INNOVATION May-June 2016

APEGBC Council Election 2016/2017 • Auditor General's Report • Quality Management for Small Projects

JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS OF BC

MAY/JUNE 2016

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Ancient Engineering Principles Revisited

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content s

MAY/JUNE 2 016 [ volume 20 number 3)

fea tures 14

Revisiting Ancient Engineering Principles in a Modern Construction Context James (Jay) Drew, P.Eng.

17 The Air We Breathe; The Fuel We Burn: BC Carbon Capture and Re-use Projects Explore Solutions to a Global Problem Robin J. Miller 22 Golden Opportunity: High-grade Gold Mine on Target for 2017 Production Kylie Williams 28 Sweat the Small Stuff: Are Small Projects Hurting Your Profitability? Marg Latham, P.Eng., CMC

news 8

ON THE COVER: Burnaby, BC-based

Inventys Inc.’s low-cost carbon-capture process is moving towards full commercialisation.

NewsMakers OQM Practices Bring Recognition; Engineers Canada Recognises APEGBC Members; Members Excel in Wood Construction 9 Association Notes 2016/2017 Council Election; Members Identify APEGBC Areas of Success and Areas for Improvement; Annual Conference and AGM Take Place in Victoria, October 20–22, 2016; BC Auditor General Releases Report on Mining Sector Compliance and Enforcement; Update: Task Force Examines Regulatory Oversight of Corporate Practice; Council Approves 2016/2017 Budget; Council Report

depar tment s

During peak construction on the Brucejack Gold Project, more than 900 people will be employed at the northern BC site. 22

4 President’s Viewpoint I Am Listening 5 Letters 26 ACEC Awards 29 Practice BC Flood Hazard Mapping Guidelines to be Developed; Building Act Update; Program Qualifies First Certified Professionals; Assessing Public Infrastructure for Future Climate Change Impacts; Trends in Practice: Uncertainty Exists Regarding Quality Management Requirements 30 OQM 31 Community Science Fair Awards Encourage Future Professionals; Foundation Invests in the Next Generation; Best Practices for Volunteer Groups to Function Effectively; It’s a Wrap: National Engineering and Geoscience Month 2016 33 Membership 34 Professional Services 39 APEGBC Professional Development

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MAY/JUNE 2016

VOLUME 20 NUMBER 3

v iewpoint

Transparency, accessibility and openness are among my key objectives as APEGBC president. How have we done? I believe that a large portion of our jobs as professional engineers and geoscientists requires significant amounts of communication. This includes two-way dialogue, expressing ideas, listening, problem-solving, and considering alternate points of view. As APEGBC president, I read and respond to every email, telephone call, or letter sent to me. If you write to president@apeg.bc.ca, I either respond directly or alert the department that can help. I also follow up. And if an answer requires more than a simple email, I call you. I am surprised at how many members are astonished that I read and respond to their questions. APEGBC has recently received two written requests for membership ballot votes for Council to reconsider Engineers and Geoscientists Act change requests forwarded to government. The ballot requests are a serious and important issue, but because only 25 member signatures are required to submit a ballot-vote request, I am interested in what the rest of the membership thinks on the issue. When looking at the names in the petition, I noticed that none of the members had reached out to express their concerns directly to me beforehand. I encourage any member to contact me directly to discuss concerns before signing a petition for a ballot. I am listening and available. This relates directly to another matter: If the 25 concerned members feel APEGBC Council is either not accessible or not meeting its duty to uphold public interest, do all of APEGBC’s approximately 34,000 members also feel that way? The question is of great interest to both me and Council. Communication is a two-way street. Effective communication balances active listening with transmission of a message. Yes, I am available to listen to and discuss your concerns, but I can only do so if you reach out. You can do this in several ways. You can email me at president@apeg.bc.ca. You can engage me in person at a Council meeting—they are open to all members. You can contact me via LinkedIn or Twitter. You can also contact a committee or local branch member to explain your concerns and ask them to get in touch with me. Come with ideas and solutions, if possible. If you have a concern, feel frustrated with the association, or have a simple question about the professions, contact any of us. We will respond. I may not have all the answers, but I will be open and honest about why Council is doing things, and I will listen to your concerns. I will even mention them at the next Council meeting. We are listening and working for you to keep our professions progressive and forward-thinking. If you want change, all you need do is reach out.

Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC Suite 200 - 4010 Regent Street, Burnaby, BC Canada V5C 6N2 Tel: 604.430.8035 Fax: 604.430.8085 Email: apeginfo@apeg.bc.ca Internet: apeg.bc.ca Toll free: 1.888.430.8035 2015/2016 COUNCIL, APEGBC P resident D r . M.C. Wrinch, P.Eng., FEC V ice P resident R.P. Stewart, P.Eng. I mmediate P ast P resident Dr. J.J. Clague, P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.) COUNCILLORS C.J.A. Andrewes, P.Eng.; D r . C.D. ‘Lyn Anglin, P.Geo. D.E. Campbell, P.Eng.; R. Farbridge, P.Eng. A. Fernandes, CIM, FCSI; C. Hall, P.Eng./P.Geo. D.I. Harvey, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., FEC; K. Laloge, CPA, CA, TEP S. Martin, P.Eng.; T. Mitha, LLB C. Moser, P.Eng.; C.L. Park, P.Eng. K.V. Tarnai-Lokhorst, P.Eng.; J. Turner, P.Ag. ASSOCIATION STAFF A.J. English, P.Eng. C hief E xecutive O fficer and R egistrar T.M.Y. Chong, P.Eng. C hief R egulatory O fficer and D eputy R egistrar J.Y. Sinclair C hief O perating O fficer M.L. Archibald D irector , C ommunications and S takeholder E ngagement J. Cho, CGA D irector , F inance and A dministration D. Gamble D irector , I nformation S ystems P.R. Mitchell, P.Eng. D irector , P rofessional P ractice , S tandards and D evelopment D. Olychick D irector , M ember S ervices G.M. Pichler, P.Eng. D irector , R egistration

I Am Listening

Dr. Michael Wrinch, P.Eng., FEC President

E. Swartz, LLB D irector , L egislation , E thics and C ompliance V. Lai, CGA A ssociate D irector , F inance and A dministration M.A. Rigolo P.Eng., A ssociate D irector , E ngineering A dmissions M onique K eiran , M anaging E ditor

EDITORIAL BOARD K.C. Chan, P.Eng., CPA; S. Chiu, P.Eng.

D.E. Falkins, Eng.L.; T. George, P.Eng.; H. Ghalibafian, P.Eng. R. Gupta, P.Eng.; S.K. Hayes, P.Eng.; M.A. Klippenstein, P.Eng. A.M. Westin, GIT; M.J. Zieleman, EIT

Advertising material must reach the publication by the 5th of the preceding month (e.g., January 5 for the Jan/Feb issue). Advertising Contact: Gillian Cobban Tel: 604.929.6733 Email: advertising@apeg.bc.ca

president@ apeg.bc.ca

Design/Production: Fusion FX Design & Marketing Inc Printed in Canada by Mitchell Press Ltd on recycled paper

Subscription rates per issue $4.50; six issues yearly $25.00. Annual subscriptions of association members are apportioned from membership dues in the amount of $15 per member (rates do not include tax). Innovation is published six times a year by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia. As the official publication of the association, Innovation is circulated to members of the engineering and geoscience professions, architects, contractors and industry executives. The views expressed in any article contained herein do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Council or membership of this association. Submission Guidelines: Innovation encourages unsolicited articles and photos. By submitting material to Innovation , you grant APEGBC a royalty-free, worldwide licence to publish the material; and you warrant that you have the authority to grant such rights and have obtained waivers of all associated moral rights. Innovation reserves the right to edit material for length, clarity and conformity with our editorial guidelines (apeg.bc.ca/innovation-editorial) and is under no obligation to publish any or all submissions or any portion thereof, including credits. All material is copyright. Please contact the Managing Editor for reprint permission.

ISSN 1206-3622 Publications Mail Agreement No 40065271. Registration No 09799.

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Innovation, Suite 200 - 4010 Regent Street, Burnaby, BC V5C 6N2.

