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Month: October 2022

Revised Flood Hazard Map allows Village of Lebret to manage future land development and protect public safety

Posted on by Ryan (ODG)

The Village of Lebret is located 70 kilometres northeast of Regina, along Mission Lake in the picturesque Qu’Appelle Valley. Popular with tourists and cottage owners, Lebret is also home to residents and commercial developments. Heavy spring runoffs present an annual flooding threat to communities in the valley. High water levels and accompanying wave effects (wave setup and run-up) can present a significant flood risk. The most recent flood occurred in 2011 – a 1:100-year flood event. 

Lebret had a flood hazard map in place, developed by the provincial Water Security Agency (WSA) in 2013 to mitigate risk to citizens and property. The map defines and regulates land which cannot be developed (the floodway) and which can be developed, provided that certain measures are taken (the flood fringe). The result was only a relatively small flood fringe area within the Village’s jurisdiction could ever be developed.

Although appropriate methods were used at the time for flood hazard mapping, the Village felt the map needed updating to better delineate the flood fringe, which would protect public safety and property, and could allow for greater land development. In 2021, Lebret engaged Associated Engineering to develop a revised flood hazard plan using today’s advanced analysis and methodologies. 

Using coastal modelling techniques and wave analysis expertise supported developing a reliable flood hazard map

The prime project challenge was the tight timeline. The plan required a detailed bathymetric survey of the lake depths to be completed using a boat in November 2021, before lake freeze-up. All work, which was half funded by the WSA, had to be completed by March 31. The team had to proactively plan, quickly act, acquire information, and identify possible solutions for analysis without delay. The project required a collaborative relationship between the Village of Lebret and the WSA (a key regulatory stakeholder and funding agent). The timeline required that the regulatory approval process be streamlined, so the Associated Engineering team obtained buy-in on the process and results at every project meeting.

To complete the work, we used bathymetric readings, a LiDAR survey, wind and wave analysis, and the 1:100 and 1:500-year flood levels from the WSA. Working in collaboration with WSA, we adapted advanced coastal modelling techniques and leveraged our expertise in wave analysis to develop detailed, reliable flood hazard mapping.

Project Manager, Daryl Brown, shares, “To our knowledge, adoption of coastal technology and models for flood mapping – combining wind and wave action – has not previously been undertaken in the Prairies. This process was key to completing the work on time, with the desired level of accuracy and reliability. This innovative model where wave action is a consideration for public safety and property development can also be applied to other Prairie communities.”

Completed on time and on budget, the new flood hazard map provides Lebret with assurance of the areas that the community can securely develop, while protecting public safety.

Bridge replacement and environmental slope restoration of Edmonton’s Duggan Bridge breathes new life into crossing

Posted on by Ryan (ODG)

Constructed in 1957, Edmonton’s Duggan Bridge on Saskatchewan Drive overlooks the River Valley and serves as a commuter route to the city’s downtown core.  In 2017, Associated Engineering completed an assessment of the aging bridge, and recommended replacing the structure within five years, following temporary structural repairs.  

The City of Edmonton decided to replace the bridge with a low-maintenance, cost-effective structure and also wanted to improve the site’s drainage; the bridge had a history of flooding and overtopping risk during major storm events. The City also wished to improve the structure’s level of service by increasing the width of the path for pedestrians and cyclists, and capitalize on the bridge’s scenic location, providing users with unobstructed views of the River Valley and downtown core.

The City of Edmonton selected Associated Engineering as the Prime Consultant for the project, which consisted of a bridge assessment, structural repairs in 2018, design of the replacement structure, and construction and tendering services, including full-time inspection through the construction phase. 

During design, the team determined that a haunched single span, steel girder bridge on cast-in-place concrete piles and a cast-in-place concrete abutment was the ideal replacement structure. Project Manager, Tara Alexander, tells us, “During construction, the existing bridge was demolished, to allow construction of two secant pile retaining walls and a single span haunched steel girder bridge.” Construction included drainage system upgrades, roadway improvements, overhead lighting, and environmental slope restoration works within the river valley. 

