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Keynote Speakers
Monday, September 16, 2024
R.M. Hardy Keynote Address
35 years of applied geotechnical design for dams and dikes
Pierre Vannobel
Abstract
The presentation provides a comprehensive summary of the experience acquired during the design and construction of several large rockfill dams at Hydro-Québec. These activities have taken place as part of the development of new hydroelectric installations by Hydro-Québec since the 1970s. More specifically, four types of rockfill dams are discussed: 1) with a very deep plastic cut-off, 2) with a thin central bituminous concrete core, 3) with a wide central core in glacial till, and 4) with a wide inclined till core.
The particularities of the concept characterizing the various typical cross-sections of said rockfill dams are presented and discussed, with emphasis on the materials constituting the zones of these structures. Particular attention is paid to the materials used for impervious elements, filters, transitions, large-scale rockfill and slope protection rockfill, including upstream riprap.
In order to respect the particularities of each type of dam, or even certain specific environmental constraints (e.g., with treatment aimed at removing fine particles), the presentation focuses on: 1) the development of state-of-the-art knowledge, 2) the study of the placement and performance of the plastic materials of the cores (plastic concrete, bentonite-enhanced till and bituminous concrete), and 3) the study of large-scale rockfill (maximum diameter, thickness of lifts, number of compactor passes, compaction energy, in-place moduli of elasticity, Vs1)
Biography
Pierre Vannobel is a graduate of the Université de Sherbrooke in mechanical and civil engineering. He also holds a master's degree in geotechnics. He has 35 years of experience in the dam industry. From 1988 to 1991, Mr. Vannobel held several positions with companies that were eventually integrated into SNC-Lavalin, and then worked for the latter until 2001 when Mr. Vannobel joined Hydro-Québec. He is one of the few practitioners with expertise in both dam design and construction. Mr. Vannobel has been actively involved in the design and construction of more than 300 hydraulic embankment structures. His contribution to numerous hydroelectric development projects has earned him renown in the Quebec dam industry.
Buchanan Lecture
Geotechnical Marriage between Theory & Practice
Marc Ballouz
Abstract
In practice, most projects are on fast track and the engineer is often pressured to give a solution quickly. In doing so, she or he could be taking a lot of risk and even facing danger. This lecture emanates from the long experience of the author in Design-Build solutions. It gives guidance on how to approach engineering problems in real life by combining theory and practice, and how they complement each other to give suitable solutions. The SoLGeH approach is introduced, highlighting the importance of collecting data prior to giving any solution based on intuition or an answer haphazardly. A stable theoretical solution lies in providing functionality leading to a cost-effective execution without compromising safety. Engineering is in our every day life; indeed, even analyzing the simple activity of walking on sand can tell us a lot about the interaction between theory and practice. Some case histories will beare presented, each exposing the importance of certain aspects in geotechnical engineering, such as, using different theories/software, monitoring short and long term, site observation, and innovative thinking. As President of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, tThe lecture also shows the importance to stay connected to the international family and be ready to practice and excel worldwide.
Biography
Known to be a jack of all trades, his engineering journey started early on when he was 15 on construction sites with his father, a civil engineer. After obtaining his PHD degree from Texas A&M University, he established his own company, the Institute for Geotechnics & Materials, that quickly became international, known for its Design/Built innovative solutions. He was simultaneously teaching at three universities and currently is a professor of foundation engineering at Texas State University. He has more than 10 key papers in renowned journals on different innovative topics, and more than 150 design/built and forensic engineering reports for projects worldwide, specializing in shoring deep excavations, advanced foundation systems, and saving structures in dilapidation. Amongst his many publications in geotechnical magazines and forums is the famous video “what is geotechnical engineering” that is still on top of the YouTube search polls since 2013, and got him the prestigious International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) Public Relations award. He was active for 8 years on the ISSMGE board from 2009 to 2017. He was serving on the board of the Geo-Institute when he was elected President of ISSMGE in 2022, the highest position representing geotechnical engineering worldwide with 90 country members and more than 35,000 geotechnical engineers around the globe.
