2016 | 2017 Project Highlights - Engineers and Geoscientists BC

Council Election Nominations | Post-Disaster Tools Partnership | New Practice Guidelines | Disciplinary Notice

MAY/JUNE 2017 JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS OF BC

PM40

0652

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Harnessing Microbes on Mine Sites

Effective Communication Makes for Successful Projects

2016 | 2017 Project Highlights

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contents

i n n o v a t i o n M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 7 3

MAY/JUNE 2017 [volume 21 number 3)

depar tments4 President’s Viewpoint Benefits and Responsibilities of Self-Regulation 6 Letters 50 Professional Services 54 Membership 54 Classifieds 54 Display Advertisers Index 55 Community 60 Practice 61 Organizational Quality Management 62 Discipline Disciplinary Notice: Daniel Lu-Chin Wu, P. Eng., Burnaby, BC 62 By the Numbers 63 APEGBC Continuing Professional Development

ON THE COVER: The Coulson Group of Companies’ IceStorm90

is one of the products and projects showcased in the 2016 | 2017 Project Highlights.

Project Yellowhammer involved rough grading a 200-acre site to design grades in Alabama. An effective communication practice saved costs and protected workers.

20

features15 Effective Communication: A Critical Requirement in Every Successful Project Michael Yuan, P.Eng.

19 Professional Liability Risk and Contractual Compliance in a Global Market: Managing Global Engineering, Geotechnical, and Construction Risks

Benjamin Kent, Rob Selnes, Angus Smith

20 Mining Genomics for Solutions: BC Projects Harness Gene-Mapping Technologies to Overcome Mining Challenges

Kylie Williams

26 2016 | 2017 Project Highlights

news7 Newsmakers Members Excel in Building with Wood; Engineering Institute Recognizes

APEGBC Members; ACEC-BC Awards for Engineering Excellence; Input Sought from Mineral Exploration Workers

10 Association Notes Strategic Plan Sets Direction and Priorities Until 2020; Budget Maintains Current Membership Fees; Updated Brand Reflects Member Input ; 2017/2018 Council Election; Annual Conference and AGM; APEGBC to Help Develop Tools to Increase Post-Disaster Community Resilience; APEGBC to Prepare Post-Earthquake Building Evaluation Training; Task Force Recommends Corporate Regulation; Council Report

v iewpoint

Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC

Suite 200 - 4010 Regent Street, Burnaby, BC Canada V5C 6N2

Tel: 604.430.8035 Fax: 604.430.8085

Email: [email protected] Internet: apeg.bc.ca

Toll free: 1.888.430.8035

APEGBC COUNCIL 2016/2017

President bob stewart, P.eng.

vice-President dr. ed casas, P.eng.

immediate Past President dr. michael wrinch, P.eng., Fec, Fgc (hon.)

COUNCILLORS

C.J.A. Andrewes, P.Eng.; S. Cheema, CA, CPA

R. Farbridge, P.Eng.; C. Hall, P.Eng./P.Geo.

S. Hayes, P.Eng.; K. Laloge, CPA, CA, TEP; S. Martin, P.Eng.

C. Moser, P.Eng.; R.B. Nanson, P.Eng.

S.R. Rettie, P.Eng., FEC; L. Spence, P.Eng.

K. Tarnai-Lokhorst, P.Eng., FEC; J. Turner, P.Ag. (ret); D. Wells, JD

ASSOCIATION STAFF

A.J. English, P.Eng. chieF executive oFFicer and registrar

T.M.Y. Chong, P.Eng. chieF regulatory oFFicer and dePuty registrar

J.Y. Sinclair chieF oPerating oFFicer

M.L. Archibald director, communications and stakeholder engagement

J. Cho, CGA director, Finance and administration

D. Gamble director, inFormation systems

P.R. Mitchell, P.Eng. director, ProFessional Practice, standards and develoPment

D. Olychick director, member services

G.M. Pichler, P.Eng. director, registration

E. Swartz, LLB director, legislation, ethics and comPliance

V. Lai, CGA associate director, Finance and administration

M.A. Rigolo P.Eng., associate director, engineering admissions

l. steele, P.geo., associate director, ProFessional Practice

monique keiran, managing editor

APEGBC EDITORIAL BOARD

J. Bracho, P.Eng.; E.A. Brown, P.Eng.; K.C. Chan, P.Eng., CPA;

S. Chiu, P.Eng.; T. George, P.Eng.; H. Ghalibafian, P.Eng.

G. Grill, P.Eng.; R. Gupta, P.Eng.; M.A. Klippenstein, P.Eng.;

R. Ord, P.Eng.; A.M. Westin, GIT; M.J. Zieleman, EIT

Advertising material must reach the publication by the first day of the first

month (e.g., May 1 for the May/June issue), or by the first business day

immediately preceding the first day of the first month.

Advertising Contact: Gillian Cobban Tel: 604.929.6733

Email: [email protected]

Design/Production: Fusion FX Design & Marketing Inc

Printed in Canada by Mitchell Press Ltd on recycled paper

Subscription rates per issue $4.50; six issues yearly $25.00. (Rates do not include tax.)

Innovation is published six times a year by the Association of Professional

Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia. As the official publication of

the association, Innovation is circulated to members of the engineering and

geoscience professions, architects, contractors and industry executives. The

views expressed in any article contained herein do not necessarily represent

the views or opinions of the Council or membership of this association.

All material is copyright. Please contact the Managing Editor for reprint permission.

Submission Guidelines: Innovation encourages unsolicited articles and

photos. By submitting material to Innovation, you grant APEGBC a royalty-free,

worldwide licence to publish the material; and you warrant that you have the

authority to grant such rights and have obtained waivers of all associated

moral rights. Innovation reserves the right to edit material for length, clarity and

conformity with our editorial guidelines (apeg.bc.ca/innovation-editorial) and

is under no obligation to publish any or all submissions or any portion thereof,

including credits.

ISSN 1206-3622

Publications Mail Agreement No 40065271. Registration No 09799.

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Innovation,

Suite 200 - 4010 Regent Street, Burnaby, BC V5C 6N2.

US Postmaster: Innovation (ISSN 1206-3622) is published bimonthly for $25.00 per

year by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British

Columbia, c/o US Agent-Transborder Mail, 4708 Caldwell Rd E, Edgewood, WA

98372-9221. Periodicals postage paid at Puyallup, WA, and at additional mailing

offices, US PO #007-927. POSTMASTER send address changes (covers only) to

Innovation, c/o Transborder Mail, PO Box 6016, Federal Way, WA 98063-6016.

4 M AY/ J U N E 2 017 i n n o v a t i o n

[email protected]

Bob Stewart, P.Eng.

President

MAY/JUNE 2017 VOLUME 21 NUMBER 3

During the past six months, APEGBC Council and executive staff have traveled around BC to engage in discussions with branch executives. We have received tremendous feedback and, I hope, helped to clarify collective understanding of the association’s duty and responsibilities as the regulator of the engineering and geoscience professions in BC.

We used input we received from members to help shape APEGBC priorities for the next few years. As reported in these pages (Page 10), the association’s strategic plan sets our association’s direction and priorities for the next three years. The Strategic Plan 2017–2020 includes greater focus on our regulatory responsibilities.

We are fortunate in BC that the engineering and geoscience professions have self-regulating privileges. Self-regulation is the process whereby a profession monitors its members’ adherence to legal, ethical, or safety standards, rather than have an outside, independent agency monitor and enforce those standards. Professional self-regulation allows government to control a profession’s practice and service without having to develop its own capacity and in-depth expertise in the professions. Professions benefit, in that self-regulation allows them to actively participate in their own evolution and enables them to set standards and control quality of service.

At APEGBC, we do this in many ways. We develop guidelines that set standards and expectations for professional practice. Volunteers, committees, and members of APEGBC have been working hard to produce a suite of new and revised guidelines dealing with a wide range of fields of practice. See Page 61 to read about two newly published professional practice guidelines.

Our quality management guidelines set standards of practice that apply to all practicing members. Although the standards are widely applicable, APEGBC’s voluntary Organizational Quality Management (OQM) Program is extending their reach to engineering and geoscience firms across BC (Page 62).

As you may know, APEGBC has also been exploring whether regulatory oversight should be extended to include organizations that provide engineering and geoscience services in BC. At the moment, BC and Quebec are the only provinces without regulatory authority over organizations. After reviewing this issue and consulting with members during the last year, the Advisory Task Force on Corporate Practice presented its recommendations to Council in April, and Council has directed the Task Force to move to Phase 2 of its investigation into this issue (Page 13).

You—our members—are key to the development of these initiatives and standards, as well as their enforcement. APEGBC’s numerous committees, task forces, boards and groups are run by members. You are key to supporting APEGBC as we support you. Together, we maintain our professions’ reputation for excellence, ethics and progress, and work to further government and public confidence in the self-regulatory system administered by APEGBC.

Benefits and Responsibilities

of Self-Regulation

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le t ters

Letters to the editor containing your views on topics of interest are encouraged. Opinions expressed in letters are not necessarily endorsed by APEGBC. Letters should be 300 words or less and can be emailed to [email protected]. Find information at apeg.bc.ca/Submitting-to-Innovation.

Stick to Letters for Members to Express Their OpinionsIt is not clear to me what the difference between a “Perspective” and a “Letter to the Editor” other than the length—either way, it is one person’s opinion and should be put forward as such. An example is the “Perspective” by Ralph Sultan (January/February 2017). These thoughts are his opinion and should be given the same priority for inclusion in Innovation as any other letter to the editor, and if possible placed in juxtaposition with letters that offer differing opinion. His position as an MLA should not give him priority over others for inclusion.

Why don’t you stick with the letters to the editor concept—particularly regarding matters of opinion on the direction of the profession?

—Keith Richardson, P.Eng. North Vancouver, BC

Ed. Note: Innovation invited Dr. Sultan, P.Eng., to submit the article in question because of his experience both as a B.C. legislator and a professional engineer and the resulting unique insight he could provide into how government views the engineering and geoscience professions and self-regulation in BC. This is a subject members had inquired about in the previous months. At the time, Dr. Sultan was the only APEGBC member serving in the BC Legislature.

Conference Locations Increase Greenhouse Gas OutputRegarding the recent article, “Positioning APEGBC and Its Members to Respond to Climate Change” (January/February 2017), I want to zero in on “Positioning APEGBC.”

Why does our association keep holding annual conferences in such diverse places as Victoria, Kelowna,

and Whistler when the majority of engineers live in the Lower Mainland?

I recommend that you consider holding it in a low-cost venue in the Lower Mainland every year, near a rapid transit station and outside of downtown Vancouver. This way you can enter into a 10-year contract for the venue and perhaps obtain much reduced rates for out-of-town visitors.

I can guess that you want to give engineers throughout BC the opportunity to attend at low cost. So encourage car pooling or arrange for a bus for the out-of-town attendees to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

I am a believer in the old adage: “Actions speak louder than words.”

—Herbert Vesely, P.Eng. Squamish

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Mission: InnovationAs APEGBC’s off icial publication, Innovation aims to publish information that is of interest and relevance to the professions, is balanced, objective and impartial, affects the conduct of members, and showcases innovative engineering and geoscience work of members. A secondary aim is to provide a forum for the exchange of views among APEGBC members through the publication of letters to the editor.

i n n o v a t i o n M AY/ J U N E 2 017 7

We are excited to announce the appointment of Suzanne Powell, Ph.D., .Eng. to the role of Victoria Office Branch Manager.

Suzanne received her undergraduate degree in Geological Engineering in 2002 and her Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering in 2010 from Queen’s University. Suzanne joined Thurber in 2009 as a Geotechnical Engineer and has focused primarily on foundations and transportation infrastructure projects. She is also passionate about advanced laboratory testing, soil properties and quality management.

J. Suzanne Powell, Ph.D., P.Eng.

Weiler Smith Bowers ConsultingStructural Engineers

118-3855 Henning Drive,Burnaby,B.C. V5C 6N3 T: 604-294-3753 | F: 604-294-3754

E: [email protected]

Weiler Smith Bowers Consulting Structural Engineers are pleased to announce that Lawrence Chan, MIStructE, PE, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., is now a Principal partner in the firm.

Lawrence has over 12 years of Structural Design and Project Management experience, and has been with WSB since 2011. He has extensive experience in Commercial, Healthcare, Institutional and Highrise Residential design. He is also involved with our company software development.

Congratulations Lawrence

Members Excel in Building with WoodWood WORKS! BC recognized a number of APEGBC members at the 2017 Wood Design Awards for leadership and innovation in structural wood use. There were 114 nominations in 13 categories for the 2017 awards, with nominations from across BC, as well as some national and international project submissions. The projects showcase distinctive and unique qualities of wood such as strength, beauty, versatility, and cost-effectiveness in a wide range of projects and a variety of wood uses.

The panel of four judges included APEGBC member Ed Lim, P.Eng., of United Building Systems.

Fast + Epp received the Engineer Award for Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre. The project was cited in the

nomination for its unique undulating roof structure that achieves the clear spans required for pools and ensures long-term operational cost savings.

The Wood Innovation Award for creative and innovative approaches in the use of wood in building design, product design and processes went to Iain Weir-Jones, P.Eng., Weir-Jones Group, for his work on Shoreline by MGA in Vancouver. The jury felt that the wood created a contemporary design with unique warmth and character to stimulate and promote a healthy office and shop environment.

Chris Jacques, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd., was recognized in the Commercial Wood Design category for Tsawwassen Mills, Tsawwassen.

news

Engineering Institute Recognizes APEGBC MembersThe Engineering Institute of Canada recently presented its 2017 K.Y. Lo Medal for significant engineering contributions at the international level to APEGBC member Bryan Watts, P.Eng./P.Geo., of Klohn Crippen Berger Holdings, BC, for the significant engineering contributions he has made at the international level.

The institute also inducted APEGBC members Jens Bornemann, P.Eng., Harvey McLeod, P.Eng./P.Geo., Claire Raska, P.Eng., John Wood, P.Eng., Rick Tiller, P.Eng., as Engineering Institute of Canada Fellows in recognition of their exceptional contributions to engineering in Canada.


MUNICIPAL & CIVIL INFRASTRUCTUREPreserving Historic Cemetery through Trenchless Rehabilitation, Victoria, BC Consultant: AECOM Canada Ltd.; Owner/Client: City of Victoria

Port Mann Main Water Supply Tunnel, Coquitlam and Surrey, BCConsultant: Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc.; Owner/Client: Metro Vancouver

TRANSPORTATIONAtal Setu – Basohli Bridge, Jammu and Kashmir, India Consultant: McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd.; Owner: Border Roads Organization, Ministry of Defense, India; Client: IRCON/SP Singla Joint Venture

ENERGY & INDUSTRY Jimmie Creek Hydroelectric Project, Toba Valley, north of Powell River, BCConsultant: SNC-Lavalin; Owner: Alterra Power Corp and Axium Infrastructure; Client: Alterra Power Corp

NATURAL RESOURCE & HABITATBC Hydro Rock Bay Remediation Project, Victoria, BC Consultant: SNC-Lavalin; Owner/Client: BC Hydro and Power Authority

SOFT ENGINEERINGMillennium Line Evergreen Extension Operational Readiness Program, Burnaby, Coquitlam and Port Moody, BCConsultant: CH2M HILL Canada Limited; Owner/Client: TransLink/BC Rapid Transit Company

BUILDINGSLord Strathcona Elementary School Heritage Classroom Building Base Isolation Seismic Upgrade, Vancouver, BC Consultant: Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc.; Owner: The Board of Education of School District #39; Client: The Colborne Architectural Group Pacific Inc. This project also won the ACEC-BC Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Engineering Excellence.

Awards of Excellence

news

The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – BC hosted its 28th Annual Awards for Engineering Excellence Gala, on April 8, 2017, to honour member firms’ innovation and technical excellence. Awards of Excellence and Merit were given in the following categories: Buildings; Municipal & Civil Infrastructure; Transportation & Bridges; Energy & Industry; Natural Resource & Habitat; and Soft Engineering. For a complete list of awards, visit acec-bc.ca/awards/2017-award-winners.

ACEC-BC Awards for Engineering Excellence


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As an employee-owned company with the resources to support our passion for our projects, new staff are always encouraged to take the lead on their role and share their talents on a variety of projects. Our multidisciplinary staff means we combine in-house disciplines to work as a team on a variety of projects and deliver exceptional results. Our employees value working here because of the opportunities for career development, excellent total compensation and benefits package, and great team of professionals.

Check out our careers page to learn more: www.mcelhanney.com/careers

Input Sought from Mineral Exploration WorkersThe Mining Industry Human Resources Council invites members of Canada’s exploration sector to participate in a research survey to capture knowledge, experience and insight regarding the sector.

In consultation and collaboration with the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada and exploration stakeholder groups, the council developed the Canadian Mineral Exploration Labour Market Survey to help it identify human resources and labour market issues facing the exploration sector and stimulate a proactive approach to addressing related challenges. This research is intended to build on the findings from the 2011 report, Unearthing Possibilities: Human Resources Challenges and Opportunities in the Canadian Mineral Exploration Sector.

If you work in mineral exploration, or employ people who work in mineral exploration, please have your say at explorationsurvey2017.ca.

In addition, the Association for Mineral Exploration and Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada request that geoscientists working in the mineral sector take part in the Canadian Mineral Exploration Health and Safety survey, which is currently underway. The survey can be found at explorationsurvey.ca/survey.aspx?RD=1. v

associa t ion notes


Updated Brand Reflects Member Input Over the last few years, APEGBC has been working to develop a brand strategy for the association and the professions with the goal of increasing public recognition and awareness of the value of BC engineers, geoscientists, and licensees (page 8, March/April 2017).

Our updated brand will launch in late-August. Here, we share how you—our members—helped shape the updated brand, and how it reflects your input. The renewal of our brand comprises these crucial elements:• stronger, clearer representation of the association’s role as a regulator working

in the public interest and of members’ commitment to the public’s safety and wellbeing

• more accurate, modern representation of BC professional engineers, geoscientists, and licensees (diverse and inclusive representation across fields of practice, age, gender and ethnicity)

• stronger public representation of engineers, geoscientists, and licensees with the values they most identify with—ethics, excellence and progress

• distinct, memorable and consistent visual elements that will identify the brand• stronger alignment of the association’s programs and its volunteer groups with

a single brand

How Was the Brand Identity Developed?Member and stakeholder input was essential to the development of an updated brand identity that would 1) more accurately represent the association and all its members across the span of their professional lives, from student to senior professional, and 2) be more relatable and attractive to potential members. Research involved extensive consultation, including member interviews, focus groups and surveys, as well as public polling.