Tara adds, “The City of Edmonton wanted demolition and construction of the new bridge to be completed in less than a year to reduce impact on the high traffic location. We achieved efficiencies during construction through partnering and effective communication by all parties, including the City of Edmonton, Associated Engineering, and PCL (Prime Contractor). This reduced the volume of re-submissions and reduced response time for construction communications.”

Nearby residential properties, including high-rise condominiums, restricted the space available to construct the new bridge. Secant pile retaining walls were designed and constructed to accommodate the site constraints.

Environmental restoration techniques were used on the headslopes and areas disturbed during construction. This restored the affected areas to the pre-existing natural conditions of the adjacent River Valley system, which is an environmentally sensitive area. The restoration techniques included bio-engineered headslopes composed of poplar staking, to improve slope stability, and naturalization of the headslopes (rough and loose soil treatment, plug and whip plantings). This design practice was implemented in place of traditional hardscaping and use of additional concrete installation. 

A pedestrian lookout platform was included in the design, providing a safe area for users to enjoy unobstructed views of the River Valley and downtown core.

Our key staff on the project included Tara Alexander, Jessica Gagné, Rowan Shields, Mike Tokar, Elijah Barth, Mike Yourechuk, Kristen Andersen, Warren McKay, John Maree, Melvin Lacebal, and Alan Miller. 

The project was awarded the 2022 American Concrete Institute Alberta Chapter Award of Excellence in Concrete in the Bridges Category.

New water treatment plant provides safe and reliable drinking water for Chippewas of Nawash First Nation

Posted on by Ryan (ODG)

The Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation is located in Neyaashiinigmiing (Cape Croker) in southern Ontario on Georgian Bay. The on-reserve population is approximately 830 and is projected to grow to approximately 1,400 by 2040. 

The community has been on a boil water advisory since 2017. The existing water treatment plant (WTP), originally commissioned in 1990, has had numerous challenges. As well, the water distribution system experiences extensive leakage – approximately 60% to 70% of the drinking water is lost from the system. Currently, only three of the 68 hydrants can provide the recommended flow for fire fighting.

The Chippewas of Nawash engaged Associated Engineering in 2020 to compete the detailed design and provide construction administration and warranty support for water system upgrades that include a new WTP with a below ground reservoir, a 300 metre intake into Georgian Bay, a new access road and site services (e.g., hydro, phone, internet), and upgrades and expansion of the water distribution system. The distribution system comprises 14.5 kilometres of new watermain and approximately 275 new/replaced water services. The water system improvements will eliminate the boil water advisory, address the extensive system losses, and meet present and future capacity demands. We assisted the First Nation in securing the required capital funding from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), a total of $61 million.

To date, this is ISC’s largest capital funding commitment for water system upgrades in Ontario

Shortly after design started in January 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, eliminating in-person meetings and limiting site access, as the First Nation closed to visitors. Project Manager, Anna Comerton, tells us, “Our intent to have regular in-person design meetings, updates to Chief and Council, and Community Open Houses had to be reconsidered. To overcome this challenge, we took advantage of 3D collaboration software. We used Revizto, a cloud-based integrated collaboration platform, to conduct virtual 3D walkthroughs for the client during design review meetings. These virtual tours allowed our team to visualize the water treatment plant, providing a better understanding of the design.”

The WTP’s conventional treatment process train was confirmed through a structured Triple Bottom Line and risk evaluation process of several design concepts to identify the preferred alternative in collaboration with the client team and stakeholders. Climate change impacts were considered in the WTP design.

The selected treatment process is robust and able to manage variable water quality, which is expected to be more challenging due to heavier precipitation events, wind conditions, and higher temperatures

Additionally, the design of the heating, ventilation and cooling systems considered more extreme annual temperature fluctuations and looked for opportunities for energy efficiency”

The new WTP intake into Georgian Bay is being installed via horizontal directional drilling (HDD) with the intake pipe exiting from the lake bed approximately 300 metres from shore. HDD eliminates the need for an open cut excavation to the shoreline and into the Bay, and the associated site and environmental disruption.