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Canadian Geotechnical Colloquium
Meeting the challenge of geotechnical transportation infrastructure on degrading permafrost
Ryley Beddoe
Abstract
As permafrost in the Canadian Arctic undergoes climate driven degradation and changes, the stress and impact it will have on current and future linear infrastructure networks will be significant. Now more than ever, it is critical to work towards an understanding of not only why but also how. How will we learn from today to plan and design adaptation and mitigation techniques for resilient infrastructure in the future? How can we develop models that will allow us to ‘dig deeper’ in our understanding? In her current research in this field, Dr. Riley Beddoe is exploring questions like these, including: How can numerical modelling techniques allow us to predict future infrastructure risk? What adaptation techniques will limit the impact of permafrost degradation for infrastructure networks? How do these techniques change if the network is a railway? An ice road? A highway? In this presentation, Dr. Beddoe will present her and her team’s most recent research results aimed at answering these, and other related arctic geotechnical engineering questions.
Biography
Ryley Beddoe is an Associate Professor in the department of Civil Engineering at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC). She received her B.Sc. and B.Ed., as well as her M.Sc. and Ph.D. in civil engineering at Queen’s University. Dr. Beddoe is a Research Director in the GeoEngineering Centre at RMC-Queen’s. She is also a co-investigator with PermaRail and PermafrostNET. Her research program focused on understanding the overarching impact on geotechnical design driven by climate change in Canada’s Arctic. Current and recent research includes investigating how permafrost geohazard impacts infrastructure in the Arctic, monitoring thaw instabilities along the Hudson Bay Railway in Northern Manitoba, and ice road investigations and portage resilience in the Northwest Territories. Her research is supported by Transport Canada, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Government of Northwest Territories, Associate Engineering/NOR-EX Ice Engineering, National Research Council Canada, and the Department of National Defence.
Graduate Student Presentation
TBD
From sea to sea to sea: But what lies beneath?
Making room for groundwater in a surface water-centric Canada
Cynthia McClain
Brendan Mulligan
Abstract
A sub-committee of the International Association of Hydrogeologists-Canadian National Chapter is advocating for the newly established Canada Water Agency (CWA) to make groundwater visible in national water forums, to enhance and coordinate the federal government’s hydrogeological capacity, and to improve collaboration with Indigenous peoples, territories, provinces, academia, industry, and stakeholders. Despite groundwater's extraordinary importance to Canada and Canada’s world-class hydrogeological expertise, groundwater is not visible in national water forums, the federal government's hydrogeological capacity is uncoordinated, was never sufficient, and has been severely diminished, and Canadian hydrogeological expertise has not been fully harnessed to effectively manage our groundwater resources or contribute to global assessments of groundwater. The vast majority of the liquid freshwater in Canada is groundwater. About one-third of Canadians and close to 80% of the country’s rural population rely on groundwater as a source of potable water. More than half of the systems that supply water to First Nations rely on groundwater. Two jurisdictions, Prince Edward Island and the Yukon, are 100% and 97% dependent, respectively, on groundwater as a potable water supply. Nearly all surface water features interact with groundwater. Groundwater is crucial for sustaining ecological and human water needs. How fortunate, then, that Canada is a global leader in hydrogeological research. Unfortunately, we are not reaping the full benefits of this expertise. The problems have been understood for decades. For example, one of the goals of the 2003 Canadian Framework for Collaboration on Groundwater was “improving communications and collaboration among all agencies and organizations involved in groundwater activities.” This goal has not yet been attained; however, the creation of the CWA represents a new opportunity to, at last, improve collaborative groundwater management in Canada and give groundwater the profile it deserves.