We heard and learned that members want to be represented as diverse and inclusive, and they want to see a more progressive and modern face to the association. Our updated brand reflects these concepts. In our public polling, we learned that the public expects the characteristics of an effective regulator to be reflected in our brand: integrity, accuracy, accountability, and public safety.

Research showed that our current logo consistently underperformed in categories that members identified as being important (modern, progressive, innovative.)

How Will the Brand Identify Reflect Member Feedback?Based on what we learned through our consultation and testing, expect to see and hear a far more consistent, modern look and feel across all external communication and representation, including new colours and new fonts. The association’s streamlined name and logo will increase public awareness and recall. The programs and volunteer groups comprising the association will also align more strongly and seamlessly.

We anticipate it may take some time to fully transition to the new brand. While materials produced after the brand launch date will ref lect the revised branding, a period when both old and updated branding co-exist will occur as we update or replace old materials in the most logical and economical manner.

Whether you’re a professional geoscientist, engineer or licensee, the new brand is for everyone and is an important step in shaping our future. Check for updates and details as they become available in Innovation, our newsletter, and member and stakeholder emails. Read our March/April 2017 branding update at digitalityworks.com/Viewers/ViewIssue.aspx?IssueID=167&PageNo=8.

Questions? Contact APEGBC Marketing Specialist Maria-Carmen Kelly at [email protected] or 604.639.8179.

Strategic Plan Sets Direction and Priorities Until 2020The APEGBC Strategic Plan 2017–2020 takes effect July 1. Council determined a framework for the new plan during the last year, drawing on engagement with members, government and other stakeholders to inform the direction and priorities for the association’s work for the next three years.

The goals and objectives set by the plan will determine the priorities for APEGBC’s programs and activities, and provide guidance for Council, committees, branches, divisions, task forces and staff. The plan focuses on APEGBC’s regulatory role and responsibilities under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act, while continuing APEGBC’s work as a relevant, proactive, forward-thinking regulator that serves the public interest.

2017/2018 Budget Maintains Current Membership FeesCouncil approved APEGBC’s 2017/2018 operating and capital budget. The budget was prepared in accordance with the Council-approved 2017/2018 budget guidelines and reviewed by Executive Committee prior to being presented to Council at its April 28 meeting.

Increases in revenue forecasted in the budget will be achieved mainly through membership growth. Membership fees will not increase this year.

This is Year 1 of the tentative three-year budget, also approved April 28, that aligns with the association’s new strategic plan.

View the 2017/2018 and 2017–2020 budgets at apeg.bc.ca/Responsible-Financial-Management. Learn more about APEGBC’s Strategic Plan 2017–2020 at apeg.bc.ca/strategic-plan.


2017/2018 Nominating Committee Candidates for Election to Council In accordance with APEGBC’s Bylaw 3, there are two ways by which a member or limited licensee may be nominated to stand for Council election: 1) by the Nominating Committee, or 2) in writing by any 25 or more members and/or limited licensees in good standing.

CANDIDATE DISCIPLINE BRANCH

Presidential Candidate

C.J. (Caroline) Andrewes, P.Eng. Metallurgical Vancouver

Vice Presidential Candidates (one to be elected)

D.I. (David) Harvey, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., FEC Structural Richmond/Delta

K.V. (Katherina) Tarnai-Lokhorst, P.Eng., FEC Mechanical Victoria

Councillors (five to be elected)

D.W. (Doug) Barry, P.Eng. Mechanical Peace River

P.J. (Paul) Hatton, P.Eng. Mechanical Tri-City

C.J. (Catherine) Hickson, P.Geo., FGC Geology Burnaby/New Westminster

L. (Lianna) Mah, P.Eng., FEC Civil Burnaby/New Westminster

R.K.N. (Nimal) Rajapakse, P.Eng. Civil Vancouver

C.C. (Conor) Reynolds, P.Eng. Mechanical Vancouver

A.E. (Albert) Sommerfeld, P.Eng. Civil Central Interior

T.C. (Tim) Watson, P.Eng. Chemical Vancouver

Important DatesWednesday, June 28, 2017 Nominations by 25 members must be received at the association office by 5:00 pm.

Friday, July 14, 2017 Nominees’ Statements of Candidacy must be received at the association office by 5:00 pm.

Friday, September 8, 2017 Election package and ballots will be available online to all members by this date. Paper ballots available upon request.

Friday, October 6, 2017 All ballots must be submitted and received by noon.

Nomination by 25 MembersMembers are reminded that nominations for President, Vice President and Councillors may also be made in writing by any 25 or more members or limited licensees in good standing. Such nominations, signed by the members and/or limited licensees making the nomination accompanied by the written consent of

the nominee must be received by the Registrar at the association office no later than 5:00 pm, Wednesday, June 28, 2017. A form for nomination by 25 members is available online at apeg.bc.ca/About-Us/Our-Team/Council/Council-Election-2017-2018 or by contacting Tracy Richards at [email protected] or 604.412.6055.

The Nominating Committee is charged with seeking and selecting a list of candidates for election to Council that they believe best demonstrate the qualities needed for strong leadership of the association. Specifically, the committee sought candidates that have demonstrated skills in strategic thinking, organizational management, financial fluency, governance and strategic planning, in addition to a minimum of five years of experience as a professional member or limited licensee. To fulfil its mandate, the committee sought candidates through a series of Call for Nominations notices sent to the membership, and committee members reached out to potential candidates in regions throughout the province of BC.

Under Bylaw 3(b), candidates for the office of President must have served on Council for at least two full years prior to taking office, and for the office of Vice President, must have served at least one year on Council prior to taking office in order to qualify as a Nominating Committee candidate. Previous experience on Council is not required for write-in candidates.

Role of the Nominating Committee2017/2018 Council Election

2017 Nominating Committee Michael Wrinch, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.), Past President, Chair

Council AppointeesEmily Cheung, P.Eng., FEC John Clague, P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.) Frank Denton, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) Nathan Ozog, P.Eng. Timothy Smith, P.Geo., Eng.L., FGC, FEC (Hon.)

Branch AppointeesIqbal Bhuiyan, P.Eng. – Vancouver BranchStella Chiu, P.Eng. – Tri-City Branch Heqing (Albert) Jian, P.Eng. – Fraser Valley BranchPiotr Mazur, P.Eng. – Sea to Sky BranchMalcolm Metcalfe, P.Eng. – Okanagan BranchLarry Neufeld, P.Eng. – Peace River Branch Lee Rowley, P.Eng. – Vancouver Island BranchJohn Stephens, P.Eng. – West Kootenay Branch

Voting closes at noon, Friday, October 6, 2017

associa t ion notes


Join us and some 900 of your colleagues at APEGBC’s Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting, October 19–21, 2017, in Whistler, BC. This year’s event will be held at the Whistler Conference Centre and will include two days of professional development, networking and an industry tradeshow.

Professional development streams include engineering and geoscience in the resource sector, municipal engineering, environmental engineering and geoscience, emerging professional, management, structural, better business, energy efficiency and renewable energy, diversity, and climate change.

We encourage all members to attend APEGBC’s 98th AGM, from 8:30 am–12:30 pm on October 21, 2017. There is no charge to attend the AGM business portions of the conference. For conference information and to register online, visit apeg.bc.ca/ac17.

Sponsorship opportunities are available, with benefits to meet businesses’ needs, including recognition onsite or online, at events, and on promotional materials. For information on available sponsorship opportunities, contact APEGBC Marketing Specialist Maria-Carmen Kelly, [email protected].

Annual Conference and AGM to Take Place in Whistler, BC, October 19–21

APEGBC to Help Develop Tools to Increase Post-Disaster Community ResilienceA major earthquake, flood, wildfire or tsunami could cripple BC communities and leave thousands of residents homeless, with many buildings and residences no longer safe to occupy or even enter.

APEGBC is partnering with BC Housing, the Architectural Institute of British Columbia and the Justice Institute of British Columbia to design a framework that will enable communities to manage and recover more quickly from major disasters. The framework will allow communities experiencing a disruptive emergency to quickly assess the safety of structures and allow people to remain in or return to their homes and businesses as soon as possible, thereby increasing the communities’ resilience.

The Canadian Safety and Security Program – Post-Disaster Damage and Safety Assessment of the Built Environment is the first such project in Canada. Although developed in BC, the assessment system will be scalable and apply to rural and urban communities of all sizes throughout Canada.

Damage assessment gauges the type, quantity, cause and sometimes cost of damage to a building and can include an evaluation of the repairs needed. Safety assessment determines whether the building can be occupied and used immediately and, in some cases, identifies short-term countermeasures to reduce risk in order for the building to be occupied.

The goal of the two-year, multi-agency research project is to develop tools, models, processes and approaches to empower community-level professional and public engagement in emergency planning and safety assessment. Specifically, the research team will develop a model that allows, enables and supports credentialed and non-credentialed members of the public to assess safety in an emergency situation. Such a model would reduce the social impact of disruptive events, allowing communities to recover more quickly and reducing impact on emergency and social services.

Defence Research and Development Canada is funding the post-disaster damage and safety assessment project.

For information, contact Peter Mitchell, APEGBC Director, Professional Practice, at [email protected] or 604.412.4853.

APEGBC to Prepare Post-Earthquake Building Evaluation TrainingAPEGBC will be developing a training program for post-earthquake building evaluation with a portion of the funding for emergency preparedness announced by the BC government in March.

“This training program will combine the latest research with engineering expertise to provide a way to rapidly and effectively evaluate the safety of buildings following a seismic event,” says APEGBC CEO and Registrar Ann English, P.Eng.

“By equipping a pool of qualified professionals with the necessary tools and techniques to perform these assessments, we will be better able to respond to the needs of the community in an emergency situation.”

The training program will be based on the methodology employed in APEGBC’s award-winning Seismic Retrofit Guidelines, 2nd edition (SRG2), and will be delivered for qualified professionals, such as engineers, architects, building inspectors,

and those identified as post-earthquake administrators. The goal of the project is to create a professional community with the specialized skills to provide post-earthquake structural assessments and aid in the immediate response and recovery efforts of all levels of government.

For information, contact Peter Mitchell, APEGBC Director, Professional Practice, at [email protected] or 604.412.4853.


Task Force Recommends Corporate Regulation In Canada, jurisdictions regulating engineering and geoscience have regulatory oversight over the practice of both individual practitioners as well as companies engaged in this work—with the exception of British Columbia and Quebec. In 2014, APEGBC Council initiated a review of the organizational practice of engineering and geoscience and the concept of corporate regulation. The review was led by an advisory task force of members. At Council’s April 28, 2017, meeting, the task force submitted its recommendations on the matter of corporate regulation.

In this first phase of a potential three-phase of review of corporate practice, the Advisory Task Force on Corporate Practice was asked to guide consultation and consider member and stakeholder feedback in order to advise Council on 1) whether APEGBC should pursue regulatory authority over corporate practice as a means to improve public protection, and 2) and which entities, if any, should be subject to APEGBC’s regulatory oversight. The task force’s work was carried over a period of 14 months, and updates and engagement opportunities have been provided throughout.

Over the course of consultation, the task force released a discussion paper for member and stakeholder feedback in order to inform its review process. A summary report of that feedback has been published, and both the consultation summary report and discussion paper are available on the APEGBC website at apeg.bc.ca/corporatepractice.

On the basis of consultation and deliberations, the task force reached consensus to support a recommendation that APEGBC pursue regulatory authority over corporate practice. The task force identified three main reasons for this conclusion: that corporate regulation could 1) enhance protection of the public interest and the environment by improving the practice of engineering and geoscience, 2) increase government and public confidence in the self-regulatory system administered by APEGBC on behalf of the professions, and 3) provide value to organizations and the professionals they employ.

Regarding regulatory coverage, the task force recommended the following types of organizations be included in corporate regulation:• consulting firms providing professional engineering

or geoscience services (including incorporated sole practitioners)

• engineering and geoscience testing and assessment companies

• private sector organizations that carry out the “practice of professional engineering or geoscience” for internal or external purposes

• public sector organizations that carry out the “practice of professional engineering or geoscience” for internal or external purposes.The task force recommended that unincorporated

sole practitioners not be subject to corporate regulation. The task force’s report provides its full

recommendation, along with its supporting rationale. It also recommends additional review in order to determine whether other types of organizations are already sufficiently covered under other regulatory mechanisms or standards to ensure public interest is protected—including those that design and manufacture custom-design engineered products, structures, software, processes or facilities; those that design, build and manufacture (off-the-shelf) engineered products whose quality and safety are regulated through other existing standards and requirements, and; those carrying out research and development. The task force also recommends further review related to federal government agencies operating in BC. The full recommendations report is available at apeg.bc.ca/corporatepractice.

Council received the task force report and voiced broad support for its recommendations. At its April 28 meeting, Council approved the motions:• that APEGBC seek regulatory authority over corporate

practice• that a corporate regulatory model be developed which

demonstrates positive impacts to protect the public interest and the environment, and provides benefit to the regulated organizations and professionals they employ

• that the corporate regulatory model be scaled according to the size and nature of the organization and be administratively efficient

Council directed that staff work with the advisory task force to review the task force terms of reference as the first step in proceeding with the review’s second phase, which would include recommending a regulatory model for corporate oversight.

Council expressed support for a deeper explora-tion of regulatory coverage for corporate practice as identified by the task force, which would include more detailed review of organization types proposed for regulatory oversight and those requiring fur-ther investigation. This review would precede the task force recommendation of a regulatory model for corporate practice. Pending Council approval, a third phase would involve developing a plan for implementation. An amendment to the Engineers and Geoscientists Act by government would also be needed to enable corporate regulation.

For more information on this three-stage review of potential regulation of engineering and geoscience firms in BC, visit apeg.bc.ca/corporatepractice.


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APRIL 28, 2017Expedited Review of Engineers-in-Training, Accredited MIT Pilot Program ExtendedCouncil approved extending the Accredited Employer Member-in-Training Pilot Program by a year in order to better assess its effectiveness, as well as updated a policy to enable expedited review of graduates of the association’s Accredited Employer MIT Program and Enhanced Member-in-Training Program—considered to be applicants with low-risk profile due to advanced preparation and guidance in completion of their competency-based assessments.

P.Tech. to Eng.L. Bridging Strategy ApprovedCouncil approved a strategy for bridging from the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians British Columbia’s Professional Technologist (P.Tech.) to the APEGBC Engineering Licensee (Eng.L.) designations. The P.Tech. competency assessment will not be taken into account for Eng.L. applicants, and specifies that Eng.L. applicants should complete an APEGBC competency-based assessment that addresses their competence to practise in the proposed limited scope.

Three-Year Budget ApprovedCouncil approved the operating and capital budget for the 2017/2018 fiscal year, and the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 pro forma budget. This year’s budget sees no increase to members’ annual licensing fee. Under the Council-approved budget guidelines, the proposed three-year budget was to include no more than a two percent ($7.60) membership-fee increase. However, with membership increases holding steady, this would affect the association’s ability to fund for inflationary increases to operational expenses and initiatives key to the strategic plan. In light of this, efficiencies and savings were found within the base budget, totalling $449K in Year 1, $397K in Year 2, and $321K in Year 3.

Recommendations on Regulation of Companies ApprovedA review of the issue of corporate practice and regulation in BC has been underway since early 2016. Council received the report of the Advisory Task Force on Corporate Practice and approved the following motions:• that APEGBC seek regulatory authority

over corporate practice,• that a corporate regulatory model be

developed which demonstrates positive impacts to protect the public interest and the environment, and provides benefit to the regulated organizations and professionals they employ,

• that the corporate regulatory model be scaled according to the size and nature of the organization and be administratively efficient (see Page 13).

AGM Motions AddressedCouncil addressed motions brought forward at the 2016 AGM:Motion 1: That Council consider developing a proactive guideline that will require all members to take into consideration options to achieve net zero emissions in their professional practice.Based on input from the Climate Change Advisory Group, Council confirmed that the current work being carried out under the direction of this group should continue as it meets the intent of the above AGM motion. Motion 2: That Council consider reporting the results of membership voting by branch, which then would be aggregated to the total returns.

On the recommendation of the Governance Committee, Council approved publishing voter turnout by branch periodically during the election period as a pilot for the 2017/2018 election. Motion 3: That, in the interest of improved openness and transparency with the membership and the public, Council consider implementing a policy of publishing, both in Innovation and by broadcasting to the membership by email, any received written request signed by 25 members at the earliest possible opportunity.

Council’s Executive committee determined that significant legal risk as well as operational cost to APEGBC exist should Council implement a policy that requires publication of all 25-member petitions received regardless as to their appropriateness or validity. Council approved a motion to endeavour to publish as many petitions as possible, but retain the ability to exercise discretion in determination of whether to publicize 25-member petitions.

Council Meeting Guest Policy ApprovedWith information from Canadian engineering and geoscience regulatory counterparts on how they deal with requests by guests to address a Council meeting, Council approved a policy that allows reasonable requests to address Council, specifies a time limit, and denies requests that are in contravention of existing Council policy on investigation and discipline matters. v

APEGBC’s Council of elected members and government representatives meets throughout the year to conduct the business of association governance. More information about Council meetings can be viewed at apeg.b.c.ca/Council-Schedule-Minutes.


Effective Communication

On a blazing August day in 2015, near a small town in northern Alabama, a massive site-grading construction project kicked off and would continue for the 200 days. Welcome to Project Yellowhammer (PYH).

The project involved rough grading of a 200-acre site—roughly 150 American football fields—to design grades to provide a relatively flat plateau for future development. The project consisted of clearing and grubbing vegetation, stripping topsoil, construction of access roads and both permanent and temporary sediment-detention basins, excavation and fill placement, and creating positive drainage.

The earthworks required about 2.4 million cubic metres of excavation and 1.4 million cubic metres of fill placement, with up to 50,000 cubic metres of material moved each day.

Effective communication was integral to every component of every task, every day.

In a construction project, effective communication is a two-way process of conveying information so that all parties understand the big picture, know the daily objectives and details, and are aware of expectations and requirements—it puts all parties on the same page. If a project were a puzzle with many complicated pieces, effective communication would be the board on which the puzzle is built. It underlies every aspect of a project, and makes the project’s successful completion possible.

Effective communication doesn’t just happen. Studies show that about half of all project failures are due to poor communication, and it can occur at any level along the chain of command. The consequences of poor communication can result in delays, lead to non-compliance in finished construction, and cause significant financial losses.

A Critical Requirement in Every Successful Project

Michael Yuan, P.Eng.