US Postmaster: Innovation (ISSN 1206-3622) is published bimonthly for $25.00 per year by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia, c/o US Agent-Transborder Mail, 4708 Caldwell Rd E, Edgewood, WA 98372-9221. Periodicals postage paid at Puyallup, WA, and at additional mailing offices, US PO #007-927. POSTMASTER send address changes (covers only) to Innovation, c/o Transborder Mail, PO Box 6016, Federal Way, WA 98063-6016.

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Submit letters to the editor, 300 words or less, to innovation@apeg.bc.ca by June 24 for the July/August issue. Letters are published as space is available. Opinions expressed in letters are not necessarily endorsed by APEGBC. Remembering Phil Hill, P.Eng., With great sadness, the UBC Department of Mechanical with a student, with Job-like patience explaining some subtlety of thermodynamics. All who interacted with him felt privileged to work with such an exemplary human.

Engineering reports that Dr. Philip Hill, P.Eng., Emeritus Professor and former Head of the Department, passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 17, following a short battle with cancer. I was fortunate to have overlapped for a number of years with Phil. His was a remarkable intellect. In recognition of his enormous talents, Phil received numerous major honours for engineering. He won the R.A. McLachlan Memorial Award, our professional association’s highest award. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He won the Encana Principal Award of the Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation, Canada’s highest award for engineering innovation. His work on the thermodynamic properties of steam and on the fueling of diesel engines with natural gas was world-leading. He was a man whose work was respected by faculty at the best universities in the world—over the years, I have spoken with colleagues at Caltech, at Cambridge, and at MIT, all of whom had the highest regard for Phil. Phil was much more than a towering intellect: he was a gentlemen. Phil’s personal warmth, his integrity, and his profound concern for the welfare of humanity were apparent to all who knew him. I can still picture Phil hunched over in conversation

Phil will live on in our thoughts and through his impact on the thousands of students and colleagues he interacted with over the decades. —Dr. Sheldon Green, P.Eng. Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UBC Vancouver, BC Public Interest Bylaw Proposal Sparks Response Once again, the membership has clearly spoken against mandatory CPD reporting. As professionals, we have an obligation to stay current in our fields of expertise. All active engineers that I know do this routinely. Furthermore, I am unaware that anyone has shown that public safety has been enhanced by doing more record keeping. We do not need to waste time keeping track of mundane activities such as reading trade magazines—better that record keeping time be spent on actual professional development. We already have a code of ethics which requires professional behavior and we have an enforcement mechanism for those members who jeopardize public safety or our standards. We do not Since graduation, you’ve upgraded your computer, your cell phone and probably even your car. What about you? Isn’t it time you thought about upgrading your knowledge and skills? Upgrade — your way — with an on-line Master’s program. The on-line Master’s program in Electric Power Engineering in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo, o€ers advanced, state-of-the-art, training in Electric Power Engineering. The Program is designed for engineering personnel from the electric power industry, electrical engineering graduates, and other professionals looking to upgrade and accelerate their career in the power and energy sector. The program o€ers a full spectrum of courses, o€ered over three terms each year, which are relevant to the power industry. Courses are taught by world-class faculty members from the Department’s Power & Energy Systems Group; one of the best power engineering research groups in North America. Program Information One of the following three program options is available to all program participants: » Master of Engineering (MEng) in Electric Power Engineering : Awarded on completion of 9 courses » Graduate Diploma (GDip) in Electric Power Engineering : Awarded on completion of 6 courses » Certificate of Completion : Awarded on completion of a single course. The MEng and GDip Programs are fully approved by the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies. For more information on course schedules, fees, and other details, please visit ece.uwaterloo.ca/onlineMEng .