Biography - Cynthia McClain
Cynthia McClain obtained a B.S. of Science from UC Davis in California (major in geology and minor in hydrology), as well as a M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering and a Ph.D. in Geological and Environmental Sciences from Stanford University. She has over 15 years of leadership experience in environmental monitoring and research across the United States and Canada. As the Geospatial Centre Director for the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary, she works on provincial-scale mapping of human footprint, wetlands, algal blooms, groundwater dependent ecosystems and groundwater quality. Dr. McClain previously served as a Hydrogeologist for the Government of Alberta, where she played a pivotal role in overseeing the Groundwater Observation Well Network and co-led the Oil Sands Monitoring Groundwater Technical Advisory Committee. Her position as Groundwater Advisor for DataStream underlines her commitment to open water data and freshwater protection in Canada. Recognized with the 2023 Early Career Hydrogeologist Award, and as the Alberta Director for the International Association of Hydrogeologists, she is dedicated to advancing UN sustainable development goals and specifically Canada’s reporting for groundwater on indicator 6.3.2 (Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality).
Biography - Brendan Mulligan
Brendan Mulligan holds a bachelor’s degree in Geological Engineering from Queen’s University and a master’s degree in Hydrogeology from the University of Calgary. His work has always revolved around groundwater and demonstrated a clear commitment to Indigenous partnership and scientific training and education at all levels. Following some experience as an environmental consultant in the early years of his career, Brendan spent five years in Latin America, working for the University of Calgary, building capacity in hydrogeology at public universities in various countries. His work with people Indigenous to Central and South America led to Brendan working with the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (based in Winnipeg) and the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council (spanning the Yukon and Alaska), where he supported community-based water quality monitoring initiatives. After working in environmental consulting, academia, and the not-for-profit sector, Brendan has found a home as a scientist with the Government of Yukon, where has worked for the past decade. He is responsible for the Government of Yukon’s groundwater program, which informs groundwater resource management and associated water policy decisions in the Yukon. He is passionate about cryohydrogeology—the study of groundwater in cold regions—and was nominated as IAH-CNC’s inaugural Northern Region Director in 2021.
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Regulation of groundwater withdrawals in Quebec: history and outlook
Michel Ouellet
Abstract
Over the past thirty years, the framework governing the use and protection of water resources has undergone significant but gradual change. For example, under the Quebec Civil Code, the owner of a property has an a priori right to use groundwater, but this right is limited by the rights of the owners of adjacent properties, as well as by public interest laws such as the Environmental Quality Act (EQA). Although these provisions have been in force since January 1, 1994, it is only since August 14, 2014, that the Quebec government has had a modern tool to oversee the exploitation of this common thing, water resources, both underground and on the surface. The EQA includes a regime for the authorization of renewable water withdrawal that applies to both new and “existing” withdrawals. The law specifies that the authorization power must be exercised in such a way as to promote sustainable, equitable and efficient management of water resources, taking into account the precautionary principle and the effects of climate change. Over the years, further significant improvements have been made in the protection and management of water resources. After an overview of the evolution history of the legal and regulatory framework, the talk will present some of the interesting perspectives it offers in terms of acquiring knowledge about water resources and their use, understanding their evolution, particularly in a context of climate change, transferring knowledge to those in charge, including providing them with support, and developing tools for managing their use at a time when some Quebec regions are faced with water availability challenges.
Biography
Michel Ouellet holds a Bachelor of Science in Geological Engineering and a Master of Science in Geology (specializing in hydrogeology) from Université Laval. After working as a research professional at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique - Centre Eau and the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering at Université Laval from 1988 to 1991, he joined the groundwater team of the Quebec Ministry of the Environment in September 1991. From 2001 until his retirement in 2024, he served as team leader. He contributed to the development and reinforcement of the legal and regulatory framework for the protection and management of Quebec's water resources. In particular, he contributed to the development of the groundwater intervention procedure set out in the Politique de protection des sols et de réhabilitation des terrains contaminés published in1998, the Règlement sur le captage des eaux souterraines enacted in 2002, the Loi affirmant le caractère collectif des ressources en eau et favorisant une meilleure gouvernance de l'eau et des milieux associés, assented to in 2009, and the Règlement sur le prélèvement des eaux et leur protection enacted in 2014. Furthermore, he facilitated the implementation in 2009 of the Groundwater Knowledge Acquisition Program, which resulted in the creation of a regional groundwater portrait for a significant portion of Quebec's municipalized territory. Finally, the program has facilitated the implementation of financial assistance programs for municipalities to support the inventory of threats present within the protection areas of their water withdrawal sites, and the subsequent development of protection plans for their sites.
