Chairholders

Profile

Alireza Bayat

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Alberta

Chair title

NSERC Associate Industrial Research Chair in Underground Trenchless Construction

Chair program

Industrial Research Chairs program

Role

Associate Chair since 2017

Summary

With Canada’s expanding resource-based economy, underground pipeline construction is in high demand. Currently, more than 30% of pipeline systems in Canada are moderately cracked or near imminent collapse, raising serious concerns from a service perspective. Yet the traditional open-trench construction for building or rehabilitating underground pipelines is neither the most efficient, economically viable, or environmentally friendly option in 10 to 50% of these projects. Underground trenchless construction is a better option because of its potential to navigate through the complex layering of underground pipe and utility lines; to adapt to the varying geology of underground sites in cold climates; and to meet the social, economic, environmental, and risk-management requirements of modern urban and rural communities. However, since the industry is still in its infancy, industry and government lack the fundamental and applied understanding, tools, and standards to make an informed decision about its application. This IRC program will focus on developing technologies for underground trenchless construction, with emphasis on cold-climate applications. The proposed research will centre around risk-assessment and -mitigation strategies for horizontal directional drilling, micro-tunnelling, and pipe jacking; improving trenchless geotechnics; enhancing construction and design for trenchless projects; and trenchless installations for fibre-to-the-home projects. By developing and testing new discoveries, standards, and applications, these innovations will help revolutionize the way underground infrastructure is constructed, maintained, and rehabilitated in Canada, across North America, and in other cold-climate regions around the world.

The proposed IRC program will work in collaboration with industry leaders such as The Crossing Company, TELUS Communications, Evolution Energy Services, INROCK, and BGC Engineering. The industry partners will offer students the opportunity to study real-world applications and consequences of underground trenchless construction, thereby providing an expansive and all-encompassing education. Through working closely with the industrial partners, students will gain professional development and networking opportunities, increasing their ability to obtain gainful employment in their field of study. The IRC program will also train highly qualified personnel (HQP) to conduct world-class research and develop industrially relevant technologies for this exciting field. The HQP’s findings will be a vital source of knowledge and technology for the IRC partners, in addition to numerous other operators requiring effective, non-disruptive underground construction techniques in Canada and worldwide. Through our strong network of industrial and academic partners, this IRC program will ensure that Canada becomes an internationally recognized leader in efficient, economical, and environmentally sustainable trenchless technologies.

Partners

• TELUS
• The Crossing Company
• Evolution Energy Services
• INROCK
• BGC Engineering

Contact information

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Alberta

Email: abayat@ualberta.ca

Website:
http://www.civil.engineering.ualberta.ca/Research/ResearchAreas/Transportation/AlirezaBayat.aspx