these concerns.
0.5 PDH - Informal
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