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need another program with additional rules, regulations, policies, procedures, monitors, sanctions, staff, meetings, and all that goes with a new initiative. However, continued attempts by our association’s executive and staff show they are determined to impose this requirement. In the past, the association has proven it is willing to overturn members’ wishes by obtaining legislative authority to impose rules and make decisions without membership approval. After the latest defeat of the CPD bylaw, I fear that this history is about to be repeated. On page 13 of the January/February issue of Innovation , an article describes how the association has already applied to government for a change in the Engineers and Geoscientists Act that would enable “… Council to pass bylaws, without member ratification, on matters related to professional practice and public safety. ” If this amendment is granted, I expect Council will quickly act to impose CPD requirements. Those of us who are opposed to the CPD program should let Council and staff know this is not acceptable. —Brian Weeks, P.Eng. Harrison Hot Springs, BC In an article titled “Amendment Requested to Safeguard Public Safety Mandate” in the January/February 2016 edition of Innovation , APEGBC attempts to justify the request to Government to amend the Engineers and Geoscientists Act to allow APEGBC Council to enact bylaws addressing public safety without formal approval by members. In the penultimate paragraph of the background section of the article, APEGBC states “Due to member concerns at the time, Council withdrew this request in 2012 to allow for further consideration.” This sentence is a gross simplification of the facts.

At the Fall 2011 APEGBC Annual General Meeting, a member’s motion asked Council to reconsider the amendment request; this motion was defeated (by the small proportion of members who attended the AGM). Immediately following the AGM, several members commenced gathering support for a vote of ALL members as provided by Section 12(7) of the Act . In January 2012, 70 members (including 19 Past-Presidents) requested that Council poll the members on the following motion: that Council withdraw the request for amendments that would allow Council to make changes to the Bylaws of the Association without the approval of 2/3 of the votes cast by ballot as required by the Act. A vote was held in April/May 2012, with the result of 69.8% Yes votes. More members voted for this motion than had voted in the previous election for Council! According to a report in the March/April 2012 edition of Innovation , Council withdrew the request to Government in late December 2011, presumably when Council became aware of the request for a vote of all members. The 2012 resounding vote of members opposed to Council’s actions demonstrates how the democratic process works; a democratic process that Council now has asked Government to take away from our members. —Ernest A. Portfors P.Eng. North Vancouver, BC Wow. What contempt for the professional judgement of APEGBC’s voting members. Should this coup succeed, who will protect the public from the consequences of Council’s dictatorial agenda? Checks and balances are important. Council’s arrogant conduct demeans all conscientious members of the association. —Keith Antonelli, P.Eng. Vancouver, BC

Mission: Innovation As APEGBC’s official publication, Innovation aims to publish information that is of interest and relevance to the professions, is balanced, objective and impartial, affects the conduct of members, and showcases innovative engineering and geoscience work of members. A secondary aim is to provide a forum for the exchange of views among APEGBC members through the publication of letters to the editor.

GIC Innovation Qtr Pg may12PRINT.pdf 1 2016-05-12 11:52 AM

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n ews OQM Practices Bring Recognition

Commitment to quality recently led to community kudos for Allnorth Consultants Ltd. The company, which is certified under APEGBC’s Organizational Quality Management (OQM) Program and has applied OQM practices throughout its North American offices, recently received the 2016 Quality Management Award from the North Saskatchewan Business Association. The award distinguishes businesses that recognise and pursue activities that

define, promote and inspire quality products, services and values, and is part of the association’s Business Builder Awards . “Being recognised by this award shows our employees, communities and clients Allnorth’s commitment to quality in all that we do,” says Allnorth Quality Manager Andrew Wilkie, CTech. “It’s a result of the hard work and dedication from our people, as we continue to build a strong quality culture in our company.” Wilkie says the award is in part due to the implementation of OQM practices across the company and is a testament to the value of the OQM program. Engineers Canada Recognises APEGBC Members Five APEGBC members received national recognition at the 2016 Engineers Canada Awards. The awards recognise engineering excellence and the winners’ outstanding contributions to their community, to their profession, and to the safety and well-being of Canadians. Gold Medal Award Dr. Donald Mavinic, P.Eng., University of British Columbia Young Engineer Achievement Award Selena Wilson, P.Eng., McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd. Meritorious Service Award for Professional Service Andrew Mill, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., FEC, David Nairne & Associates Ltd. National Award for an Engineering Project or Achievement “SunMine” principal engineer Michel de Spot, P.Eng., EcoSmart Foundation Inc. Award for the Support of Women in the Engineering Profession Lianna Mah, P.Eng., FEC, Associated Engineering Members Excel in Wood Construction APEGBC members recently received recognition fromWoodWORKS! BC at the 2016 Wood Design Awards in BC. The awards recognise leadership in advancing wood use in design and building. Wood Champion Award Andrew Harmsworth, P.Eng., FEC, GHL Consultants Ltd., for his contributions to the establishment of wood-friendly building code changes and his leadership on tall wood construction in BC and Canada. 2016 Engineer Award Thomas Leung, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., FEC, Thomas Leung Structural Engineering Inc., for his firm’s efficient designs and practical solutions in the six-storey light-frame wood construction sector. International Wood Design Award Gerald Epp, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., StructureCraft Builders, for his work on the Tsingtao Pearl Visitor Centre, in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. Jury’s Choice Award The UBC Student Union Building and its designer/project team, led by C.C. Yao, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. More than 103 nominations in 13 categories were submitted for the awards. APEGBC member Mark Porter, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., Associated Engineering, served as a judge, alongside Peter Wood, Weyerhaeuser, and architects Ian Niamath, AIBC, RAIC, and Joseph Mayo, Assoc. AIA.