Are we adequately training our geotechnical engineers and researchers to meet the challenges of practice?
Patrice Rivard
Abstract
The traditional teaching methods in geotechnical and geosciences have relatively unchanged over the past 20 years, despite the increasing need for agility to cope with the rapidly accelerating changes (such as climate change, artificial intelligence, etc.) that the field demands. While the foundations of these disciplines remain strong, it is true that traditional teaching methods may sometimes struggle to keep pace with the rapid and complex changes that characterize our era. To effectively prepare future engineers and researchers to meet these challenges, it is crucial to explore new avenues and adopt more agile and innovative pedagogical approaches. The presentation explores some pathways to enhance the preparation of future geotechnical professionals (learner-centered pedagogy, integration of technology, interdisciplinary approach, experiential learning, awareness of contemporary issues, continuous training, improving academia-industry partnership...).
Biography
Patrice Rivard holds a bachelor’s degree in Geological Engineering from Polytechnique Montréal, as well as a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Sherbrooke (UdeS) and l’Institut national des sciences appliquées de Toulouse in France. He also holds a diploma from UdeS in teaching at the graduate level. He is a full professor in the Department of civil engineering and building engineering at UdeS, where he runs the Laboratory of rock mechanics and teaches engineering geology and rock mechanics. Professor Rivard was appointed as Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at the UdeS Engineering Faculty in January 2024. His expertise primarily focuses on the behavior of rock discontinuities and rock-concrete interfaces. His team has been involved in several projects requiring rock and rock mass characterization, including the extension of the Montreal metro's Blue Line, the development of the Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM), the replacement of the Champlain Bridge, and the safety of Hydro-Québec’s dams.
Understanding, quantifying, and protecting the emergence of groundwater
Marie Larocque
Abstract
There is no doubt that groundwater plays a key role at catchment scale, for drinking water supply, agriculture, industry, and ecosystems. There has been considerable scientific progress in understanding and quantifying the functions of groundwater over the last few decades. We are now in a better position to estimate groundwater renewal, residence time in geological formations, flow over short and long distances, volumes of water available, and the vulnerability and quality of the resource. However, very little is known about the discharge of groundwater into surface reservoirs such as rivers, wetlands and lakes. Questions such as how groundwater discharge supports ecosystems and plays a role in maintaining other groundwater functions, and how these flows are vulnerable to anthropogenic and climatic pressures, remain relatively unexplored. Little is also known about the links between recharge and discharge at catchment scale and the resilience of groundwater discharge. This presentation will examine these questions by addressing the issues involved in quantifying groundwater discharge and the supporting conditions, providing an overview of the situation in Quebec and elsewhere in the world, and exploring the best management practices that should be implemented.
Biography
Marie Larocque graduated from Polytechnique Montréal with a degree in civil engineering. She holds a master's degree in water science and a doctorate in hydrogeology from the Université de Poitiers in France. She has been a professor specialising in groundwater in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at UQAM since 2000. She also holds the Research Chair in Water and Land Conservation and is President of the Quebec Groundwater Network. Her research focuses on groundwater flow in catchment areas, from recharge zones to discharge into rivers, lakes and wetlands. Over the last few decades, she has focused mainly on the interactions between natural environments and groundwater. Thanks to her expertise in aquifer characterisation, field monitoring, data analysis, and modelling, she is involved in numerous projects carried out in partnership with government departments, municipalities, and conservation organisations.