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Project Yellowhammer involved about 2.4 million cubic metres of excavation and 1.4 million cubic metres of fill placement, with up to 50,000 cubic metres of material moved each day.


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Not only is effective communication integral and necessary for a project’s success, it can also help protect employees and field crews.

For Project Yellowhammer, effective communication required asking the right questions, talking to the right people, raising valid concerns, and offering acceptable solutions. It was an indispensable requirement in the field and in the office, and was integrated into every component of the project, and led to the project’s successful completion.

When working on a project, everyone working on the project is responsible for communicating effectively—regardless of position, title or pay grade. It is a key interpersonal skill that permits smooth progression of a project. With the amount of terrain Project Yellowhammer covered, the level and number of people influencing and making decisions, and the project’s financial and schedule constraints, every stakeholder had to be able to receive and understand messages, as well as be able to communicate clearly and specifically to others.

Establishing a Daily Communication PracticeEvery morning, the engineering field crew lead and the earthworks contractor field superintendent discussed the day’s activities, objectives and targets, as well as directions from project upper management. They also met throughout the day to talk over modifications to haul roads, changes in traffic patterns, areas to be excavated, areas to be filled and compacted, and sediment- and erosion-control structures to be built. They reviewed directions from upper management and broke the directives down into well-defined tasks that could be easily understood by field staff.

Thoughts and opinions were exchanged frequently so that the two supervisors remained on the same page and shared a common understanding of plans, targets, design, modifications, sequence, and schedule.

These discussions and what they meant for the engineering crew were shared with the crew. Depending on the day’s construction footprint, the crew would work individually or in small groups across the site. A health and safety mindset and protocol remained the priority on this enormous, equipment-filled site.


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The engineering field crew performed construction field reviews for subgrade excavation, fill placement, cut and fill slopes, and sediment- and erosion-control structures. Deficiencies, non-compliances and any other issues were reported to and discussed with the engineering field crew lead right away. He, in turn, immediately discussed the issues with the construction earthworks superintendent to find solutions.

Occasional negative exchanges occurred between workers of different parties and even sometimes within a party. Personnel at different life stages and from diverse backgrounds, experiences and beliefs were

working together closely—differences in opinion and expectations arose at times. A good team lead knows when to defer comment or negate messages for the benefit of the team and the project, and boosts team moral through example, attitude and encouragement. And a good team lead carefully assesses and selects what information to pass on. Sometimes what needed to be heard is all one needs to hear.

Communicating in a Quickly Changing EnvironmentTaking a load of dirt from one place and dumping it at another is a fairly straightforward task, but

With the extent of the terrain, the number of people influencing and making decisions, and the project’s financial and schedule constraints, effective communication was critical to Project Yellowhammer’s success and safe execution.


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taking the instructions and decisions from upper management and translating them into specific directions for field crew requires a different strategy. A short tailgate meeting with the construction crew each morning informed the 100-person crew of the day’s program and everyone’s tasks. Instructions were broken down into basic terms to avoid ambiguity.

The field superintendent had to make quick decisions when someone called in sick or didn’t show up. He had to decide quickly who would take over a piece of equipment, or revise the day’s operations to accommodate less equipment.

The field superintendent shared his directions with his operators and drivers with concise and slang-filled phrases through a handheld radio. His competence, experience and performance directly and daily affected the process, quality and rate of construction.

Speaking Up for SafetyIn late-2015, the central–east US was hit by a series of storms that brought lighting and heavy rain to northern Alabama during the latter half of Project

Heavy rains and wet site conditions led to solutions that included risk. Quick thinking and reporting led

to revised safety protocols.

continues on Page 51...

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ins ight

With greater global development, engineering, geotechnical and construction firms are benefiting from increased work in Canada and around the globe. In China, India, Turkey, Russia, Brazil, the Middle East, North Africa and elsewhere, engineering, geotechnical and construction firms seek to capitalize on opportunities from strong economic growth, growing populations, urbanization, greater infrastructure demands, and the increasing use of alternative forms of project delivery and funding, including public–private partnerships.

Such global expansion holds great promise for these firms to increase their revenues after years of lackluster growth. But compliance with a broad set of diverse and often contradictory laws and regulations around the world can be a significant challenge. It is imperative that engineering, geotechnical and construction firms and their risk managers be aware of the risks inherent in operating globally and be familiar with the solutions available to mitigate those risks.

Strict LiabilityHistorically, engineering, geotechnical and construction firms have relied on “global” coverage wording in their professional liability policies to manage international risks. But as they have expanded, many firms have come to recognize that, without addressing local and country-specific insurance requirements, coverage could be insufficient and—in some cases—null and void. This is particularly important as local regulators increasingly require proof of insurance, a trend we expect to continue in 2017 and beyond.

For global engineering, geotechnical and construction firms, it is important to recognize the difference between common law and civil law, which is used in many markets outside of Canada. Common law relies on case law to settle disputes related to engineering, geotechnical and construction services; civil law relies on prescribed written code and binding rules and regulations. While common law attaches liability to failure to perform professional services in accordance with generally accepted standards of professional

skill and care, civil law often mandates some form of strict liability, under which the firm is responsible for damage and loss caused by acts and omissions regardless of culpability.

One form of strict construction liability under civil law is decennial liability, under which an engineering, geotechnical or construction firm is liable for post-construction defects—also referred to as inherent or latent defects. Used in many former colonies of France, Portugal and Spain, decennial liability—which suggests a term of 10 years but can last much longer—usually attaches at the point of substantial completion or handover to the owner, although some variations by country and code exist.

Australia has imposed an even higher standard of care on design professionals. Under the 1974 Trade Practices Act (TPA) and 2010 Competition and Consumer Protection Act (CCPA), consumers can sue service providers for practices they deem to be misleading or deceptive, regardless of intent of the firm performing the services. It is very rare for an engineering,

Professional Liability Risk and Contractual Compliance in a Global Market

Managing Global Engineering, Geotechnical and Construction Risks

Benjamin Kent, Rob Selnes, Angus Smith


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When the human genome was sequenced 17 years ago, few people in the mining and exploration industry could have suspected that, less than two decades later, the same technologies would be used to improve existing processes and develop new ways to clean up mine-affected

waters, extract metals from low grade ore, guide rehabilitation programs, and help find new orebodies.

Genomics, the branch of molecular biology concerned with the structure, function, evolution, and mapping of genomes, combines biology, genetics,

and computer science to solve problems. That is the unanimous message coming from workers at mine sites participating in pilot projects and from the researchers guiding them.

Living things are part of every aspect of exploration and mining. They comprise

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everything from the bacteria and microorganisms in the rocks and water to the plants and animals essential to mine site rehabilitation. Genomics helps mining practitioners to see how these organisms interact with their environments and to realize the

economic benefits and productivity gains this provides.

“Genomics really is a problem-solving tool,” says Dr. Anikó Takács-Cox, mining, energy and environment sector manager at Genome BC, one of six groups across Canada devoted

to funding genomics research and expanding its applications. “It’s not that we have a hammer and are looking for a nail. There are a lot of issues out there that we need answers to because we never had the technologies or opportunity to go into it.”

Genomics tools help researchers in pioneering mine projects to identify which microbe species help and which microbe species hinder removal of metals and sulphates from mine tailings water and affected sites. Photos: (above) courtesy oF dr. s. baldwin, P.eng.; (toP leFt) bacterial biofilm on sand, lewis lab at northeastern university; created by anthony d'onoFrio, william h. Fowle, eric J. stewart, kim lewis cc by 2.0; (bottom leFt) bacteria isolated from poplar tree root system, us dePartment oF energy, oak ridge national laboratory


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Microorganisms, for example, have been used to extract metal from piles of low-grade ore for several decades. It was crudely understood that microbes remove the copper or gold from ore, but little was known about the details of ‘who’ or ‘how.’ By applying genomics to the problem, the right questions are now being asked: Who are these microbes? What should they be fed to encourage them to dissolve metals more efficiently? What is the ideal temperature, acidity, wetness, and rock size to optimize metal recovery?

“It’s like making beer. If you don’t know how to make beer, you can throw in yeast, you can put in water, but you’re never going to make beer out of it,” Takács-Cox says.

Cheaper, Faster, BetterGenomics uses DNA-sequencing technology to decode the genetic information contained in an organism’s DNA. For a soil or water sample, the results show what microorganisms are present and, by looking at the RNA, proteins, and metabolites they produce, what the microbes might be up to.

The costs and barriers to using genomics technology across a range of industries are falling. Most of the genomic techniques used today were developed in the field of human health more than a decade ago. Since 2001, the cost of sequencing an organism’s genome has fallen from almost $10,000 per sample to less than $1.

“Human genomics was the biggest sector three or four years ago, but now it’s less” says Genome BC’s Chief Scientific Officer and VP of Sector Development Dr. Catalina Lopez-Correa. “The mining, agri-food, and forestry sectors adopted genomics a little later but, since there are fewer barriers in terms of regulation, ethics, and approvals compared to human genetics, the uptake from end users and commercial applications are developing much faster.”

Foresters, for example, use genetic marker–assisted breeding to select the best seedlings for strong, tall, climate-adapted plots. Accurate genomics tools help the dairy industry breed healthy, productive cows.

Mining is also benefitting from genomics.

Cleaning the Water in Mine Tailings PondsDr. Susan Baldwin, P.Eng., has been working with mining companies on passive bioremediation of mine waters at sites across western Canada for almost a decade.

“Back in the day, they just put the metals into a wetland and hoped for the best,” says the University of British Columbia (UBC) Chemical and Biological Engineering professor. “Nowadays, there’s a huge amount of science and engineering behind it.”

Dr. Baldwin started working at Imperial Metal’s Mount Polley open-pit

and underground copper–gold mine in south–central British Columbia in 2013. Like many BC mines, Mount Polley faced the issue of how to remove metals and sulphates from tailings pond water before the company could get permits to release it back into the environment.

Together with her PhD student at the time, Dr. Baldwin tested bench-scale bioreactors in the UBC laboratory to show how a passive system could be set up and operated to remove sulphate and selenium from tailings water. A pilot-scale water treatment facility was built at the mine.

“This type of treatment system uses natural biogeochemical processes to remove metals and sulphates from the tailings pond water,” she says. “We used genomics to show that the lab and pilot reactors were hosting the right kinds of microorganisms for this application.”

Bioremediation employs microbes to convert the sulphates back into sulphides and precipitate the metals out of the water. Fortunately, many of these active sulphate-reducing bacteria are found naturally in lakes and wetlands.

“If you poke at the sediments at the bottom, you can see little bubbles come up and sometimes get a nasty smell,” Dr. Baldwin says. “That’s hydrogen sulphide. These are the most useful microorganisms for metal


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With genomics technology costs falling, engineers and researchers at Imperial Metal’s Mount Polley mine (toP; dr. s. baldwin, P.eng.) and New Gold’s New Afton mine (bottom; new gold) are investigating how they can harness genetics to monitor environmental health, remediate tailings water, and reclaim mine sites.

sequestration. They generate the sulphide that combines with the metal ions to form insoluble metal sulphides.”

However, wetlands and bioreactors may contain undesirable microorganisms, too. These include Thiobacillus, a sulphur-oxidizing bacteria that oxidizes sulphur back to sulphate, releasing rather than capturing the metal ions. This is where genomics becomes a diagnostic tool, Baldwin says.

“We take sediment samples and extract the DNA. We sequence the DNA for particular marker genes that tells us what microorganism species are present and what functional genes are present. This tells us what they’re doing, whether it’s sulphate reduction, sulphur oxidation, or denitrification.”

The water being passively treated at Mount Polley, however, was so low in dissolved metals that the sulphate-reducing bacteria did not have enough metal to eat, says Imperial Metals’ Chief Scientific Officer Dr. ’Lyn Anglin, P. Geo.

“The mine is presently initiating new research into passive water treatment approaches. We expect that these studies will involve more genomics research.”

Since the tailings storage breach at the mine in August 2014, Dr. Baldwin has partnered with Thompson Rivers University Professor Dr. Lauchlan Fraser to identify and observe how the plants and microorganisms in the affected watershed are responding to the spilled tailings. Study plots have been established to test a variety of soil amendments for remediation and the microorganisms active in the sediments.

“It’s usually when things go wrong in the environment that you want to know why. That’s where genomics comes in,” says Dr. Baldwin. She says,

in general and in the areas affected by the Mount Polley breach, genomics can help researchers identify changes in affected ecosystems at the microbial level, improve tools for monitoring bioremediation using microbes, develop molecular markers to monitor metals removal and soil rehabilitation, and conduct controlled trials using microbes to remediate affected ecosystems.

Measuring ‘Greenness’ at New AftonThis use of genomics as a diagnostic tool for monitoring ecosystem health led mining company New Gold to set up the first DNA-based mine-site rehabilitation program in Canada at its New Afton copper–gold mine, near Kamloops, BC.

The project began when New Gold’s Director of Health Safety Environment and Social Responsibility Dennis Wilson heard about DNA barcoding, a pioneering genomics application developed at the University of Guelph by Dr. Paul Hebert, director of the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics.

DNA barcoding takes short, distinctive snippets of DNA from organisms around the world, stores them in a digital library, and matches them against unknown samples to


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quickly and easily identify them—in much the same way universal product codes are used to identify items at a supermarket checkout counter. As of June

2016, the International Barcode of Life (IBOL) library contained five million snippets of DNA from 550,000 species of plants, animals, and some microbes.

Wilson saw how this technology could provide measurable performance indicators for reclaimed mine sites and joined forces with Hebert and Fraser to design a genomics-driven monitoring project at New Afton.

New Gold Manager for Environment, Social Responsibility and Tailings Scott Davidson, P. Geo., drives the project onsite. He says, “What we saw with genomics was an opportunity to understand species richness and biodiversity at the insect level, before and after rehabilitation.”

Insects and spiders were collected in low-maintenance malaise traps—small, tent-like structures with collection bottles attached—at a range of previously disturbed, rehabilitated, and control grassland and wetland sites around the mine. These arthropods are abundant and play important roles as plant pollinators, nutrient recyclers, scavengers, and food for larger

A New Afton mine project uses genomics to measure insect-species richness and diversity before and after site

rehabilitation. Photo: new gold


animals. As such, they serve as good indicators of ecosystem health.

The bug soup collected in the traps was sent to the Hebert at the University of Guelph for high-throughput next-generation sequencing to identify the species present at each site. More than 50,000 specimens were collected, and more than 4,000 species were identified—mostly flies, bees, ants, and wasps. These numbers are normal for a healthy grassland environment. The project also identified several new species of spider previously unrecorded in BC.

“For us, there’s no regulatory driver to do the genomics,” Davidson says. “We just see it as a tool by which we can get the right information to guide our management practices.”

Scaling UpPioneering projects like those at Mount Polley, New Afton, and a handful of others around the province are outliers. Researchers and organizations like Genome BC are hoping other companies embrace genomics as a diagnostic tool and help build the datasets required to make the results applicable to a range of issues in and around mines.

“One of the challenges the mining sector faces is scaling these genomics solutions up to the industrial scale,” Lopez-Correa says. Genomics, she explains, is often perceived as expensive due to the upfront investment required for small pilot projects. Cancer researchers faced similar challenges years ago and were unable to develop new drugs with only a handful of human genomes. However, once their databases were populated with thousands of genomes, patterns emerged and solutions could be tailored to a range of problems.

Mining will likely take the same path, as more companies see the benefits and participate.

“Genomics is an evolving field,” says Baldwin. “There are so many microorganisms in the environment that we know nothing about, we don’t know how to culture, we don’t

know what they’re doing. It’s early days—advances are happening at an astronomic pace.” v

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The World Trade Center Transportation Hub, known as the Oculus, is the new transportation hub at the tip of Manhattan Island, in New York City, and serves more than 200,000 commuters daily. The structure’s design is inspired by a pair of hands releasing a white dove, which made it extremely complicated to build. The design pushed architectural and structural limits, and required innovative erection engineering for its successful construction.

Buckland and Taylor International, Inc. (an affiliate of COWI North America, Inc.) was selected as the Erection Engineer. Buckland and Taylor’s engineers erected the structure’s arches segment by segment, using the free cantilever segmental construction method commonly applied in bridge erection. The method saved time and money by reducing the amount of falsework needed, and allowed the geometry of the structure to be monitored and adjusted throughout construction.

APEGBC members: Dr. Tobias Petschke, P.Eng., Darryl Matson, P.Eng., Nedim Alca, P.Eng., Tom Surtees, P.Eng.

As part of BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s progressive upgrade and expansion of the Trans-Canada Highway, Tetra Tech Canada served as the geotechnical engineers of record at Hoffman’s Bluff, near Chase, BC. Following investigation and an optimized design that includes retaining structures, catchment ditches, and rock and soil cut slopes, construction began in 2014.

A key challenge was the identified kinematic planar instability of the planned rock cut

slopes at a high rock bluff. The instability led to a tailored rock-bolting solution. Significant unstable rock masses on the slope required trim blasting and rock fall protection by means of netting and a catch fence. Challenging soil conditions, combined with water springs, were also found and remediated through innovative construction techniques.

The expanded highway was opened in late-December 2016.

Iconic New York City building draws on bridge-construction expertise

High bluff overlooking Trans-Canada Highway stabilized

2016 | ❖2017Project Highlights



A new, four-kilometre-long, four-lane-highway bridge over the Ganges River, near Patna in Bihar, India, is being procured through a design–build contract. It includes the longest extradosed spans in the country, combining structural elements of both a pre-stressed box-girder bridge and a cable-stayed bridge.

McElhanney is the prime consultant for the value-engineered extradosed segmental concept. This includes 16 back-to-back 120-metre-long spans that reduced construction duration and material consumption for the 1,920-metre navigation spans portion of the bridge. The extradosed superstructure consists of a 20.5-metre-

wide single-cell precast concrete box girder with a plane of stay cables and pylons down the median erected through balanced cantilevering.

Extreme scour depths, high seismicity, fast water currents, and exceptionally large water-level variations make site conditions challenging. In addition, the construction means and methods needed to address monsoon-season fluctuations in river levels and extreme rains. Completion is expected in mid-2017.

APEGBC members: David Jeakle, P.Eng., Raj Singh, P.Eng., Morgan Trowland, P.Eng., Chad Amiel, P.Eng., Gurpreet Sohal, P.Eng., Vikram Verma, P.Eng., Brook Robazza, EIT

Extradose bridge spans India’s Ganges River

The 70-year-old Keith Road Bridge in the District of North Vancouver was replaced to improve east–west connectivity across the municipality, ease traffic congestion, and support future highway improvements.

