Northwest Technical Luncheon – Edmonton, AB

Date: Thursday, October 24
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Location: ​University Club of the University of Alberta 11435 Saskatchewan Dr, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G9
Cost: Free for Members | $20 for Non-Members**

Join us for an informative presentation on Trenchless crossings. An efficient and effective means of crossing unstable terrain, watercourses, environmentally sensitive areas and areas of congestion/urban development.While trenchless technologies have improved dramatically over the decades, they can still be adversely affected by ground conditions either not being properly investigated or being inadequately understood. New trenchless methods such as Drill-Intercept (HDD) and Direct Pipe have also allowed for crossings to be considered with ground conditions that would have previously been deemed not feasible.

This talk will highlight Mr. Saunder’s experiences with some of the challenges posed by geotechnical conditions with various types of trenchless crossing methods. Mr. Saunders will also touch on specific problems associated with artesian pressures, cobbles/boulders, abrasive soil/bedrock, coal mines, gravel pits, excessive settlement/ground loss, mixed face conditions, and high groundwater. 

Bob Saunders is a Senior Associate and Senior Geotechnical engineer with Thurber Engineering Ltd. in their Calgary office. He has a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Calgary (1981) and a Master of Engineering in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of Alberta (1989). Mr. Saunders has over 40 years of experience with civil engineering projects in Western and Northern Canada, mostly related to pipelines and geohazards. His early experience was with northern pipelines including the Foothills Pipelines gas pipeline project in the Yukon and the Norman Wells oil pipeline project in the Mackenzie Valley.

He has specialized in trenchless construction of pipelines for over 30 years with his first HDD being completed in 1990. He has assessed hundreds of trenchless crossings of landslides, watercourses and civil infrastructure and has experienced many of the challenges one might expect with a long career.