Equipment was pre-selected and shop drawings pre-purchased for the packaged WTP treatment system and the two pre-fabricated booster pumping stations. This allowed for the vendor specific details to be available during the detailed design stage and reduced the impact of equipment lead time, particularly in consideration of pandemic-related supply chain issues.

Associated Engineering developed separate tender packages for the new WTP and the distribution system upgrades, which were both awarded in Fall 2021. The construction works under both contracts are expected to be substantially completed in approximately August 2023 and the community’s boil water advisory lifted.

Nawash Elder and Councillor Anthony (Miptoon) Chegahno has supported the natural sciences work of our sub-consultants, LGL, in the role of community liaison. He participated in the wildlife monitoring during design and shares traditional knowledge with the team. Two community members are also supporting our team in the role of environmental monitors during construction of the WTP. 

Key personnel involved on the project include Anna Comerton, Vincent Laplante, Jeanne Zhou, Paul Shi, Alina Wu, Chad Strecker, Azad Khamforoush, Chris Lamont, and Carlos Baez.

Calgary’s new Shaganappi Pump Station designed for energy efficiency and resilience

Posted on by Ryan (ODG)

The Shaganappi Pump Station is the largest and most critical of the City of Calgary’s 42 drinking water pump stations. The facility provides safe and reliable drinking water to over 200,000 citizens in Calgary’s North Hill and Glendale Pressure Zones in the city’s northwest as well as critical institutions such as the Foothills Hospital and the University of Calgary. 

The original Shaganappi Pump Station was constructed in 1977, serving Calgary for many decades. In later years, the pump station began to experience mechanical and structural issues. An investigation determined that replacing the pump station would be more cost effective and efficient than repairing or rebuilding the facility in its original location.

In 2015, the City of Calgary retained Associated Engineering to assist in site selection, and provide design and construction services for a new pump station. The selected site for the new pump station was a City-owned greenspace adjacent to the Bow River. The site was chosen primarily for its proximity to the original pump station and existing large diameter water feedermains, which would facilitate connecting the new pump station to the existing piping. 

Since the new pump station serves established neighbourhoods, the station was designed at its maximum buildout capacity; flows were not anticipated to change due to increased growth and demand. Having extensive operating data from the original station was advantageous, particularly typical pump flows and hydraulics. With this information, the team designed the pumps to achieve their highest efficiency for the most frequent operating conditions, rather than at peak operating conditions, which maximized energy efficiency over the life cycle of the station. The new facility includes three 447 Kilowatt pumps rated at 100 million litres per day and three 447 Kilowatt pumps rated at 30 million litres per day pumping into the North Hill and Glendale Pressure Zones, respectively.

Type=N, Mode=P, DE=None City of Calgary – Shaganappi Pump Station – Exterior Drone footage – November 18, 2021

Pumping equipment is housed in a single-storey building, designed as a “post-disaster” structure using resilient materials, such as concrete columns and steel trusses. Given the proximity to the Bow River, the team considered climate change, and revised flood zone mapping available from updated flood modelling. The building was designed to resist flotation.

The new pump station was also designed for ease of use by maintenance and operation staff. An emergency generator was included in the design to facilitate the operation of pumps should the utility electrical supply be interrupted. The site is close to a public park, bicycle path, condominium, and businesses; limiting the impact of noise from the facility on nearby residences and park areas was important. Noise reduction measures included concrete block wall construction, heavy duty noise-cancelling overhead doors, duct silencers on the cooling air intake and exhaust louvers, and a super extreme grade exhaust silencer. 

Project Manager, Andy Barr, advises, “Connecting the new facility to the existing feedermain network was one of the most technically complex aspects of the project. This work needed to be completed in a tight three-month time frame, during the City’s low water demand period, but avoiding the main freeze up period from January to February.” The facility’s 1350 millimetre diameter suction, 1200 millimetre diameter north discharge and 900 millimetre diameter south discharge steel piping from the new station were connected to the existing concrete piping from the old pump station.