The project team planned and executed the demolition of the existing lead-painted bridge to limit work above Lynn Creek, a fish-bearing stream. The entire 490-tonne steel truss was jacked up in one piece three metres above the original bearing elevations, moved laterally on sliding beams to the new adjacent bridge structure, lowered onto hydraulic dollies, and towed away.

Demolition then continued over dry land where the bridge was dismantled and shipped off-site for disposal.

Hatch Corporation and Mott Macdonald (civil and structural), Thurber Engineering (geotechnical), DMD & Associates (electrical), Northwest Hydraulics Consultants (hydrotechnical), B&B Heavy Civil Construction (general contractor), Reinforced Earth Company Ltd. (mechanically stabilized earth walls), Construction Drilling Inc. (pile driving), Davies Geotechnical Inc., All-Span Engineering and Consultants (temporary works, erection and demolition). (photo: hatch corporation)

Bridge-demolition process minimizes environmental impacts


The Columbia River Skywalk, a 225-metre, clear-span suspension bridge, allows both pedestrians and utilities (water and sewer) to cross the Columbia River at Trail, BC. All-Span Engineering designed and prepared a comprehensive erection plan for the bridge’s installation and erection. Elements included a 225-metre highline and work platform for the installation of the suspension elements and deck structure, along with all cable pulling and stressing equipment.

Comprehensive analysis of the bridge structure during all phases of the erection needed to be performed to ensure that the structure was not overloaded at any stage during construction.

APEGBC members, COWI (bridge designer): Nedim Alca, P.Eng., Julie Gubbins, P.Eng.; All-Span Engineering & Construction Ltd. (erection engineer): Barry Gerbracht, P.Eng.; Graham Infrastructure LP (contractor)

Suspension bridge provides pedestrian and utility access across Columbia River

i n n o v a t i o n M AY/ J U N E 2 017 2 9



The seven-year-old Coast Meridian Overpass is a six-span, 580-metre, cable-stayed bridge over the Canadian Pacific railyard in Port Coquitlam. The landmark serves as a critical connection along TransLink’s regional major roads network. To optimize the bridge’s long-term performance, Stantec completed a detailed condition inspection and multi-year maintenance program for the overpass.

The inspection’s purpose was to verify the condition of the overpass’s structural components and identify defects that could affect public safety and bridge performance. With the help

of specialized in-house bridge inspectors who included both qualified rope access technicians and professional engineers, the inspection was completed within arm’s-length distance.

The use of rope climbers and efficient traffic management plans reduced public inconvenience typically caused when roadways are closed for traditional bridge inspection.

APEGBC members, Stantec: Mekdam Nima, P.Eng., Kip Skabar, P.Eng., Niall Eivers, EIT, Frances Wee, EIT, Yuki Kishimoto, EIT

Condition of overpass inspected within arm’s-length distance

Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Ltd. (NHC) was retained by TransLink and Parsons to undertake hydrotechnical testing and design for Translink’s Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project. Because of the complex hydraulics and sediment transport dynamics at this Fraser River-crossing location, and the proximity to the New Westminster Rail and SkyTrain bridges, NHC is conducting a 1:80 mobile-bed physical model study to assess feasibility and design mitigation for near-field instream impacts. The model will test hydraulic and morphologic impacts of the project’s reference concept, and develop specifications for the design–build phase of the project. Specifications could include

pier shapes, sizes and locations; scour-protection options; ship-impact protection; construction and demolition techniques; and mitigation for off-site scour or sedimentation impacts. Tests using the model incorporate known flow scenarios, as well as potential impacts from climate change and sea-level rise.

Testing is supplemented by geomorphic analysis, current-velocity measurements, and numerical modelling.

APEGBC members: Kara Hurtig, P.Eng., Matt Gellis, P.Eng., Jeff Van Tol, EIT, Ken Curry, P.Eng., Gord Ruffo, P.Eng., Sany Zein, P.Eng., Phoebe Cheung, P.Eng.

Assessing risks and options for Pattullo Bridge

The Cheakamus River Pedestrian Bridges project comprises construction of two new pedestrian suspension bridges over the Cheakamus River, linking key recreational trail segments near Whistler, BC. The bridges are the Sea to Sky Bridge and the Train Wreck Bridge.

The Sea to Sky Bridge incorporates an asymmetrical design with different-height towers that are inclined backwards to allow for a steeper backstay angle. This prevents the bridge cables from encroaching on an existing forestry road.

The Train Wreck Bridge provides safe, legal access to an old train wreck site —a popular landmark visited by both locals and tourists. Anchor frames for the cables at each end of the Train Wreck Bridge are designed in the form of locomotive wheels as an interesting and appealing tribute to the wreck site.

Klohn Crippen Berger Ltd. provided conceptual- and detailed-design and construction-management services for both bridges.

Suspension bridges built on the Sea to Sky Trail




Satellite InSAR data used to track ground displacementThe recent proliferation of high-resolution satellite imagery, coupled with improved processing algorithms, enables tracking of tens of millions of ground targets with millimetre precision in real time. 3v Geomatics applied its interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) technology of a project to monitor ground instabilities with high spatial detail across the Los Angeles area. The analysis tracked 65 million ground targets through 81 images acquired from 2011–2016.

The results indicate both local and widespread seismic displacement. The sharp blue/red displacement boundary travelling northwest from Seal Beach is caused by the Newport–Inglewood fault. The red and blue hotspots around Long Beach indicate subsidence and uplift, respectively, due to enhanced oil recovery. Both ground subsidence and uplift are also present further north, near Santa Monica and Beverly Hills.

Although this image provides an overview displacement map, any area can be zoomed into to analyze displacement histories of individual targets.

APEGBC member: Parwant Ghuman, P.Eng.

In the winter of 2016, Cellula Robotics Ltd. delivered a fourth-generation CRD100 seafloor drill to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., to be used by the Japanese Agency for Marine–Earth Science and Technology. The CRD100 is designed to drill and core up to 65 metres below the seafloor, in water depths down to 3,000 metres.

Seafloor drills are used for geotechnical analysis in subsea construction and for core sampling in mineral exploration. Seafloor drills can reduce the cost of core sampling compared to the costs of using

a drill ship, especially in deeper waters. Improved operator safety and higher-quality core samples are additional benefits.

The project covered the design, integration and testing of the CRD100 and surface control van, along with the specification and procurement of a dedicated launch and recovery system.

APEGBC members: Eric (James) Jackson, P.Eng., Paul Prunianu, P.Eng., Reuben Meikle, P.Eng., Dana Leslie, EIT, Dr. Peter Hampton, EIT, Breanna Hayton, EIT, Jacqueline Nichols, EIT, Mark Wells, EIT, Sina Doroudgar, EIT, Andrew Liu, EIT

Drill system reduces cost of seafloor core sampling




Students use new lab to test electrical and cybersecurity systemsThe BC Institute of Technology Smart Microgrid Applied Research Team designed and implemented an IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) 61850-compliant substation automation (SA) and process bus demonstration laboratory. The lab is used to train BCIT students in applied electrical and cybersecurity engineering.

Using real-time digital simulators and commercially available equipment, the lab enables students to examine automation, networking applications and flexibility of power system topologies and protection schemes. The lab supports study of the

IEC 61850 standard for SA systems application and the investigation of operating scenarios—it can be used to study network topology, test reliability of process bus for protection schemes, and review fundamental concepts such as interoperability and cybersecurity. Cybersecurity intrusions can be simulated from multiple access points, with users able to initiate attacks, eavesdrop, playback, and spoof, as well as inject malformed packets into internal and external streams.

APEGBC members, BCIT: Dr. Hassan Farhangi, P.Eng., Dr. Heydarali (Ali) Palizban, P.Eng.; LEX Engineering Ltd.: Gagan Deep, P.Eng.

Developed by The Coulson Group of Companies, Port Alberni, BC, the IceStorm90 is a high-quality, environmentally friendly, industrial precision-cleaning ice blaster. The device uses only 10 percent of the water traditionally used in pressure washing, and uses neither environmentally harmful abrasives nor expensive blasting media such as dry ice and sand.

The machine uses a non-pressurized 90-lb (413-kg) hopper while operating at a pressure of 60–150 psi (41–1,034 kPa), optimal for cleaning marine and industrial equipment. Upon surface impact, the melting ice traps debris and fibre particles. This allows for safer asbestos removal, with aerial contaminants being five times lower than the regulated allowable maximum.

APEGBC members: Phil Ponka, P.Eng., Nicolaas De Beeld, EIT, Paul Oostindie, P.Eng.

Device provides environmentally friendly high-pressure cleaning

With advancements in three-dimensional measurement, motion-capture data are extending beyond animation and gaming to penetrate new application areas relating to rehabilitation, remote interaction, virtual reality and augmented reality. To help further adoption of these technologies and enable future applications, researchers at the Simon Fraser University Multimedia Communications Laboratory have developed a novel system for motion-capture data compression.

The new motion-capture codec incorporates advanced features for

rate control, bit allocation, and motion-adaptive filtering to maximize data quality for a given bit budget. In addition, error-concealment strategies are developed for recovering from errors or packet loss when data are transmitted over unreliable links.

Unlike most other encoders for motion-capture data, the new encoder operates in an “online” mode—encoding the data as they are captured—which makes it ideal for low-latency, interactive virtual- and augmented-reality applications.

APEGBC member: Dr. Ivan V. Bajić, P.Eng.

Novel system compresses motion-capture data



The Ion Source Test Facility is located at Buckley Systems Ltd (BSL), in Auckland, New Zealand. A joint project owned by Canadian company D-Pace, Inc., and BSL, the facility was conceived, designed, and partially built at D-Pace’s location in Nelson, BC. BSL manufactured the hardware and D-Pace staff assembled and integrated the system in Auckland, with support from BSL staff. The facility has been operational since March 2016.

D-Pace uses the facility to research and develop ion sources—devices that generate charged particles for particle accelerators. The company also tests beam diagnostic instruments used to

measure particle characteristics such as beam current, position, spatial profiles and trajectories. Researchers from BC and New Zealand also use the facility in experiments to optimize ion sources for different charged particle types. Applications include diagnostic and treatment accelerators used in medicine and ion implantation accelerators used in the semiconductor industry.

The facility is one of the few installations built for testing and developing ion sources used to generate negatively charged particles.

APEGBC members: Dr. Morgan Dehnel, P.Eng., David Potkins, P.Eng., Philip Jackle, EIT

British Columbia-designed facility tests and develops negative-ion sources

Actuators are small motorized components that perform the highly precise back-and-forth micro-movements of intricate devices. Actuonix Motion Devices Inc. designed and provided the PQ12 actuators that make possible and control linear motion within NASA’s Strata-1 regolith experiment, currently installed on the International Space Station.

Regolith is the soil-like, rocky material that is found on asteroids and other space objects that have no atmospheres. Actuonix’s PQ12s adjust the Entrapulator assembly,

which compresses and holds the study’s simulated-regolith materials in place during launch to the space station and return to Earth.

Strata-1 aims to answer questions about the regolith behaviour in micro-gravity and ambient vibration. The study’s results will help answer questions about how regolith affects the safety of spacecraft and spacesuits, as well as adding to research on actual regolith samples that have been collected and brought to Earth during past missions.

APEGBC members: Mike (Simon) Baker, P.Eng., Ruaridh Mackinnon, EIT

BC actuators control fine linear motion in orbit

In June 2013, a significant rainfall event in southern Alberta over a three-day period triggered debris flooding in a number of creeks in Kananaskis Country. The floods damaged, among other infrastructure, existing Ribbon Creek Day Use Area facilities and deposited large amounts of debris in Ribbon Creek.

Alberta Parks retained SweetTech to provide a practical design of additional flood mitigation and protection works for the creek to protect against future design flood events (1:100-year return period).

The work includes river engineering, flood protection, bank stabilization, erosion protection, and parking lot, bridge, and road protection measures.

SweetTech is providing full-concept design, detailed engineering design, and construction administration support to this project. The company also coordinated a full site aerial drone survey with Skymatics Ltd. to gather current survey data and aerial imagery of the Ribbon Creek and nearby Kovach Pond day use areas.

APEGBC member, SweetTech Engineering: Eric Sweet, P.Eng.

Flood risk near popular Alberta park facilities mitigated



General Fusion is developing the fastest, most practical path to commercial fusion power—a clean, safe, abundant and on-demand form of energy. At its laboratories in Burnaby, BC, the company is developing the sub-systems that will comprise the world’s first commercially viable fusion power plant.

Fusion power plants are fueled by superheated hydrogen plasma, which must be held stable in a magnetic field. To research this relatively unexplored area of physics, General Fusion developed a series of laboratory-scale plasma injectors that enabled the company to test prototypes

against simulation and iterate designs quickly. The SPECTOR plasma injector (shown) reached temperatures as high as 5 million degrees Celsius and provided valuable data on the behaviour of the plasma. These insights are now being applied to a new power plant–scale injector that is 10 times SPECTOR’s size, with construction completed at the end of 2016.

APEGBC members: Kristin Bell, P.Eng., Mike Donaldson, P.Eng., Don Froese, P.Eng., Curtis Gutjahr, EIT, Troy Tyler, P.Eng., Janice Habibi-Sardari, P.Eng.

SPECTOR plasma injector developed for fusion power

In 2016, the City of Surrey, BC, endorsed a five-year strategy to replace 28,000 existing high-pressure sodium streetlights with LED lights across the city. The city undertook pilot tests and analysis as part of the process of determining suitable streetlight colour temperatures. A 3000-Kelvin colour temperature (white) was chosen for local residential streets, and a 4000-Kelvin temperature (bluish–white, within the daylight range) for all other streets.

As part of the infrastructure installations currently underway, the city will pilot other SMART technologies such as WiFi and dimming in specific locations.

The strategy aims to improve the safety and comfort of pedestrians, drivers and cyclists on streets, as well as to reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs.

APEGBC member: Amer Afridi, P.Eng.

City converts street lighting to LED

Prime Engineering has developed an innovative medium-voltage electrical switchgear product that eliminates transformer inrush current and allows for lower arc flash incident energy levels.

Prime Engineering has partnered with Vizimax Inc. to bring this technology to the medium-voltage field and has developed a product with a footprint no larger than a standard medium-voltage switchgear.

The patented technique eliminates transformer inrush by using a combination of an independent pole-operated breaker (Tavrida) and point on wave controller (Vizimax) that

can determine the exact instant to close the breaker so as to eliminate transformer inrush. By removing transformer inrush, protection relay settings are able to be set much lower and, as a result, arc flash events can be cleared faster. This, in turn, lowers downstream incident energy levels and improves safety.

The point on wave energy-reducing (POWER) switchgear also allows larger transformers to be connected to an electrical system or standard transformers connected to weaker systems.

APEGBC member, Prime Engineering Ltd.: Eric David Sleigh, P.Eng.

Electrical switchgear system improves safety




Stable cryogenic environment helps trap antimatterThe Antihydrogen Laser Physics Apparatus (ALPHA) Collaboration at CERN recently announced the first-ever laser spectroscopy of antihydrogen within a cryogenic antimatter trap. Most atoms—including antihydrogen atoms—moving through magnetic fields gain and lose energy as the strength of the field changes. Some very low–energy atoms convert all of their kinetic energy to potential energy, slowing them and allowing them to be captured within a strong magnetic field.

TRIUMF played a key role in the design and construction of the apparatus that creates the stable, super-cold environment required for trapping and studying antihydrogen. The ALPHA-2 cryostat maintains a liquid helium bath at 4.2 Kelvin (–268.0o C) and ultrahigh vacuum (10^–11 Torr).

The cryogenic conditions support a 1,000-amp superconducting wire, wound in such a way to produce eight poles within a single ‘octupole’ magnet, and seven other superconducting wires that power five mirror magnets and two solenoids. The octupole magnet provides transverse confinement, while the mirror magnets and solenoids provide axial confinement. This configuration binds the antiatom in all three dimensions.

Once the assembly traps antimatter, CERN physicists use laser spectroscopy to manipulate and study it, as documented in ALPHA’s December 2016 paper published in Nature.

APEGBC member: Don Dale, P.Eng. (photo: Bryce maximilien, cern)

The John Hart Generating Station, in the City of Campbell River, BC, has been operating since 1947. The BC Hydro-owned and -operated facility is being replaced to ensure it continues to deliver clean, reliable energy.

In February 2014, BC Hydro awarded the project contract to InPower BC. The Aecon and SNC-Lavalin Constructors Pacific Inc. joint venture was awarded the civil construction work.

The project comprises an innovative, underground powerhouse that will provide seismic safety, improve electricity output, and provide consistent flows to the Campbell River. AECON’s team led the civil design and construction of a new water intake, replacement of three 1.8-kilometre-long above-ground penstocks with a 2.1-kilometre-long tunnel, and construction of a new underground generating station and a new water bypass facility.

APEGBC members, AECON Group: Scott Marshall, P.Eng., Richard Tame, P.Eng., Nathalie Dinnissen, P.Eng., Brad Chow, P.Eng., Jerome Boucher, P.Eng., Ratko Ivanovic, EIT, Francis Gonella, EIT, Jason Stewart, EIT

Generating station replacement improves safety and output




Yukon’s hydro-based electrical system is isolated from North America’s grid. Delivering a continuous source of electricity is challenged by spikes in demand due to weather, transmission and hydro-generation failures. Yukon Energy Corporation’s aging diesel backup generators increasingly present a reliability risk. The corporation, with First Nations support and a $21-million investment from the Kwanlin Dun First Nation, constructed an innovative 8.8-megawatt liquid natural gas–fueled power-generating station, improving

reliability and reducing both power costs and environmental impacts.

The capital costs associated with both diesel and LNG systems were considered along with the estimated $3- to 4-million annual fuel savings that LNG would offer compared to diesel. The LNG option also offered the distinct advantage of lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to the diesel option.

APEGBC members, Allnorth: Janna Gillick, P.Eng., Stephen Noble, P.Eng.

Project improves energy reliability, lowers power costs

The City of Richmond retained Kerr Wood Leidal Associates to design a 1.8-megawatt low-carbon heating and cooling plant for the new Central at Garden City shopping centre in Richmond’s Alexandra neighbourhood. The plant features air-source heat pumps and condensing boilers, and will provide supplemental heating and cooling capacity to the Alexandra District Energy Utility.

This is one of the first combined district heating and cooling systems in BC that uses air-source heat pumps (shown) and integrates with a geo-exchange system. It is also one of the only district energy systems serving large-format retail buildings.

Once operating at full capacity, the plant is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Alexandra neighbourhood by as much as 250 tonnes CO2-equivalent per year, and will provide a platform for recovering cooling energy from the mall and sharing it with nearby residential buildings.

