Northwest Luncheon – Edmonton, AB
Join us for an educational luncheon on innovative solutions for assessing aging sanitary forcemains in harsh climates.
Assessing the structural integrity and hydraulic performance of buried sanitary conveyance systems is essential for municipalities to prioritize their repairs, prevent costly emergencies, and reduce public and environmental impacts. This work presents a condition assessment program for two forcemains: a 2.3 km long 560 mm pipeline and a 5 km long 600 mm pipeline, both welded steel pipes protected with coal tar epoxy and insulation overlaid with the yellow jacket. The latter is buried under a major river in northwest Canada. The condition assessment program employed a systematic approach that combined forensic engineering with data integration and analysis. It considered factors like material, age, service level, corrosion risks, and operational history to determine the remaining capacity and guide renewal and asset management decisions. The five-stage program included desktop assessment, field planning, leak detection, structural data collection, and evaluation of remaining service life. This presentation discusses challenges, key findings, recommendations, and action plans for extending the forcemains’ service life. It also highlights project limitations and the need for additional assessment technologies. The goal is to provide municipalities and utilities with guidance on utilizing non-destructive technologies for assessing buried pressurized systems, particularly in colder regions.
Presenter: Olubenga Ibikunle, Ph.D.
Dr. Ibikunle is a Managing Principal at Avodahtec and a leader in infrastructure practices, handling projects across North America and beyond. With over 17 years of experience in academia and industry, he has, over the last 8 years, been focusing on the (i) use of trenchless methods in pipeline design and construction, (ii) development and application of new condition assessment methodologies, (iii) unique trenchless rehabilitation solutions for linear infrastructure, and (iv) asset/infrastructure management practices. He is a Certified Reliability Leader and a cross-border certified Asset Management (AM) professional, and has won multiple national and international awards in his areas of expertise. Dr. Ibikunle actively contributes to his fields of expertise by authoring papers and presenting at local and international conferences. Additionally, he is a member and participant in various working committees of professional and charitable organizations. As a dedicated teacher and mentor, outside the technical world, he channels his passion toward empowering junior professionals to achieve remarkable success in the marketplace.