To retain the contractor, the City used a Request for Proposal process, rather than conventional tender, to better understand the contractor’s proposed work plan and approach, considering the site constraints, traffic, and public areas. Graham Infrastructure was awarded the construction contract and partnered with Whissell Contracting to complete the underground scope of work.

“This project is an excellent example of how proper planning, clearly defined technical requirements, a solid design, and detailed project execution coupled with collaboration and teamwork can result in successful project delivery. Strong collaboration between our team, the City, contractor, and stakeholders allowed this complex, critical infrastructure project to be delivered with minimal impact to nearby residents and businesses and without interrupting water supply to the citizens of Calgary.”

Bill Delainey leverages business acumen to build successful career in urban planning

Posted on by Ryan (ODG)

Bill Delainey embarked on an interesting journey as an athlete and a small business owner before beginning his career as an urban planner. Entering university, Bill had athletic aspirations, playing football and running in track and field. Bill credits his parents as his biggest life influences. With his father’s guidance, Bill found his educational passion and graduated with a degree in rural and urban development from the University of Saskatchewan. Bill then operated a small business for 20 years before launching his career in planning with the Rural Municipality of Corman Park. 

Bill shares, “I was hired at Corman Park at the same time as Glen Grismer; he was instrumental in my career development. At the time, I didn’t have much practical planning experience, but as a mentor, Glen respected my business experience. I was given many opportunities to work on major projects that allowed me to gain valuable planning experience.” This experience led to Bill’s promotion to Director of Planning at the Rural Municipality of Corman Park.

One of the highlights of Bill’s career is his contributions to introducing a new level of planning to Saskatchewan communities. Bill explains, “Through my research in preparing a District Plan for Saskatoon and Corman Park, I developed terms of reference for a secondary planning process. Over time, more Saskatchewan communities have adopted this process, despite the process not being specifically enabled by provincial legislation. It is exciting to work in various jurisdictions and see how widely my work has been adopted by planners and communities.”

Bill joined Associated Engineering in 2012.

“I had a very positive experience working on a project with Associated on behalf of Corman Park. The team’s approach and commitment to client service aligns with my own philosophy.”

Bill says, “My first memorable project with Associated was preparing the Discovery Outline Plan for Lethbridge’s southeast sector.” Since then, our planning practice has grown in Saskatchewan and Alberta, and expanded to Ontario and BC. 

Bill advises, “I have been fortunate to have been given the freedom to manage and build the planning practice, which is both exciting and challenging.” Recently, to complete a project to inventory the lands available to the City of Regina, Bill had to conduct a level of market analysis – work that is very unique for Bill. The final report was well received and Bill found the experience to be tremendously rewarding.

As Manager of the Urban Planning team in our Saskatoon office, Bill has mentored several young planners seeking their professional planning designation and found the process and relationships to be very rewarding. He says, “It’s not until you are put into a position to provide advice to a more junior team member that you realize that you have acquired valuable knowledge that can enhance the careers of others.”

Bill believes that to be a successful consultant, you need to be observant, capable of assessing and analyzing situations and client needs, and able to maintain focus on project objectives. 

“An effective planner needs to be able to understand a situation and draw from their experiences to provide a tailored solution, as well as being focussed on client service.”

A long-term volunteer, Bill has served two terms on the Board of Directors of the Saskatchewan Professional Planners Institute, including a term as President. He also served two terms on the Canadian Institute of Planners Board of Directors.

Outside of work, Bill is an avid Toronto Blue Jays and Indianapolis Colts fan, and enjoys going to watch live games. He also enjoys being physically active; typically, you can find him riding his e-bike to work each day, and working out or running during his lunch breaks. In the summer, he enjoys wakeboarding, wake surfing, and swimming at his family’s cabin. In the winter, he enjoys snowmobiling and cross country skiing.