APEGBC members, City of Richmond: Kevin Roberts, EIT, Alen Postolka, P.Eng., John Irving, P.Eng.; Kerr Wood Leidal Associates: Mike Homenuke, P.Eng., Karen Sutherland, P.Eng., Robin Parker, P.Eng., Alan van der Holt, P.Eng., Padraig Harrington, P.Eng., Thomas Mah, EIT

Alexandra District Energy Utility expands with Phase 4

Keyera retained Sacré-Davey Engineering Inc. to design an increase in natural gas condensate storage capacity at the Keyera Edmonton Terminal. The upgrade includes four new internal floating-roof storage tanks, containment walls, a pumping system that includes associated piping and electrical power supply, instrumentation, and controls hardware and logic.

To maximize storage, Sacré-Davey Engineering developed a layout providing more than twice the anticipated storage in the given space (240,000 versus 100,000 barrels). An unconventionally

deep storage tank foundation design provides increased stability, which allows greater height-to-tank-diameter ratio. Sacré-Davey also reduced the number of flex joints in the piping system by strategically locating the pipe restraints to allow controlled pipe movement. This is expected to significantly increase the piping system’s reliability.

APEGBC members, Sacré-Davey Engineering (consultant): Andrea Tylczak, P.Eng., David Pfeil, P.Eng.; Jensen Hughes Consulting Canada Ltd (sub-consultant); Keyera (owner and construction management)

Upgrade maximizes storage at natural gas condensate terminal


The University of British Columbia peaking boiler plant and hot water system was included in a $24-million Campus Energy Centre overhaul to modernize the aging steam heating systems and reduce energy consumption. The design includes three 15-megawatt thermal, natural gas–fired, high-efficiency boilers, a condensing economizer and a cost-effective waste heat recovery system that improves the facility’s energy efficiency.

AES Engineering provided the project’s electrical engineering. The electrical scope of work included high-voltage

services that feed into a 2000/2660-kVA pad mount transformer, which also provides the building with 600 volts of alternating current. As well, three-phase secondary service and a 1000-kilowatt generator provide backup for energy-efficient fluorescent and LED lights, security cameras, card access door controls and digital signage.

The LEED Gold-certified building operates continuously and is staffed around the clock by qualified engineers.

APEGBC members: Hira Boparai, EIT, Sunny Ghataurah, P.Eng. (photo credit: ema peter)

Campus modernizes its heating systems

Avalon Battery developed and built its first-generation product, AFB1X, at its Vancouver office in just over a year. In April 2016, Avalon shipped its 10-kilowatt vanadium redox flow battery to a customer in Fremont, California.

A key challenge that was overcome was evaluating components for compatibility with the electrolyte, a corrosive and low-surface-tension liquid. In order to deliver a high-performance product, advanced materials were used in the cell

stack. On the electrical side, it took a strong team effort to achieve UL1741 and IEEE1547 certification, required to make the battery fully utility interactive. Once deployed at the customer’s site, Avalon used data analysis and active monitoring to optimize the customer’s peak demand and energy use.

APEGBC members: Troy Barrie, P.Eng., Rick Blacker, P.Eng., Matthew Harper, P.Eng., Andrew Klassen, P.Eng., Brandon Lee, P.Eng., Tim Peterson, P.Eng.

Battery provides utility-interactive energy-storage solution

Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. developed the 40.6-megawatt Big Silver Creek Hydroelectric Project, located approximately 40 kilometres north of Harrison Hot Springs, BC. The facility achieved commercial operation in summer 2016 after two years of construction. Project challenges included building a two-kilometre drill-and-blast tunnel, as well as installing 3.8 kilometres of submarine transmission

cable on the bottom of Harrison Lake at depths of up to 250 metres.

Big Silver Creek generates enough electricity to power more than 12,700 households in BC with clean, renewable energy and was completed ahead of schedule and on budget.

Tetra Tech, Prime Engineering, Detmold Consulting, Dean Brox Consulting, Carbonneau Group, Golder Associates, Knight Piésold Ltd.

Hydroelectric project achieves commercial operation




Retrofit reduces energy use and costsThe District of North Vancouver had planned to install a biomass boiler to provide heating to the Karen Magnussen Community Recreation Centre. Under the leadership of the district’s energy-management team and SES Consulting, the district instead chose to reduce the building’s energy consumption through efficiency.

The resulting project is on target to reduce the building’s energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent. Key features include a full lighting upgrade, new controls to optimize the HVAC system, and a low-energy ceiling to reduce the load on the ice plant. The new advanced heat-recovery system captures waste heat from the pools and arena to virtually eliminate the load on the existing boilers.

The centre, built in 1974, is now almost as efficient as the district’s new-construction recreation centre.

APEGBC members, District of North Vancouver: Monica Samuda Poitras, P.Eng., Paul Forsyth, EIT, Gary Houg, P.Eng.; SES: Scott Sinclair, P.Eng., Chris Goodchild, P.Eng., Jim Groenewoud, P.Eng.

Pattern Energy Group’s development of the Meikle Wind Energy project in BC’s Peace River Region included the 230-kiloVolt transmission line for their facility to the point of interconnection, approximately 23 kilometres west of BC Hydro’s Tumbler Ridge substation and 36 kilometres from the Sukunka substation. The maximum total power injection from Meikle Wind Energy is 180 megawatts—enough to power 54,000 homes.

SNC-Lavalin’s Power Group was contracted to produce the design and provide project and construction management services for a new terminal to connect the energy-generating facility to BC Hydro’s grid. The transmission lines were

interconnected through the new 230-kiloVolt ring bus Meikle Terminal substation at the point of interconnect. The new substation consists of 230-kiloVolt breakers in ring bus configuration, station service transformers and a diesel generator. The switchyard includes a spare area for one power distribution transformer and one 25-kiloVolt feeder.

APEGBC members: Raafat A. Megahed, P.Eng., Adam Tryczynski, P.Eng., Angel Pinto Unda, P.Eng., Muhammad Razzaq, P.Eng., Reza Youssefi, P.Eng., Jaydeepkumar Tailor, P.Eng., Luke Makischuk, P.Eng., Hardeep Saggu, EIT, Sunil Kaliappan, EIT, Viraj Devapriya, P.Eng., Rabie Abdul-Sahib, P.Eng.

Project improves energy reliability, lowers power costs



Balancing erosion control and vegetation restoration along coastal roadErosion from wave action along Lazo Road, Comox, BC, was undermining utility poles and had the potential to undermine the road. Wedler Engineering LLP was originally retained in 2011 to complete preliminary design and cost estimating, and then retained in 2015 to complete the design and provide tender services.

The project balances the need for erosion protection and vegetation restoration by incorporating rip rap at lower elevations with a very shallow slope angle on the ocean side, anchored large woody debris at mid elevations, and vegetation only at higher elevations along the beach. Rip rap was largely buried with existing beach sand to minimize the project’s aesthetic and environmental footprint. A multi-use trail was built alongside Lazo Road, with beach access points provided along the length of the work.

APEGBC members, Wedler Engineering: Andrew Gower, P.Eng.; Ryzuk Geotechnical: Christian Flanagan, EIT, Shane Moore, P.Geo.; Northwest Hydraulic Consultants: Dr. Dave McLean, P.Eng.; Town of Comox: Shelley Ashfield, P.Eng.

Mountain Station Consultants Inc. was contracted to design and construct a rainbow trout rearing and spawning channel at Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc.’s Mount Milligan mine. The environmentally sensitive project required low-impact hand removal of nine fish-passage barriers, hand construction of fish-passable channels, and creation of an upstream spawning channel.

Field observations of natural meander frequency, run length, curvature and channel bankfull width aided design computations. Instream features were designed and placed to scour and clean

spawning gravels. Small Caterpillar 308E and 287B machines were used to place streambed and spawning gravels, logs, salvaged tree stumps and cobble. Native species revegetation is now underway.

In total, 283 square metres of rainbow trout rearing and spawning habitat were created.

The project was part of the ongoing fish habitat compensation program operating at the Mount Milligan Mine in north–central BC.

APEGBC member, Mountain Station Consultants: Alan Thomson, P.Eng.

Designing and building fish habitat at Mount Milligan mine



The Water Sustainability Act and the first phase of associated regulations came into effect in 2016. The Act benefits all British Columbians, our environment and our economy, and marks a major step forward in water resource management in BC. Key legislative provisions include:• licensing of non-domestic use of

groundwater (e.g., industrial, agricultural) for the first time in BC

• stronger protection for aquatic ecosystems, especially during droughts

• new rental fees for water use• expanded protection of groundwater

including new well construction and maintenance standards

• increased dam safety and awareness, and compliance and enforcement

The Act and regulations were developed by a team of professionals, including APEGBC members who brought their engineering and geoscience expertise and experience in water resources management to develop the legislation. Additional regulations—for example, water objectives, and measuring and reporting of water use—will be developed in the coming years.

APEGBC members, Water Sustainability Act policy team: V.J. Cameron, P.Geo., G. Davidson, P.Eng., J.-A. Ishikawa, P.Geo., M. Lepitre, P.Geo., C. Pryce, P.Eng., B. Symonds, P.Eng., S. Thomson, P.Geo., M. Wei, P.Eng.

In the summer of 2016, Ocean Networks Canada deployed steel-armoured fibre-optic cables to enhance the reliability of the NEPTUNE ocean observatory. With two ships maneuvering less than 80 metres apart, the C/S Wave Venture achieved a first for Ocean Networks Canada by successfully laying 18 kilometres of advanced-technology extension cable onto the seafloor. Ranging from three to seven kilometres in length, the cables were laid in water depths exceeding two kilometres.

The exploration vessel E/V Nautilus and remotely operated vehicles Hercules and

Argus played important supporting roles by monitoring the four cable lays while also conducting scientific research and providing state-of-the-art telepresence capabilities. With a requirement to deploy the terminations of the cables within a 50-metre circle on the seafloor without damaging existing subsea infrastructure, the operations demanded detailed planning and a high level of precision during execution.

APEGBC member: Ian Kulin, P.Eng.

Fibre-optic cables deployed in the deep ocean

Water Sustainability Act guides BC water management

First Nations and government agencies that are engaged in managing Okanagan water urgently needed an improved understanding of environmental flow needs. Provincial water licensing staff require this information for making water-allocation decisions under the new BC Water Sustainability Act. The Okanagan Nation needs the information for fish population and fish habitat restoration plans. Long-term water use predictions, as well as water use restrictions during drought, also depend on the data.

The Okanagan Basin Water Board, Okanagan Nation Alliance, and the province are leading a project to determine

environmental flow needs in Okanagan streams. In Phase 1 of the project, Associated Environmental Consultants Inc. led a diverse team to develop recommended methods for determining environmental flow needs in the region, and provided information to customize the methods for 19 high-priority Okanagan streams. Work to apply these methods on these priority streams is underway.

APEGBC members, Associated Environmental Consultants: Brian Guy, P.Geo.; Urban Systems: Don Dobson, P.Eng.; Polar Geoscience Ltd.: Lars Uunila, P.Geo.; Agua Consulting Ltd.: Bob Hrasko. P.Eng.; BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations: Brian Symonds, P.Eng.

Environmental flow needs determined in Okanagan streams



The Sandy Bottom Project represents the single largest capital investment the Government of the Bahamas, Ministry of National Security, has made in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) since its inception in 1980. The $232-million project includes the design and construction of nine naval vessels and three island port upgrades—including harbour dredging, breakwaters, revetments, quay walls, jetties, 0.73-hectare land reclamation, support buildings and infrastructure. The upgrades decentralize operations and logistic support across the Bahamas’ 100,000-square-nautical-mile

(343,000-square-kilometre) maritime domain to enhance safety and security at sea and on the Bahamas’ 700 islands and cays.

The Government’s Sandy Bottom Project Execution Unit consisted of RBDF and ministry personnel. Damen Shipyards/Van Oord (Netherlands) served as design–build contractor. JV Paul Hanna & Associates (Bahamas) and Rendel (UK) was the employer’s representative engineer.

APEGBC member: Henry Moxey, P.Eng. (project liaison officer between the Government of the Bahamas, the contractor and the engineer)

A triple-port upgrade decentralizes operations in the Bahamas

Pacific Coast Terminals is integrating K+S Potash Canada’s potash handling system into its existing Port Moody sulphur terminal. The project required modifications to two sulphur conveyors to prevent cross-contamination on the ship-loading conveyor.

CWA Systems Inc. (CSI), a CWA Group company, developed a diverter system and executed the project under an engineering–procurement–construction contract. By implementing a lower profile (20 percent of the originally proposed system), CSI minimized the risk to existing sulphur-

transfer operations, reduced the installation time during shutdowns, lowered the potential for dust generation and product degradation, and decreased mechanical complexity.

Although construction took place in an operating terminal, site-construction labour hours and operational disruptions were minimized. The CSI team successfully completed the project without lost-time incidents.

APEGBC members, CWA Engineers Inc.: Craig Stenhouse, P.Eng., Paul Dunwoody, P.Eng., Elvin Yutuc, P.Eng., Keith Arnstead, P.Eng.

Sulphur terminal upgrades reduce risk

The Port of Prince Rupert’s Fairview Container Terminal opened in 2007, becoming one of North America’s fastest-growing intermodal gateways and the first fully dedicated ship-to-rail facility. In 2013, planning began for the facility’s Phase II North expansion to increase annual capacity to 1.35 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units, each of which equals about 38.5 m3) at completion in 2017.

The $200-million project increases the berth to 800 metres, long enough to accommodate two of the largest trans-Pacific container vessels simultaneously.

In addition, the project creates three hectares of container storage space, revamps the rail-loading facilities and adds three more quay cranes.

Fairview Container Terminal is already an economic anchor for the local community, and this project resulted in more than $40 million in local spending. The project team included a dozen APEGBC members full-time onsite, with many more in supporting roles.

DP World Prince Rupert (operator), Herold Engineering (Engineer of Record), CGR Canada (engineer), FRPD-Bel Gateway JV (contractor)

Port expansion increases berth and storage capacity



Construction of a 1,100-megawatt hydroelectric power generation plant in remote British Columbia is the culmination of two decades of negotiations with land owners for approval. Experienced in remote projects, newterra was contracted by ATCO to engineer and manufacture a potable water treatment plant to support the 2,700 construction workers who will be working at the Site C construction site.

The resulting plant employs flocculation, clarification, sand filtration, UV disinfection and chlorination to deliver 585 cubic metres of potable water per day. To address fire prevention requirements, the system also includes high-pressure pumping stations.

APEGBC members, newterra: Brad Gaffney, P.Eng., Jeff Kempson, P.Eng.

Potable water treatment plant serves large, remote construction site

Process reclaims minerals from Chicago-area sewage The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) faced higher regulatory limits affecting effluent discharge permits. Its wastewater system was also experiencing struvite mineral build-up at their Stickney plant, the world’s largest wastewater treatment facility.

Ostara’s Pearl process provided a solution. The Pearl’s fluidized bed reactor recovers phosphorus and nitrogen from nutrient-rich wastewater liquor, reclaiming more than 85 percent of phosphorus and up to 15 percent of nitrogen from wastewater streams before they accumulate as struvite in pipes and equipment.

In the reactor, magnesium is added to wastewater under a controlled pH,

causing the nutrients to crystallize. The reactor design enables the granules to grow to the size and purity used in standard fertilizer blends, and to be harvested directly from the reactor. They can then be dried and bagged for distribution and sale from the Stickney plant.

The process has increased Stickney’s operational efficiency by preventing struvite build-up, reducing loads on other plant processes, and supporting MWRD’s clean-water mandate.

APEGBC members: Ahren Britton, P.Eng., Derek Lycke, P.Eng., Lani (Mahilan) Somasunderam, P.Eng., David Alexander, P.Eng., Sam Leung, P.Eng.

Viterra is Canada’s premier grain handler. As part of the modernization of its Pacific Terminal in the Port of Vancouver, the company constructed a 2800-mtph ship loader through a series of design–build contracts. The project involved the installation of state-of-the-art fugitive dust control for handling pulse crops from Western Canada. Work included new shipping conveyors inside the terminal to support the overall shipping capacity. The ship loader commenced operations in September 2016.

EMS-Tech Inc., Vancouver Pile Driving Ltd., and Dynamic Installations Inc. led

the design–build contracts. Dredging support was provided by JJM Construction Ltd. provided dredging support. Hemmera Envirochem Inc. provided environmental support.

APEGBC members: Rick Doxtator, P.Eng., Paul Dafoe, P.Eng., Jorgen Jensen, P.Eng., Steve Thackray, P.Eng., Reza Tabesh, P.Eng., Harald Kullmann, P.Eng., Chuck Jochems, P.Eng., Tobin Hwang, P.Eng., Peter Idema, P.Eng. Recently deceased member David Smith provided geotechnical support.

New ship loader moves grain and pulse crops



The first of two custom, high-performance fireboat and emergency response vessels built for the Port of Long Beach, California, Protector is designed for emergency response in the era of super-sized cargo ships and post-9/11 security conditions. Advancing the port’s firefighting and security system, the vessel features seven fire pumps that serve an array of 10 water cannons with an aggregate capacity of 9,300 m³/hr, with the largest water cannon alone capable of delivering water at 2,700 m³/hr at a range of 180 metres. Discharge manifolds are fitted to provide shore-side water supply at up to 5,000 m³/hr.

Protector is designed to support emergency medical services, diving and pollution response activities, and to act as an incident command and control centre for emergency response. Fitted with a military-grade air-filtration system, it can also be operated in areas contaminated with hazardous chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials (CBRN). Protector measures 33 metres long, 10.7 metres across the beam, and 4.6 metres in draft. A cycloidal propeller system provides highly accurate control for maneuvering and positioning.APEGBC members, Design team: Henry Reeve, P. Eng., Hans F. Muhlert, P. Eng., Robert G. Allan, P. Eng., Darren Hass, P. Eng., Allan Turner, P. Eng.

Vessel provides high-performance emergency response

Opus was lead consultant for design and construction supervision of a new outfall for the Regional District of Nanaimo’s Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre. The $12-million project replaced the original welded-steel outfall pipe with a new outfall of 1,372-millimetre-diameter high-density polyethylene DR21 pipe. The outfall discharges 2,000 metres into the Strait of Georgia towards Five Fingers Island and includes a 100-metre-long multiport diffuser section. The installation used a “float-and-sink” technique, allowing for remote assembly and rapid installation during stable weather.

