Join us for an educational luncheon on problems associated with artesian pressures, cobbles/boulders, abrasive soil/bedrock, coal mines, gravel pits, excessive settlement/ground loss, mixed face conditions, high groundwater, and other relevant issues.
Over 40 Years of Navigating Geotechnical Challenges in Trenchless Crossings Trenchless crossings are an efficient and effective means of crossing unstable terrain, watercourses, environmentally sensitive areas or areas of congestion and urban development. While trenchless technologies have improved dramatically over the last decades, they can still be adversely affected by ground conditions that are either not properly investigated or inadequately understood. New trenchless methods, such as drill-intercept (HDD) and Direct Pipe, have enabled crossings to be considered in ground conditions that would have previously been deemed not feasible. This talk will highlight Bob Saunders’ experiences with some of the challenges posed by geotechnical conditions with various types of trenchless crossing methods. He will address specific problems associated with artesian pressures, cobbles/boulders, abrasive soil/bedrock, coal mines, gravel pits, excessive settlement/ground loss, mixed face conditions, high groundwater, and other relevant issues.
Presenter: Robert (Bob) Saunders, M.Eng., P.Eng.
Bob Saunders is an associate and geotechnical Engineer with Thurber. He has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Calgary (1981) and a master’s in geotechnical engineering from the University of Alberta (1989). Bob has over 40 years of experience with civil engineering projects in Western and Northern Canada, primarily focusing on pipelines and geohazards. His early experience was with the Foothills gas pipeline project in the Yukon. He has specialized in trenchless construction, with his first HDD being completed in 1990, and has assessed hundreds of trenchless crossings of landslides, watercourses, and civil infrastructure since then.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION – If you are an active member of NASTT, you will be asked to pay the deferred $20 attendance fee at the door of this event using cash or check. If you are NOT an active member of NASTT, you will be asked to pay the deferred $40 attendance fee at the door of this event using cash or check. Checkout will show a $0 balance, but this is simply because the payment is differed.
Join us for an educational luncheon on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Applications in Condition Assessment and Asset Management of Collection Systems.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are transforming water and wastewater utilities by enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and resilience. This presentation explores how AI technologies can improve condition assessment activities, enable proactive maintenance, and reduce costs. AI-driven commercially available applications will be presented and illustrated using case studies.
Presenter: Erez Allouche, Ph.D., P.Eng. | Trenchless Technology and Innovation Leader | Stantec
Dr. Erez Allouche has devoted much of the past three decades to research and practice in the field of underground infrastructure. His work focuses on the development of new condition assessment technologies and the design and analysis models for underground construction using trenchless methods. He specializes in the design of complex Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) and microtunneling crossings, and to date, has completed the design and/or construction oversight of more than 160 such crossings around the world. These installations have included crossing of major highways, railways and rivers. His design experience also covers crossings utilizing other trenchless methods such as Direct Pipe™, pipe jacking, auger boring, pipe ramming, down-the-hole hammer and horizontal direct bores. Prior to joining Stantec, Erez was a Professor of Civil Engineering at Louisiana Tech University and the Director of the Trenchless Technology Center. He is the inventor/co-inventor of 17 patents in the area of trenchless technologies, and the author/co-author of more than 260 publications in the areas of buried infrastructure management and pipeline installation using trenchless techniques. Erez is a former member of NASTT’s Board of Directors.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION – If you are an active member of NASTT, you will be asked to pay the deferred $20 attendance fee at the door of this event using cash or check. If you are NOT an active member of NASTT, you will be asked to pay the deferred $40 attendance fee at the door of this event using cash or check. Checkout will show a $0 balance, but this is simply because the payment is deferred.
To kick-off the 2025-26 season of NASTT events in Edmonton, the Edmonton Section is hosting a free BBQ over lunch at the Crossing Company yard in Nisku. The yard will have varied microtunneling, direct steerable pipe thrusting (DSPT)/Direct PipeTM, auger boring, and horizontal directional drilling (HDD) equipment and tooling on site for attendees to see up close with the Crossing Company staff available for any questions attendees may have.
There will be opportunity to tour the yard, or to just enjoy the free BBQ and spending some informal time with other people in the trenchless industry!
Must bring a hard hat, reflective vest, and CSA Grade 1 or 2 protective footwear.
Free parking will be available.
Date: Thursday, April 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**
Estimating the maximum allowable annular pressure (Pmax) is a critical stage in horizontal directional drilling (HDD) design to prevent inadvertent returns and avoid damage to nearby structures. To aid in the accuracy of this estimation, the University of Alberta completed a comparative analysis of existing analytical models for estimating Pmax, revealing significant variability in the results and consequent uncertainty in determining this parameter. A detailed evaluation of the models’ assumptions and derivations led to the development of a Decision-Making Framework, validated using data from a case study reporting annular pressures at failure. The proposed framework offers practitioners a structured approach to selecting the most appropriate model based on specific soil characteristics, thereby reducing uncertainty associated with inter-model variability. This research provides a tool for improving the reliability of Pmax predictions in HDD applications.
Presenter: Mikaela Rocha
Mikaela Rocha recently graduated with a Master of Science in Underground Trenchless Construction from the University of Alberta. During her studies, she worked as a Graduate Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant. She is currently working as an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) at Stantec. Prior to her graduate program, Mikaela worked for five years in a professional capacity, serving as a Lab Instructor, and contributing to various engineering projects, including foundation design for wastewater treatment plants and slope stability analysis for highway construction projects.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION – If you are not an active member of NASTT, you will be asked to pay the deferred $20 attendance fee at the door of this event using cash or check.
Date: Thursday, March 27
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**
Microtunneling is technically challenging to design and execute due to a variety of physical, regulatory and technical constraints. The contractors and consultants in this field are the experts at this and are capable of addressing these issues. However, one thing that may be overlooked in the design and execution phases, or in the contract documents, are the Owner’s explicit and implicit needs. This could include considerations for O&M activities, understanding how construction activities must be executed to protect the Owner’s brand and the impact to the Owner’s other internal and external stakeholders. Being aware of these needs, and seeking clarifications with the Owner, will allow contractors and consultants to be able to make informed and early decisions to make minor changes which will improve the success of the project, and help prevent required changes when identified later in the process. In this presentation, we will briefly cover some of these implicit Owner needs.
Presenter: Alex Mather Alex Mather, EPCOR
Alex Mather Alex Mather is a project manager with EPCOR Water Services with over 20 years of experience in design development and construction of municipal infrastructure. Alex joined EPCOR in 2019 and has managed several projects involving trenchless construction, including microtunneling. As an Owner’s Representative in projects, he takes pride in coordinating and facilitating the identification and management of the stakeholders, both internal and external to the project and EPCOR, as a way to improve the outcomes of his projects. Schedule: 11:30am to 12pm, registration 12pm to 12:30pm, lunch 12:30pm to 1:30pm, presentation, Q&A
IMPORTANT INFORMATION – If you are not an active member of NASTT, you will be asked to pay the differed $20 attendance fee at the door of this event using cash or check.