Resilience Pathways Report: Co-creating new knowledge for understanding risk and resilience

Posted on by Ryan (ODG)

“There is an urgency to take action to better manage disaster and climate risks. Recent disasters, such as Hurricane Fiona making landfall in Atlantic Canada and the 2021 heat dome, wildfires, and damaging floods in BC, have had devastating impacts and are serious warning signals of the negative impacts of climate change. These events further underscore the reality that there will be more events in the future that exceed historical events with greater magnitude, increased frequency, new locations, different timing, and new complexity. The experience of COVID-19 pandemic impacts and responses has taught us firsthand how disasters are complex events with intertwined and cascading impacts across systems in our society. We must manage risks from natural, biological, and technological hazards, and the impacts of climate change, in a comprehensive and collaborative manner across all sectors and at all levels to build a resilient future. Success in this endeavor requires the whole of society to first understand the risks, including the drivers and interdependencies, and know their role in collaboratively managing these risks.” – Summary for Policy Makers, Resilience Pathways Report

Associated Engineering is co-sponsoring a virtual launch event for the Resilience Pathways Report with Natural Resources Canada, on October 28th and 31st. We invite practitioners, researchers, policy makers, and decision makers in various fields to attend, who can and are taking action for reducing disaster risk and adapting to climate change impacts in public and private sectors. Registration is free, click here for more details.

The Resilience Pathways Report convened and connected more than 70 experts from a wide range of institutions and disciplines sharing a wealth of knowledge and strategic insights about disaster and climate risk management. The report highlights successes, challenges, and gaps and provides recommendations for the path forward in enhancing disaster and climate risk management approaches.

The report consists of a Strategic Summary for Policymakers and 18 short and easy to read articles under four chapters:

Chapter 1: Understanding and Managing Climate and Disaster Risk: Hazard Threat
Chapter 2: Climate and Disaster Risk Management: Practice
Chapter 3: Climate and Disaster Risk Management: Enabling Action
Chapter 4: Climate and Disaster Risk Management: Research

Although most of the articles are focused on BC, they share knowledge on risk management issues that are not only unique to BC, and the identified challenges and recommendations can have relevance across Canada and in other countries.

Resilience Pathways was funded by the Canadian Safety and Security Program and led by Natural Resources Canada. Sahar Safaie of Sage on Earth Consulting designed the initiative and supported the authors throughout the process, including technical review of the articles. We are pleased to share that Sahar is now collaborating with the Strategic Advisory Services team at Associated Engineering, and supporting clients in assessing and managing disaster and climate risk through designing effective policies and innovative engineering, social, and environmental solutions.

For further information on the Resilience Pathways Report and the launch event, please contact Sahar at safaies@ae.ca.

Shaping our Shared Future – Emilee Kaupp

Posted on by Ryan (ODG)

Emilee Kaupp, C.E.T., an Engineering Technologist based in our Lethbridge office, specializes in the design and construction of municipal infrastructure and land development projects. 

Her day-to-day work includes project management support, design, drafting, survey, construction management, construction inspection, and contract administration services. She is also the Lethbridge office’s representative for Associated’s Young Professionals Group. In this role, Emilee helps promote technical knowledge and business development skills to colleagues with less than ten years of experience.  

A hard worker with a passion to give back to her profession and her community, as well as a natural proficiency to lead, Emilee actively volunteers on committees with several organizations in Lethbridge. Emilee is currently the First Vice President for The Association of Science & Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET), and helps to raise awareness about the important role and value that technologists bring to our communities. 

“I bring a young female perspective to the ASET Council and assist with diversity and inclusion initiatives, as it relates to gender and the younger generation.”

Emilee is also active on the Lethbridge CANstruction Board, which hosts an annual event called CANstruction. The event showcases the design and construction talent of engineers and technologists, with the added benefit of collecting and donating food items to local food banks, supporting families in need living in southern Alberta.

In addition, Emilee is a member of the Lethbridge College School of Engineering Technologists Joint Advisory Committee, where she conducts program review, curriculum updates, and business discussions as an alumni and member of the industry. 

Through her work and her volunteer efforts, Emilee Kaupp is shaping our shared future!