Trench construction involved dredging of the seabed and blasting rock, requiring extensive environmental monitoring. Eelgrass was harvested before dredging for transplanting, daily turbidity levels and acoustic and over pressure were monitored during blasting to limit construction impacts on marine life.

APEGBC members, Opus: Phil Cook, P.Eng., Dennis Harrington, P.Eng., Raymond Chin, P.Eng., Peter Hutchins, EIT. Sub-consultants: WSP, Great Pacific Consulting Ltd., ITB Subsea Ltd., Russ Fogel, Inc., Zentech Cyprus, Limited, CRA Canada Surveys, Inc.

Construction and environmental monitoring of outfall replacement

In response to changing regulations, the City of Nanaimo, Kenaidan Contracting Ltd. and Associated Engineering collaborated to build a new membrane water treatment plant to provide filtered drinking water to Nanaimo, BC.

The South Fork plant takes advantage of local elevation and topography to siphon water through the membranes and supply the city by gravity. This eliminates the need for pumps and results in significantly lower energy use. The water is filtered through a two-stage membrane system to remove organics, viruses, protozoa, bacteria, and turbidity. More than

99 percent of incoming water is treated, and the residual solid waste is composted and mixed into topsoil.

Innovative design features and a small energy footprint enable production of 116 megalitres/day of safe drinking water for Nanaimo’s growing population until well past 2035, and an end to boil-water advisories.

APEGBC members, Associated Engineering: Matt Henney, P.Eng., Quinn Crosina, P.Eng., Matthew Lozie, P.Eng., Ken Neave, P.Eng., Lauren Vale, EIT, Alyson Pickett, EIT, Dave Winter, P.Eng., Leif Marmolejo, P.Eng.; Kenaidan Contracting Ltd.; City of Nanaimo Water Resources. (photo: wesley holmes photography)

Water treatment plant uses gravity to increase efficiency



Discovery of Boleras Silver Deposit, Sandra Escobar Project, MexicoIn 2016, Orex Minerals Inc. and their joint venture partner Canasil Resources Inc. discovered a new silver deposit in northern Mexico. In less than a year, Orex has completed drilling to define a first resource estimate on the Boleras Silver Deposit. Fifty-nine diamond-drill holes, totalling just under 7,500 metres, have been used to delineate an inferred resource of 9.8 million tonnes, grading 106 grams per tonne silver, for a total of 945 tonnes (33.3 million ounces) of silver.

This discovery is relatively unique within the Mexican “Silver Trend” in that, unlike the traditional vein-hosted epithermal silver systems, the silver mineralization at Boleras is strataform along a rhyolite horizon and contains primarily disseminated silver-bearing minerals, with lesser broad stockwork zones. Few sulphides and no gossan are found at surface to mark the location.

APEGBC members, Orex Minerals Inc.: Ben Whiting, P.Geo., Dale Brittliffe, P.Geo., Art Freeze, P.Geo., Rob van Egmond, P.Geo.

Pretium Resources, Inc.’s Brucejack mine is a world-class, high-grade underground gold mine located northwest of Stewart, BC. The remote site is reached by a 54-kilometre gravel access road, followed by a 12-kilometre ice road over the Knipple Glacier.

Amec Foster Wheeler is providing detailed engineering, procurement and site construction–assistance services for this project. Facilities include mine-ventilation fans, underground ore crushing and conveying, an ore concentrator with grinding mills, flotation and dewatering equipment, a water treatment

plant, a 330-person permanent camp, and a 20-MVA substation.

The project’s design, logistics and construction must take into account high winds, snow loading, ice buildup and low temperatures. Addressing these issues has proven vital to the safety of more than 900 employees and contractors at the site and to the overall success of Brucejack mine.

APEGBC members, Amec Foster Wheeler: Eric Young, P.Eng., Alan Keylock, P.Eng., Raymond Lo, P.Eng., Ryan Hempton, P.Eng., Regina Voron, P.Eng.

Building mine facilities in remote, high-elevation environment



A Kraft pulp and paper mill in the US has become the eighth adopter in the Americas of a short-column ion-exchange technology that provides high selectivity for chlorides and performance with high-carbonate ash. Commissioned in March 2016, the installation is capable of treating 40 tonnes of ash per day.

The precipitator dust purification (PDPTM) technology was modified by NORAM for the pulp and paper sector and improves on prior technologies, allowing selective removal of chloride from recovery boiler precipitator ash

and recovering reusable pulping-liquor chemicals. Mill costs and environmental performance benefit from a reduced demand for caustic and salt-cake makeup chemicals, while reduced boiler scaling from lower chloride levels improves asset uptime and performance. The technology sets new benchmarks for chemical management and recovery boiler operations.

NORAM Engineering & Constructors Ltd. (supply and design engineering); Eco-Tec Inc. (key equipment and technology)

Technology recovers chemicals in pulp and paper operations

Canfor Pulp Ltd.’s Intercontinental Pulp Mill in Prince George produces ECF 90 pulp from a mixture of softwood species indigenous to BC’s north–central interior. The opportunity to increase yield, lower bleaching costs, and lower adsorbable organic halogen (AOX) levels in pulping-process effluent prompted the addition of a second stage of oxygen delignification. The project consisted of a new building, an oxygen reactor, an oxygen mixer, a booster pump, a top scraper, and electrical, instrumentation and controls upgrades.

Canfor Pulp engineers were supported by external resources, including Clean Energy Consulting Inc. for project management, Allnorth Consultants Ltd. and Andritz Automation Ltd. for engineering and G. Morrow Contracting Ltd. for construction management. Construction was executed by multiple contractors during normal mill operation, in tight working quarters with significant over/under conflicts.

The project was successfully completed and is meeting operational targets.

Two-stage oxygen delignification project increases pulp-mill yields

Processing 240,000 tonnes of ore per day, the Cerro Verde Production Unit Expansion is the largest one-time built copper concentrator in the world. Fluor provided engineering, procurement, construction management and commissioning services. The process incorporates energy-efficient high-pressure grinding roll comminution technology, first introduced by Fluor at a predecessor plant in 2006.

The project includes a new sewage treatment plant that processes 80 percent of the City of Arequipa’s raw sewage and provides water for the

new concentrator. Other infrastructure elements include the water pumping/pipeline system, a 40-kilometre 220-kilovolt transmission line, and the tailing handling/distribution and water recovery systems.

The project took more than 65 million hours to construct and peaked with 19,000 people on site. The project was completed ahead of schedule and on budget, with an excellent safety record—including a run of 20 million hours without a lost-time incident.

APEGBC member: Brad Matthews, P.Eng.

Cerro Verde production unit expands in Peru



The Vancouver Airport Authority (YVR) is implementing Runway End Safety Areas (RESAs) for its runways in order to meet new Transport Canada safety requirements. A RESA provides a surface at the end of a runway strip that would help reduce the severity of damage to an aircraft in the event of the aircraft undershooting, overrunning, or veering off the runway during landing or take off, as well as facilitating the movement of rescue and fire fighting vehicles.

Hatch is providing detailed design and construction inspection services for the first phase of the project, which involves

implementing RESAs on Runway 08R-26L—the airport’s longest runway on the south—and Runway 13-31—the crosswind runway. The project includes a paved extension of the east end of the south runway, with site works including removals, excavation, sand preload/surcharge, construction of new flexible and rigid pavement structures, new storm drainage, relocation of the 08R localizer, relocation of underground utilities and navigation aids, and installation of airfield lighting and infrastructures.

APEGBC member, Hatch: Lincoln Chan, P.Eng. (Project Manager)

Runway safety improved at Vancouver International Airport

Tank reduces time and costs for remote fuel deliveriesBering Air sought a better way of using its Bell 412 helicopter to deliver fuel to remote cell towers, which are often located on the top of mountains. The Bell 412 helicopter offers an ideal airframe for hauling fuel inside the aircraft, except for the location of its challenging centre rotor mast.

Tasked with finding a solution, SEI Industries Ltd. developed a new fuel-hauling container that combines SEI’s award-winning fabric BATT inner tank with a strong aluminum outer tank. With built-in wave baffling, the BATT hybrid tank allows Bell 412 helicopters

to haul fuel in, then, after unloading the fuel, haul paying cargo back out, instead of the common practice of flying empty fuel drums out. Because the tank is not a slung load, the helicopter can fly at full speed, which also reduces costs and time.

Now ready for the marketplace, the BATT 412 hybrid tank meets all requirements for flight safety and requires no heavy equipment. It can be assembled and disassembled inside the aircraft by two people.

APEGBC member: Victor Yaremenko, P.Eng.

DaamBuilt is a North Vancouver, BC-based custom bicycle frame–building company that uses engineering techniques to achieve fabrication efficiencies and to develop innovative designs that enhance the rider’s experience.

DaamBuilt designed this full-suspension frame for a client who wanted custom geometry and an efficient suspension platform. The suspension linkage was designed by selecting a leverage ratio, anti-rise and anti-squat values to match the

climbing and pedalling traits best suited to tackle the BC North Shore’s toughest trails.

To build this comfortable yet aggressive frame, the company’s engineer used aerospace-grade butted steel tubes for the main triangles and machined billet aluminum for the linkage plates. These materials balance weight and strength while maintaining the classic lively feel of a steel bicycle frame.

APEGBC member: Peter Daam, P.Eng.

Engineering improves mountain bike design



Every year, numerous snow avalanches threaten the Trans-Canada Highway in BC’s Glacier National Park. A combination of snow sheds, earthworks, and artillery-based avalanche control has effectively protected highway travelers since the highway opened in 1962.

In order to improve highway reliability, Parks Canada commissioned what is, to date, the western hemisphere’s largest snow-net project to permanently stabilize the snowpack in three problematic avalanche paths at Cougar Corner #6, #7, and #8. Alpine Solutions Avalanche Services completed the

design, which included 1,937 metres of Geobrugg snow nets in 39 separate rows. Three debris-flow barriers were used in terrain too incised for traditional snow nets.

All rows for two avalanche paths were installed in 2016, and the third path is scheduled to be completed in 2017.

APEGBC members, Alpine Solutions Avalanche Services: Brian Gould, P.Eng., Cam Campbell. Eng.L.; BAT Construction Ltd: Jenna Zdunich, P.Eng.; Prime Consultant: McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd.

Snow nets improve national park highway safety

Translink is upgrading and expanding the Metrotown Skytrain Station and Bus Exchange, in Burnaby, BC, to improve capacity and accessibility, and address the surrounding community’s needs. The station is TransLink’s second-busiest SkyTrain station, with more than 50,000 commuters passing through it daily. It is also one of the original Expo Line stations, having opened in 1986.

The project includes three new fare-gate entries, a passerelle centered within the station, and 60-metre expansions at the station’s east and west ends. The expansions feature

expressive curvilinear trusses over the existing guideway. These minimize and strategically position the support columns, allowing unimpeded pedestrian flow to the floor levels below.

APEGBC members, Translink: Mark Minson, P.Eng., Jennifer MacLean, P.Eng.; Fast + Epp (structural consultant): Duane Palibroda, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., Brian Seo, P. Eng.; AES Engineering (electrical consultant): Ahmet Ulker, P.Eng., Phil O’Neill, P.Eng., Amrit Mahal, EIT; The AME Consulting Group (mechanical consultant): Zlatko Puljic, P.Eng., Jerry Chung, EIT, Eric Cresswell, EIT; MMM Group (civil consultant): Laurel Richl, P.Eng., Floris Van Weelderen, P.Eng.

Upgrades improve station capacity and accessibility

Every year, students from across the globe design and build unique single-seater open-wheel race cars for an international competition held by the Society of Automotive Engineers, at Michigan International Raceway, in Brooklynn, Michigan. Last year, the University of Victoria’s Formula Motorsport team raced their car to a 27th-place finish, making them the best team in Western Canada and second overall out of Canadian teams. The

driver of the car is the current team leader, Wilson Hay, a mechanical engineering student.

The car was built by a diverse group of undergraduates studying engineering and computer science. Team alumni have gone on to successful careers in the transportation industry.

APEGBC member: Dr. Stephanie Willerth, P.Eng.

Vehicle places 27th in international motorsport race



New hospitals achieve LEED Gold requirementsUnder the BC Ministry of Health’s North Island Hospitals Project, two new hospitals are being built to improve quality of healthcare for patients and increase capacity on Vancouver, BC. Both facilities are designed with environmental sustainability in mind.

Graham Design Builders LP partnered with Stantec Consulting to provide design and construction services for the acute-care facilities. Graham applied construction best practices and sustainable design criteria to achieve LEED Gold certification, promote environmental quality, and achieve the project schedule and cost baseline.

Design and construction methods on these two new CSA Z317.2-10– compliant, LEED Gold hospitals include a column-hung forming system for the main suspended floor slabs, chillers with exhaust-air heat-reclaim coils for heat recovery, outbreak control zones, systems for variable air volume, active gas scavenging, reverse osmosis, and clean-agent fire suppression. Post-disaster solutions include external hookups, dual incoming water feeds, 72-hour propane-fuel backup systems and emergency sanitary storage tanks.

APEGBC member, Graham Design Builders LP: Imtae Lee, P.Eng.

Brock Commons advances use of wood in tall buildings The UBC Brock Commons student residence sets new wood-construction standards by using advanced wood-based building systems and demonstrating use of wood in tall buildings. The timber superstructure of UBC Brock Commons is an innovative application of cross-laminated timber panels, which are point-supported on glulam columns, eliminating the need for beams. Offsite prefabrication of the structure, the building-envelope panels, the main roof panels, and some interior items facilitated fast erection in just over nine weeks.

At 53 metres and 18 storeys, UBC Brock Commons is currently the world’s tallest wood building. It provides 404 student residence beds, and each suite includes its own integrated kitchen facilities. The building has been designed to LEED Gold standard and is an integrated project delivery and building information modeling project, with build videos shared extensively in the industry.

APEGBC members, Fast+Epp (structural engineering, in conjunction with Acton Ostry Architects and Hermann Kaufmann Architekten): Paul Fast, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., Robert Jackson, EIT; ACC Structural Engineers: Bernhard Gafner, P.Eng. (at Fast+EPP during project); FP Innovations (structural lab testing): Paul Symons, P.Eng.; GeoPacific Consultants (geotechnical engineering): Michael Indelak, P.Eng., Steve Fofonoff, P.Eng., Peter Wittstock, EIT; GHL Consultants (fire and building code engineering): Andrew Harmsworth, P.Eng., Gary Chen, P.Eng.; Kamps Engineering (civil/utilities engineering): Michael Kamps, P.Eng.; RDH Building Engineering (building envelope engineering): Brian Hubbs, P.Eng., Graham Finch, P.Eng.; Read Jones Christofferson (structural peer review): Grant Newfield, P.Eng.; Stantec (mechanical engineering): Svetlana Vujic, P.Eng.; Urban One Builders (construction planning and management): Brent Olund, P.Eng. (photo: KK law)


The Coast Capital Head Office, dubbed “Help Headquarters” and located in Surrey, BC, encompasses seven above-ground and three underground levels to house offices, retail store space, a daycare, bank branch and cafeteria. This LEED Gold-registered building features numerous sustainability technologies such as heat-recovery ventilation, high-efficiency Aermec air-cooled chillers, low-flow water fixtures, lighting power–density reductions, and four-pipe fan coils with

electronically commutated motors that are connected to the City of Surrey district energy system.

The project’s guiding principles included a creative and accessible work environment, community connection, and environmental sustainability.

The Integral Group provided mechanical consulting services for this project.

APEGBC members, Integral Group: Jubin Jalili, P.Eng., Kenneth Ng, P.Eng. (photo credit: JuBin Jalili)

Building furthers corporation’s sustainability goals

Marine Gateway is a transit-oriented multi-use development containing office and residential space, retail and a cinema complex. Targeting LEED Gold certification, Marine Gateway features geothermal heating and cooling with an ambient heat–recovery energy loop, thermal mass, and sun-shading devices.

A key challenge for structural engineering consultant Glotman•Simpson involved fitting the development between two major transit hubs. The cinema

complex had to cantilever over one of these, and extremely limited space for load transfer was available. Choosing steel rather than traditional concrete in the cinema construction enabled the structural engineers to reduce the load considerably. This allowed much of the weight to transfer onto a single, elegant column.

APEGBC members, Glotman•Simpson Consulting Engineers (structural engineering): Micheál O’Keeffe, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., Neil Wilson, P.Eng.

Steel construction enables cantilevered cinema

Tsawwassen Mills mall features 111,000 square metres of retail space located on Tsawwassen First Nation lands on BC’s Highway 17. The mall’s design and construction addressed challenging soil conditions and a high water table, and achieved sustainable design goals.

Primary civil consultant Associated Engineering worked with developer and manager Ivanhoé Cambridge to develop the 75-hectare greenfield site. The project involved planning, design and construction of 32 lane-kilometres of municipal roads and highways, a 6,000-stall parking lot, 3.8 kilometres of water mains, 5.5 kilometres of sanitary force mains, 1.4 kilometres of storm sewers, 25 culverts, two drainage overshot gates, one drainage pumpstation upgrade, one pressure reducing–valve station, and three sanitary lift stations. Stormwater runoff is directed into rain gardens onsite and vegetated bioswales offsite, and is treated in oil/water separators before discharge. Sustainable design features resulted in a net increase in the quality and area of natural habitat.

APEGBC members, Associated Engineering: Helen Chan, P.Eng., Shaun Bidulka, P.Eng.; InterCAD Services: Stephen Clinton, P.Eng.

Sustainable design leads to net increase in habitat quality



School becomes the first base-isolated building in CanadaVancouver’s Lord Strathcona Elementary School is one of British Columbia’s oldest, continuously operating schools. Three heritage buildings, to continue to be used as school buildings in the future, were assessed as having high seismic risk. Ausenco was contracted to design the seismic upgrades. Two buildings were upgraded using conventional upgrading methods—one externally, one internally. The third building— a load-bearing, unreinforced brick and stone building built in 1897—was upgraded using base-isolation technology.

This is the first time base isolation has been applied to a building in Canada. The upgrade completely separates the structure above the isolation plane (yellow line in photo) from that below, with the school’s upper floors now connected to the basement walls and columns by only 30 isolators, devices that ‘soften’ the response and dissipate energy during earthquakes. Perimeter load-bearing stone walls were saw cut, and flat-jacks were used to transfer the vertical load to the isolators.

The work conserved the building’s exterior heritage aspects and will enable the building to be used immediately after an earthquake.

Projects elsewhere in the world have typically used below-grade, below-foundation isolation planes in buildings. This project shows applying an above-ground, mid-structure isolation plane is cost-effective.

APEGBC members, Ausenco: John Sherstobitoff, P.Eng., Sebastian Guerrero, P.Eng., Ramin Latifi-Naeini, P.Eng., Danny Yu, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., Reza Mousavi-Jarrahi, P.Eng., Aref Arefnia, P. Eng., Amir Afrasiabi Garekani, EIT, Miguel Fraino-Gonzalez, EIT

Shoring supported three storeys of walls without touching main floor aDB Engineering provided temporary structure engineering during restoration of the Vancouver School Board’s Lord Strathcona Elementary School. The team designed custom shoring to support three storeys of brick walls so that the main floor could be removed and a new slab could be poured. To accomplish this, the team designed a system to hold up the second and attic floors and the roof loads without touching the main floor for support.

Custom hollow structural section (HSS) shoring posts that bore on specific concrete footings were used to support the second floor. The attic floor was shored using regular reusable, rentable items from an equipment supplier. Wall uniformity was ensured by bolting horizontal and vertical members to the existing brace walls, thereby supporting

both the brick wall and the lattice work of support members. The main support system was laterally supported by using horizontal and diagonal struts anchored into the new footings.

APEGBC members, Sean Dingley, P.Eng., Andrew Boettcher, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., Arben Gashi, P.Eng. v



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Yellowhammer construction. Frequent rain days and the excessively wet site conditions created difficulties for even the massive earth-moving machines, and delayed construction.

The client and developer were informed of the situation, which allowed stakeholders an opportunity to adjust their expectations and confirm the priorities. They could either accept potential delays in the project schedule or allot additional funds to avoid extensive delays. Meanwhile, the project team’s upper management searched for solutions. All parties agreed to a decision to add lime and kiln dust to the oversaturated subgrade to reduce its moisture content and allow production to continue. Lime helped the excessive water in the soils to evaporate, while kiln dust offset the overall water content of the soils by increasing dry weight.

The additions proved effective and, by slightly bumping up the daily productivity, the project saw no delays in the overall schedule.

When lime and kiln dust were placed on the over-saturated ground, they produced a cloud of white–grey dust, which expanded and migrated depending on the wind. Lime can irritate the eyes and skin on contact.

At one time, when a load of lime was deposited, a gust of wind blew a plume of lime dust around a nearby field engineer. Despite the safety procedures in place and his wearing personal protective equipment, including sealed safety goggles, his safety was at risk. Field personnel reacted quickly to get into the engineer’s truck and drive him away, preventing further harm.

The occurrence was reported to the field crew lead and was brought to the attention of the project supervisors and health and safety supervisors.

As a result, a protocol of a minimum required safe distance was introduced immediately to prevent similar events. The new required distance applied not just to the lime/kiln-dust truck drivers but to everyone working in the field. Prior notification via radio before placing lime also was added to the safety protocol.


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“I was amazed at the level of plan-ning, spirit and dedication of all teams in Canstruction,” said APEGBC President, Timothy Smith PGeo EngL and Canstruction® 2007 juror, “I am very proud of our pro-fession’s strong contribution to Canstruction and look forward to an even bigger sweep of the awards in 2010. Even though we won the Engineers versus Architects chal-lenge, the real winner here is the food bank.”


VANCOUVER KELOWNA SANTIAGO LIMA RENO

A Critical RequirementThe amount and size of the construction equipment used, the experience of the operators and supervisors, and the decisions by the project management team contributed to the successful completion of Project Yellowhammer, but the integration of effective communication at all levels along the chain of command made it possible.

Effective communication is a critical requirement in every successful project. Each project must cultivate a culture of effective communication to benefit clear understanding, team chemistry, trust, and project quality and efficiency. v

Michael Yuan is a Geotechnical Engineer in the Stantec Burnaby Geotech team. He acknowledges the contributions of Stantec Project Manager for Project Yellowhammer Jay Mazzoni and Stantec Engineer Field Crew Lead for Project Yellowhammer Tim Morton, P.Eng., to the project.


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geotechnical or construction firm to successfully contract out of decennial liability and other forms of strict liability, but some engineers and geoscientist professional liability insurers in Canada and London can modify the firms’ global annually renewable professional liability policies for work in regions with some form of civil liability.

If such modification is available, the coverage is generally granted by policy endorsement and by way of a scheduled project list. (Coverage for TPA and CCPA requirements can easily be arranged in the local Australian professional liability marketplace.)

Achieving Compliance in Foreign MarketsIn Canada, engineering, geotechnical and construction firms are accustomed to providing evidence of professional liability with “each claim/aggregate” limit requirements. But foreign contracts often call for evidence of professional liability with “any one claim” limit requirements.

As most Canadian insurers are restricted from offering this “un-aggregated” coverage, many firms elect to purchase a “top and drop” layer of coverage, which responds when a claim has depleted the underlying tower of insurance and allows for the policy to be subsequently triggered on an “any one claim” basis, subject to the limit of the “top and drop” layer. This coverage is available for projects located outside of Canada.

Many territories also require firms to provide evidence of professional liability insurance written through local admitted insurers in order to comply contractually with local/compulsory requirements unique to the specific country. There are multiple solutions available to firms in this situation, ranging from securing a local “fronting policy” and using the global practice policy as reinsurance, to purchasing a separate local project policy, or using insurers who are admitted in a wider range of jurisdictions.

Finding the Right Insurance and Risk Management SolutionsFinding the right solutions—from modifying existing policies and adding new policies to securing local admitted insurance—requires expert knowledge of the construction industry and relationships in the global insurance marketplace.

Managing professional liability risk and contractual compliance across multiple jurisdictions can be a difficult process. To build an effective insurance and risk management program, engineering, geotechnical and construction firms should work closely with their insurance advisers to identify all applicable codes and statutes in the countries in which they operate. Even if the law of the contract is not the law of the country where the project site is situated, Canadian firms must still be aware of these liabilities. v

Marsh provides insurance services as part of APEGBC’s Member Affinity Program. With engineer insurance advisors and placement specialists serving clients in more than 100 countries around the world, Marsh can help members navigate the global landscape and thrive as they expand their global footprint. For information, contact:

Marsh Canada Limited - VancouverBenjamin Kent Direct 604.692. 4838Email [email protected]

Rob Selnes Direct 604.443.3535Email [email protected]

Marsh Canada Limited - CalgaryAngus SmithDirect 403.476.3472Email [email protected]

Marsh is one of the Marsh & McLennan Companies, together with Guy Carpenter, Mercer, and Oliver Wyman. Copyright © 2017 Marsh Inc. All rights reserved.

The opinions contained in this article are those of Marsh and not necessarily those of APEGBC. This article is not intended to be taken as advice regarding any individual situation and should not be relied upon as such. Any statements concerning actuarial, tax, accounting, or legal matters are based solely on Marsh’s experience as insurance brokers and risk consultants and are not to be relied upon as actuarial, accounting, tax, or legal advice, for which you should consult your own professional advisors.



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c l a s s i f i e d s

membersh ipIN MEMORIAMThe Association announces with regret the passing

of the following members:C.A. Aird, P.Eng.,

Vancouver, BC

E.M. Baird, P.Eng., Burnaby, BC

W.H. Blakeston, Abbotsford, BC

O. Bot, P.Eng., Castlegar, BC

P.M. Butler, P.Eng., Victoria, BC

F. Campbell, P.Eng., St. Alberta, AB

D.P. Dodge, P.Eng., Langley, BC

G.J. Donnelly, P.Eng.

K.H. Engelhardt, P.Eng., Vancouver, BC

I.W. Hargreaves, P.Eng., North Vancouver, BC

P.R. Holland, P.Eng., Nakusp, BC

B. Houlden, P.Eng., Kelowna, BC

A.D. Huffman, P.Eng., Sidney, BC

J.E. Hughes, P.Eng., Victoria, BC

D.R.O. Lennox, P.Eng., Nanaimo, BC

A.C. Mullen, P.Eng., West Vancouver, BC

R.F. Murfitt, P.Eng., Nanaimo, BC

T.P. O’Connor, P.Eng.

L.A. Paul, P.Eng., Surrey, BC

R.C.W. Smyth, P.Eng., Cork, Ireland

M.H. Tromp, P.Eng., Victoria, BC

J.H. Van Wijlen, P.Eng., Beaconsfield, QC

G.K. Vanslyke, P.Eng., Victoria, BC

G.L. Wilcox, P.Eng., Vancouver, BC

LIFE MEMBERSThe following members have been granted Life Membership under Bylaw 10(c1)B.O. Andersson,

P.Eng., FEC G.S. Hsu, P.Eng.C.V. Kartha, P.Eng.P.S. Lotay, P.Eng.A.K. Mak, P.Eng.B.A. Slim, P.Eng.D.M. Thompson,

P.Eng. v

ACO Systems Ltd -------------------------- 18

Aptech Technical Services ----------------- 14

Dentons -------------------------------------- 24

Manulife ------------------------------------- 64

McElhanney --------------------------------- 9

New York Institute of Technology -------- 22

Nilex ----------------------------------------- 25

Norton Rose Fullbright --------------------- 6

Oyen Wiggs --------------------------------- 23

Park Insurance ------------------------------ 5

PREDLsystems ------------------------------ 2

RST Instruments ---------------------------- 17

SHK Law Corporation ---------------------- 16

Singleton Urquhart LLP -------------------- 18

Thurber Engineering ----------------------- 7

University of British Columbia ------------ 58

University of Victoria --------------------- 16

Weiler Smith Bowers ----------------------- 7


Improvements to Volunteer OnboardingAPEGBC is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment that values and respects diversity, both within our organization and in our larger community.

In the 2015 APEGBC Volunteer Engagement Survey, our volunteers indicated they wanted a more consistent orientation process. Based on that feedback, we have improved our onboarding process for volunteers to ensure they have the resources they need to feel welcome and succeed in their volunteer position. In addition to

receiving a standardized welcome package, volunteers now also receive a link to our new volunteer guidelines on our website. The guidelines describe APEGBC’s mission, vision and values, as well as our commitments to our volunteers. In addition, the guidelines ask for a commitment from volunteers in several critical areas, including confidentiality, professionalism, respectfulness and accountability. The guidelines strive to ensure our volunteers function in a safe environment and have the resources and

support they need to be successful in their role. All volunteers, including existing volunteers, are asked to read through these guidelines to ensure they understand how best to function as an APEGBC volunteer.

Our new onboarding process will help ensure we maintain a welcoming and inclusive environment where our volunteers are comfortable learning and developing their skills, confident in sharing their expertise, open to meeting new people, and successful in building their professional networks.

communi t y

Science Spotlight Outreach Initiative

• Agassiz• Vernon

• Victoria• Oyama

• Revelstoke• Chilliwack

• Hope• West Kelowna

Learn more about APEGBC’s partnership with BC libraries and how to volunteer: apeg.bc.ca/Sci-Spotlight-vol-call

Foundation Supports Tomorrow’s ProfessionalsThe APEG Foundation supports BC’s engineering and geoscience future by providing scholarships and bursaries to students enrolled in related studies at BC post-secondary institutions. Thanks to community-minded individuals who generously contribute, the Foundation's program expands each year.

This year, the Sheri Plewes Scholarships for Women in Engineering, valued at $2,000,

was awarded to Julia Lenton (Left). The Frank Baumann Bursary, valued at $1,500, was awarded to Uzair Farooqi (Right). The recipients were selected from among a large pool of high-calibre candidates, and the Foundation congratulates them on their well-earned award.

Julia Lenton, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student at the University of British Columbia – Okanagan, has volunteered as vice president and executive secretary of UBC’s Okanagan Campus Aero Club, which builds unmanned aerial vehicles. She is passionate about promoting the enrolment, success, and employment of women in engineering—as part of a GoENG Girl event, she introduced girls in grades 6–9 to engineering disciplines though lab tours and hands-on activities. She also volunteered for the university’s Women in Engineering “Introduce a Girl to Engineering” event to encourage female high school students to enroll in the Faculty of Applied Science.

Uzair Farooqi is finishing his third-year in British Columbia

Institute of Technology’s new Mining and Mineral Resource Engineering program. Aside from his school work, Uzair volunteers at meetings to provide support and guidance to prospective students by sharing his experiences, knowledge about the program, and study tips. He is passionate about the outdoors and loves to hike, camp, snowboard, bike, and play sports. Uzair is eager to begin his career

by working at a mine site to gain hands-on experience. His ultimate career goal is to become a consultant to share his expertise with mining companies.

The APEG Foundation offers scholarships throughout the year for high school graduates and post-secondary students. To find a list of scholarships currently accepting applications, visit apeg.bc.ca/scholarships.

Seeking Volunteers Registration and Expert Review CommitteesAPEGBC seeks volunteers for its various Registration and Expert Review committees. These featured volunteer roles are critical to the application process of prospective members. In particular, the association needs qualified member–volunteers for the following roles:

• Registration Competency Assessors

• Registration Interviewers

• Registration Fairness Panel Expert Reviewer (Mining Discipline)

• Registration Reviewers – Board of Examiners

Visit apeg.bc.ca/Volunteer-Registration-Committees for information and to apply.

APEGBC is partnering with three regional library networks in BC to engage local students in engineering and geoscience. To support this new outreach initiative, we are looking for volunteers in or near the following cities:


communi t y

APEGBC hosted another successful National Engineering and Geoscience Month (NEGM) this year. The theme was “My ideas make a difference.”

During the month, APEGBC and our branches around the province organized family-oriented events, including Engineering and Geoscience Fest, popsicle stick bridge building contests, Science Games and Dig Day. In addition, we partnered with Science World to promote

IMAX's engineering documentary Dream Big and TRIUMF Labs to host public tours.

APEGBC and the Applied Science Technology and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) held a drawing contest for kids ages 4 to 12. Kids were asked to draw a picture of an invention that would make a difference in someone’s life. APEGBC thanks all 150 participants. To view all the winning drawing contest submissions, visit apeg.bc.ca/NEGM.

Innovative discoveries and technologies can make a difference in the world—from smart phones to energy efficiency, to new and safer ways to travel. All possibilities start with just one idea, and that idea can make a difference to society and to our lives. Professional engineers and geoscientists truly make a difference.

To view more NEGM events and photos by APEGBC branches, visit apeg.bc.ca /2017-NEGM-branch-events.

National Engineering and Geoscience Month Wraps Up

Richmond/Delta Branch held its annual Science and Engineering Fair and Popsicle Stick Bridge Building Competition at the Richmond Public Library’s Brighouse Library, March 4.

leFt: East Kootenay Branch members assisted at a spaghetti bridge building competition at the College of the Rockies in Cranbrook, BC, and visited the grade 3–4 class at St. Mary’s Elementary School in Cranbrook. right: Peace River Branch’s annual Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition drew a crowd that filled a set of gymnasium bleachers at Fort St. John’s Dr. Kearney Middle School, on March 11.


Behind the Scenes at an NEGM EventThe Final Hours Unfold Before Tri-City Branch’s Annual Popsicle Stick Bridge Building Competition

Karen Chan, P.Eng., Jane Guo, P.Eng.

April 8, 2017 – After more than three months of planning, the Big Day has finally arrived. Tri-City Branch is holding its annual NEGM Popsicle Stick Bridge Building Competition.

Jane Guo, P.Eng., 2016/2017 Chair of Tri-City Branch, reviews her "to do" list. She has updated it continually since planning began. Like all APEGBC branches, Tri-City Branch relies on dedicated to make events like this happen. Her list details each volunteer’s responsibilities at this event.

Jane counts 20 volunteers* on the list, including three former Tri-City Branch chairs. Cam, Stella and Gloria each

have led NEGM popsicle stick bridge building competitions before. This year, the organizing committee relied heavily on Cam’s brochure, rulebook, and construction tips. An FAQ website also saved time by anticipating and responding to questions from parents, contestants, teachers and sponsors.

Jane thinks of Inn, who spent hours contacting School District 43 and teachers, assembling bridge building kits, obtaining sponsorship pledges, and managing event email inquiries. He also distributed the kits to participating schools. Thanks to Sarah and Dan, the branch’s school outreach

coordinators, many entries this year are supported by teachers. Through her neighbor, Sarah connected with SNAPD and The Tri-City News to promote the NEGM event to community organizations, including Under the GUI – Coding for Kids, Science Al!ve at SFU, Robokids and UME Academy.

Coquitlam Library employees at City Centre Branch have also been awesome, Jane thinks. They helped pre-register participants and held bridge kits for pickup by contestants.

* Sarah Alloisio, P.Geo., Ovi Almasan, P.Eng., Anett Briggs, P.Geo., Karen Chan, P.Eng., Stella Chiu, P.Eng., Ana Coady, P.Eng., Doru Cornescu, P.Eng., Jing Du, P.Eng., Cam Finnigan, P.Eng., Jane Guo, P.Eng., Christopher Homes, P.Geo., Michael Jewett, EIT,

Lenka Kral, P.Eng., Gloria Kwong, EIT, Dan Meldrum, P.Eng., Michael Meslin, EIT, Sean O’Sullivan, P.Eng., Yue (Michael) Qiu, P.Eng., Inn Tang, P.Eng., Stefanie Teo, EIT, Owen Wou.


communi t y

Jane notices Ovi’s arrival. He will assemble the bridge tester on loan from WSP and set up the computer recorder. The day before, he and Jane visited WSP’s Richmond office to learn how to assemble the heavy rigs. Doru will return them to WSP tomorrow. Because many contestants and parents at last year’s event felt weighing and testing the bridges took too long, the Tri-City Branch NEGM team has arranged for two test rigs this year. Operators standing by!

Jing, who has just flown back from a construction project in Fort Nelson, BC, mentions last year’s glitch with the electronics, and shows Mike J., Mike M. and Owen how to work the testers.

Dr. Brian Chapell, Douglas College’s Dean of Faculty of Science and Technology, has arranged the event’s projectors, screens, and microphones. Brian is a keen supporter of the Tri-City Branch and its NEGM event—today marks the fifth year the college’s Coquitlam campus has hosted the popsicle stick bridge building competition.

Jane introduces Lenka to Brian. Lenka has drafted a detailed floor plan showing where the sponsorship and judges’ tables are to be set up. Mitsubishi Electric, the event’s largest financial supporter this year, has a prominent display. Lafarge Concrete also has a display table. Sean, who works for the City of Coquitlam and has just arrived, has collected donations from his co-workers at the city’s engineering department to support the event, while Michael Q. also obtained pledges for funds from Suncor.

The volunteers are now all onsite. Gloria is laying out certificates and setting up the helium tank for balloons. Ana and Stefanie are organizing the branch’s display table. The rock plaques that Dan designed and had made to commemorate the event really seem to rock with the kids! Jane, Inn and Stella will judge entries for the “most creative design” award.

But wait!—The opening slide show has started. Anett organized

some Tri-City Branch NEGM photos to begin the celebrations.

Cam holds a microphone, ready to begin his commentary on each bridge as stress loads are added to determine its strength.

“Things are going just fine,” Jane reassures herself, as she and Brian step forward to begin their opening speeches. “Let the games begin—We have 128 bridges to break!”

A YEAR canCHANGE

EVERYTHING

mel.ubc.ca


Sea to Sky Branch Tour Introduces Members to North Shore GeologyDr. Mahmoud Mahmoud, P.Eng., FEC, Brooke Clements, P.Geo.

On September 24, 2016, more than 20 professional engineers and geoscientists and others took part in the Sea to Sky Branch–organized Tour and Introduction to the Geology of the North Shore, led by Lindsay Bottomer, P.Geo., FGC. Bottomer has travelled the world exploring for base metals and gold and has long been a dedicated APEGBC volunteer.

The seven-hour field trip included stops at Pilot House in Caulfield, the Cypress Mountain lookout point, Capilano River Regional Park, and the Cleveland Dam.

Among the tour’s highlights, we viewed an amphibolite outcrop at Pilot House. The amphibolite, at 135 million years old, is the oldest-known rock in the Vancouver area. The same outcrop also

contains 30-million-year-old volcanic rocks—covering 100 million years of geologic time in one outcrop—as well as igneous dykes and a fault. Bottomer explained that the rocks were once buried 12 kilometres below the surface, and he showed us how geologists interpret rocks to determine age relationships. A keen participant spotted epidotes—lime-green minerals— embedded in cavities within the granitic rock.

At the Cypress Mountain lookout point, we reviewed the geologic history of the Vancouver area. We learned that the Georgia Basin was formed about 65 million years ago, when it began filling with sediments that turned to sandstone and conglomerate, and that

the basin continues to receive sediments deposited in river deltas.

When we hiked along the Capilano River Valley, near the Cleveland Dam, we saw evidence that the valley was filled by a glacial lake 40,000 years ago. The evidence took the form of lake sediments, the age of which has been determined by analyzing the pollen trapped within them. We were shown thin layers of sediment—called varves—that represent annual sediment deposition.

Everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy the tour, and was happy for the day spent on this professional development activity, which can be tracked under the “formal” category within APEGBC’s CPD reporting and recording guidelines.

Symposium Explores Canadian Ship Design for Dual-Fueled LNG FerriesJohn Morgan, P.Eng., FEC

On March 16, APEGBC’s Sea to Sky Branch and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers’ Pacific Northwest division presented a symposium on Canadian ship design for dual-fueled liquid natural gas (LNG)–propulsion ferries. Eighty members

attended the joint presentation. The presenters comprised experts

on LNG ship design, construction, and fleet handling.

Tony Vollmers, P.Eng., is Vard Marine Inc.’s lead mechanical engineer for the Canadian polar icebreaker project, the Royal Canadian Navy Arctic and offshore patrol vessel concept design, the US Coast Guard offshore patrol cutter project, and the current Chilean icebreaker design. He is also involved in the Société des traversiers du Québec’s 94-metre ferries being built by Davie, Harvey Gulf ’s LNG platform supply vessel, Seaspan’s dual-fuel trailer ferry, and the ongoing BC Ferries Spirit Class LNG conversion. Tony introduced the symposium attendees to the latest information about using LNG in ferry fuel systems, including existing safety assessments and integration of onshore and shipboard system requirements. He also outlined how standards for on-deck refueling and in-

ship storage are developing in concert with the design process.

BC Ferries Corporation’s Director of Engineering Services Greg Peterson provided an overview of the feasablity evaluation and decision making process to choose LNG. He then discussed the new LNG ferries going into service, the mid-life refit of the Spirit Class ferries, and the training that is required for employees at all levels because of the use of LNG fuel on ferries. With 27 years at BC Ferries, Greg’s experience includes maintenance and engineering projects, technical investigations, environment management, and regulatory regimes.

Calum McClure, P.Eng., who has more than 15 years of experience working on LNG projects and served with Teekay Corporation—which owns the world’s second-largest independently owned LNG fleets—reviewed transportation, storage vessels, safe handling and training for LNG-fuel handling for gas release and fire suppression in Canada. v


Brian Chow, P.Eng., Dr. Dave Spittlehouse, P.Ag., Dr. Francis Zwiers, Kathy Hopkins, RPF, Harshan Radhakrishnan, P.Eng., Lee DesLauriers, P.Eng., Dr. Matthias Jakob, P.Geo., Megan Hanacek, RPF, RPBio, Dr. Paul Whitfield

British Columbia’s hydrological cycles are changing, and many resource professionals are grappling with the implications for design of bridges, culverts and other structures. Design flood hydrology is already complex, but climate change will make it more so.

APEGBC recently hosted a workshop on design flood hydrology for BC’s natural resource professionals. Funded by Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations and supported by the Association of BC Forest Professionals, the workshop addressed climate change–induced variations in precipitation patterns, resulting flood hydrology, and steep-creek processes.

More than 140 professionals explored issues related to terrain stability and the design and maintenance of natural resource infrastructure. They viewed presentations, reviewed case studies and discussed strategies for improving the robustness of natural resource infrastructure in a changing climate, gaining insight into current understanding of possible future changes to hydrology and potential impacts to natural resource infrastructure, as well as into current

resource-industry practices. They also discussed possible changes to design f low requirements under the Forest and Range Practices Act and dealing with hydrologic non-stationarity.

Information, Tools and Guidance NeededParticipants identified information, tools and guidance needed to effectively address changing climate in structure design. These included more LIDAR data to understand the geomorphology, climate change–based intensity–duration–frequency (IDF) curves, a tool for quantifying risk of debris floods, policy, practice guidelines, rules of thumb for scaling culvert designs, metrics for changes to run-off coefficients, information about experimental basins, and watershed models.

Next StepsIt became clear that best-available science includes a great deal of climate information to help advance understanding of the potential effects of climate change on design flood hydrology. Close collaboration between hydrologists, geomorphologists, meteorologists, climatologists, and owners of natural

resource infrastructure is critical to determining the design, operations and maintenance strategies that will be useful in addressing risks, costs and benefits in infrastructure design. Climate change will add one additional component of uncertainty for the design of structures on small and typically steep creeks. Reliably quantifying other uncertainties inherent in ungauged basins is also important. In this context, changes in hydroclimatic extremes, rather than annual means, are key.

Updates to the Climate Change Information PortalAPEGBC has updated its Climate Change Information Portal to include more resources for professional engineers and geoscientists in the natural resources sector who are actively involved in design f lood hydrology. In addition, APEGBC offers members professional development opportunities and guidelines to support members in their consideration of climate change in their professional practice.

Visit the Climate Change Information Portal, apeg.bc.ca/climateportal, for more information about the workshop.

pract ice

Design Flood Hydrology Under a Changing Climate


New Guidelines Available for Riparian Area Assessments and Flood MappingProfessional Practice Guidelines – Legislated Riparian Area Assessments in British Columbia provide guidance and establish the standard of practice when carrying out riparian assessments consistent with BC’s Riparian Areas Regulation.

The guidelines clarify issues around carrying out riparian assessments, including matters related to the respective roles and responsibilities of various registered professionals involved in a riparian assessment. Residential, commercial, industrial, and other development activities can directly affect nearby aquatic habitats. Legislation requires that a riparian assessment be completed by a Qualified Environmental Professional before a development permit can be issued for work in that area. Although assessment methods had

been appended to the Riparian Areas Regulation, until now professional practice guidelines for riparian assessments had not been available.

APEGBC, the Association of BC Forest Professionals (ABCFP) and the College of Applied Biology (CAB) produced the guidelines, with input from the BC Institute of Agrologists, and the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC). APEGBC, ABCFP and CAB are working to provide related training opportunities later this year.

Flooding Mapping in BC Professional Practice Guidelines – Flooding Mapping in BC provide guidance on professional practice for APEGBC members who prepare flood maps for river, creek and coastal flooding in BC. The guidelines describe the standard of care APEGBC members

should follow in providing professional services related to this professional activity, and specify the tasks APEGBC members should perform to fulfill their professional obligations.

The f lood mapping guidelines were developed with support of the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure – Emergency Management BC.

Professionals carrying out riparian area assessments or flood mapping in BC need to be aware of their obligations regarding the appropriate standard of care for this work, and are urged to familiarize themselves with these professional practice guidelines.

Find the guidelines at apeg.bc.ca/guidelines. For information, contact an APEGBC professional practice advisor, at [email protected]

OQM Organizational QualityManagement Program

The following organizations have recently received OQM Certification. Find out more at apeg.bc.ca/oqm.

ABM Engineering ServicesBEST Consultants Building

Science Engineering Inc.CH2M HILL Canada LimitedFWS Group of CompaniesInterior Dams Inc.NEXT Environmental Inc.NRS Engineering Ltd.Starline Windows Ltd.Tetra Tech Canada Inc.

Introduction of the Energy Step Code as an Amendment to the BC Building CodePeter Mitchell, P.Eng., Susan Hayes, P.Eng., Harshan Radhakrishnan, P.Eng.

Effective April 7, 2017, the BC Energy Step Code has been introduced as an amendment to the 2012 BC Building Code (BCBC). The BC Energy Step Code is a voluntary compliance path within the BCBC (via new Subsections 9.36.6. and 10.2.3. of Division B) that establishes progressive performance targets (or steps) to support transformation from the current energy-efficiency requirements in the BC Building Code to net zero energy–ready buildings by 2032.

On December 15, 2017, section 5 of the Building Act will require local governments wishing to set higher energy-efficiency standards than those in the BCBC to do so using the BC Energy Step Code, while current local government bylaws with technical building requirements will be rendered of no legal force. The Energy Step Code will apply to new residential construction province-wide, and to multi-unit and commercial buildings

in the Lower Mainland, on southern Vancouver Island, and in the south Okanagan. It enables building owners to voluntarily build to the requirements in the BC Energy Step Code or be incentivized or required to do so under local government bylaws and policies.

The Building and Safety Standards Branch is consulting with APEGBC and AIBC regarding the revisions to Letters of Assurance under the BCBC as a result of this amendment. Guidance will be provided on their use through a bulletin and practice guidelines for whole building energy modelling services, both now being developed. Additional education materials and training opportunities will be available from APEGBC and the Energy Step Code Council in coming months. v

Resources are available at www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/construction-industry/building-codes-standards/energy-efficiency/energy-step-code.

discip l ine and enforcement


Disciplinary Notice: Daniel Lu-Chin Wu, P. Eng., Burnaby, BCA Notice of Inquiry was issued to Mr. Wu regarding his mechanical engineering services. In lieu of proceeding to a disciplinary inquiry, Mr. Wu agreed to a Consent Order dated February 17, 2017. By way of the Consent Order, Mr. Wu admitted that he demonstrated unprofessional conduct by providing a written assurance through a sealed Schedule B to the City of Surrey that a fire suppression system complied with the requirements of the British Columbia Building Code when Mr. Wu lacked reasonable and factual basis to provide the assurance. Further, Mr. Wu admitted that he affixed his APEGBC seal and signature to design drawings that he had not prepared or were not prepared under his direct supervision.

As part of the Consent Order, Mr. Wu agreed to the following:A. Mr. Wu’s membership in APEGBC will be suspended

for two months;

B. Mr. Wu will complete the APEGBC Professional Engineering and Geoscience Practice in BC Online Seminar by May 15, 2017;

C. Mr. Wu will complete the APEGBC Working in Canada Seminar by May 15, 2017; and

D. if Mr. Wu does not complete the requirements set out at items B and C above, Mr. Wu’s membership in APEGBC will be automatically suspended.

The full text of the Consent Order agreed to by Mr. Wu can be found on our website at https://www.apeg.bc.ca/For-Members/Complaints/Disciplinary-Actions

Find information on the association’s complaint, investigation and discipline process at apeg.bc.ca/For-Members/Complaints. You can also contact us at 604.412.4869 or toll-free at 1.888.430.8035 ext. 4869 or by email at [email protected].

By the Numbers Organizations that employ APEGBC professionals significantly influence the practice of the professions. To encourage members’ employer to implement policies and procedures that are consistent with the quality management requirements of the Engineers and Geoscientists Act, APEGBC provides the Organizational Quality Management (OQM) Program to improve quality management practices at the individual and organizational levels. The voluntary program includes certification for organizations.

143 firmsundergoingcertification

240certified BC engineering/geoscience

firms

298

97

248certification

audits

57complianceaudits

# certification audits and compliance audits performed

under OQM. Certification audits occur when organizations

apply for certification. Compliance audits occur after

certification to encourage ongoing compliance with the

program’s quality management requirements.# engineering and geoscience

firms certified and undergoing certification under OQM

Use of Seal

Guidelines

Checking

Retention ofdocumentationOther

The five most common quality management issues identified during OQM compliance audits

i n n o v a t i o n M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 7 63

APEGBC Continuing Professional Development Personal Investment. Professional Commitment.

Call for PresentersAre you an expert in your field who would like to contribute to the future of engineering and geoscience? APEGBC is actively seeking members to present on a variety of topics. For more information, please visit apeg.bc.ca/Events/Seminar.For a complete listing of events or for more information, visit apeg.bc.ca/prodev/events or contact

APEGBC Professional Development at 604.430.8035 or 1.888.430.8035.

Intermediate and Advanced Google Earth TechniquesMay 16, 2017; Castlegar, BCThis seminar shows you how to make better use of your spatial data and documentary photos and to create more professional-looking Google Earth content. Learn how to keep your data and photos more organized, accessible, and useful to yourself and your intended audience.

Webinar: Marketing and Selling Professional ServicesJune 1, 2017This workshop has proven to be an extremely powerful and practical learning experience for all customer contact people. This course covers creating and communicating value, client-centered selling, strategic selling, building and maintaining client relationships, and state-of-the-art tactical selling skills.

Technical Writing: Solutions for Effective Written CommunicationJune 1, 2017; Vancouver, BCThis seminar provides practical, applicable solutions, and techniques for how to express your thoughts succinctly in written format. Through a series of hands-on workshops, you’ll learn to write effective emails, technical memos, letters, reports, and other documents. Whether you’re a junior employee or a seasoned professional in your technical field, this seminar will help you to improve your technical writing skills.

OQM Certification Training SessionJune 6, 2017; Kelowna, BCJune 19, 2017; Burnaby, BCAPEGBC’s Organizational Quality Management (OQM) Program improves the quality management of profes-sional engineering and geoscience practices at the indi-vidual and organizational level. This voluntary program offers certification to participating organizations. The OQM Program offers organizations employing APEGBC professionals the opportunity to implement or adapt in-house quality management policies and procedures consistent with the requirements of the Engineers and Geoscientists Act and Bylaws.

Geofilters: Granular and GeotextileJune 7, 2017; Prince Rupert, BCIn this course, you will learn to develop an under-standing of the fundamental concepts that govern the design of filters in geotechnical applications; identify the nature and limitations of empiricism in design practice; and, to illustrate, with reference to the state-of-practice in embankment dam engineering,

the sensible application of empirical rules and their verification by means of laboratory tests described in the technical literature.

Webinar: Five Dimensions of an Authentic LeaderJune 8, 2017Now more than ever, individuals at work want a leader whom they can trust—someone whose values and character they can identify with. In short, they want to be lead by a person who is genuine. The most impactful leaders demonstrate a passion for their purpose—they are driven by vision and connected to their values, while still being able to share their own weaknesses and fears. Authentic leaders have the privilege to be really transformational leaders who can motivate other people to leave their mark.

Fundamentals of Power System Protection June 12–15, 2017; Vancouver, BCThis course introduces the subject of power system protection to enable engineers to understand techniques of applying and setting protective relays. It covers short circuit analysis, symmetrical components, overcurrent protection, distribution system protection, differential protection and transformer protection. In addition, transmission line protection is discussed.

Value by Design – Integrating Value Engineering and Sustainability June 15, 2017; Vancouver, BCValue by Design is a collaborative and systematic approach to a project or product design that draws out creativity and innovation of the people integrating their ideas to develop the most efficient and value enhanced solutions.

Introduction to Business WritingJune 21, 2017; Vancouver, BCThis seminar is for engineers and geoscientists who wish to improve their writing skills. Through a series of hands-on workshops, along with a focus on grammar and related writing principles, you will learn the key elements of busi-ness and technical communications for the workplace. We’ll look at grammar from a pragmatic perspective to develop your skills to write clearly and succinctly.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Qualified PersonJune 22, 2017; Vancouver, BCInvolvement of a Qualified Person in preparing public disclosure on mining projects is a fundamental principle of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The naming of Qualified Persons in disclosure documents to meet NI 43-101 and stock exchange policies can create ongoing

obligations for those individuals to provide written consent for the use of their reports and opinions in later filings under Canadian and US securities regulations. Qualified Persons are then exposed to civil liability under securities law as experts when they provide their written consent.

Seismic Retrofit Guidelines Third Edition (SRG3)June 22, 2017; Vancouver, BC and WebinarThe SRG3 workshop provides training on the new edition of the Seismic Retrofit Guidelines and the updated Seismic Performance Analyzer (Analyzer 1 Version 3.0). The work-shop provides an overview of the 11 volumes contained within the Manual for SRG3. Importantly, SRG3 considers the effects of the new ground motions developed for the National Building Code of Canada 2015.

NAFTA Requirement for Working in the United StatesSeptember 27, 2017; Vancouver, BCHave you ever considered working in the United States (US) and are not sure how to begin? Under NAFTA law, certain professionals including engineers, geoscientists and engineering technicians can often obtain “Trade NAFTA” (TN) Visas to work in the US, once they receive an employment offer from an appropriate US employer. Alternatively, experienced professionals may be en-gaged as “consultants” under NAFTA rules and share their expertise with US-based businesses. This seminar reviews all viable US immigration options for Canadian and Mexican professionals.


2017 Annual Conference and AGMOctober 19–21, 2017; Whistler, BCThe 2017 APEGBC Annual Conference and AGM comprise two days of professional development, networking events, an industry tradeshow, and your association’s annual general meeting. Profes-sional development streams include engineering and geoscience in the resource sector, municipal engineering, environmental engineering and geoscience, emerging professional, management, structural, better business, energy efficiency and renewable energy, diversity, and climate change. For conference information and to register online, visit apeg.bc.ca/ac17.

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2016 | 2017 Project Highlights - Engineers and Geoscientists BC

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