Opus is pleased to announce three new managerial appointments within our team.

Carol Campbell Victoria Office Manager

Carol is a Senior Project Manager with 24 years’ experience in project management and civil engineering. She joined Opus in 2005, and relocated to open and manage the Whitehorse Office for the past 4 years. Carol will focus on working with municipalities and First Nations on Vancouver Island.

Phil Cook Abbotsford Office Manager

Phil is Opus’ Design Build Sector Leader with 25 years’ experience in consulting engineering and construction projects for water, wastewater, transportation and other municipal infrastructure. Alison Anderson Whitehorse Office Manager Alison is a Project Manager with 5 years’ engineering experience with Opus and in the Northern Canada region. Alison has a wide range of water and wastewater experience for Federal, Municipal and First Nations clients.

Head Office 210 - 889 Harbourside Drive, North Vancouver, BC, V7P 3S1 t. +1 604-990-4800 e. info@opusdaytonknight.com

Bob’s multi-disciplinary background as both a water resource engineer and geomorphologist has allowed him to participate in a wide range of drainage and river engineering, as well as geomorphologic and geoenvironmental projects, for over 25 years. Bob will join our Kamloops office

RW (Bob) Askin M.Sc., MCSCE, P.Geo., P.Eng. as a Senior Water Resource Engineer/ Applied Geoscientist. Northwest Hydraulic Consultants is pleased to welcome

and strengthen NHC’s capabilities company-wide. We look forward to the opportunities that his experience will provide to our clients.

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as soc ia t i on notes

2016/2017 Nominating Committee Candidates for Election to Council In accordance with the association’s Bylaw 3, notice is hereby given of the nominees for the 2016/2017 Council of APEGBC. The 2016 Nominating Committee selected the following nominees: Candidate Discipline Branch 2016/2017 Council Election In accordance with APEGBC’s Bylaw 3, there are two ways by which a member or limited licensee may be nominated to stand for Council election: 1) by the Nominating Committee, or 2) in writing by any 25 or more members and/or limited licensees in good standing.

2016 Nominating Committee Dr. John J. Clague, P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.), Past President, Chair Branch Appointees Iqbal Bhuiyan, P.Eng., Vancouver Branch Heqing (Albert) Jian, P.Eng., Fraser Valley Branch Piotr Mazur, P.Eng., Sea to Sky Branch Malcolm Metcalfe, P.Eng., Okanagan Branch Eric Pettit, P.Eng., Victoria Branch John Stephens, P.Eng., West Kootenay Branch Don Williams, P.Eng., Central Interior Branch Wen Zhang, P.Eng., Burnaby/New Westminster Branch Council Appointees Emily Cheung, P.Eng., FEC Frank Denton, P.Eng. FEC, FGC (Hon.) Mark Porter, P.Eng., Struct. Eng., Doug VanDine, P.Eng./P.Geo. FEC, FGC Kimberly Wong, P.Eng.

Presidential Candidate R.P. (Bob) Stewart, P.Eng.

Electrical

Vancouver

Vice Presidential Candidates (one to be elected) D.I. (David) Harvey, P.Eng., StructEng., FEC

Structural

Richmond/Delta

K.V. (Katherina) Tarnai-Lokhorst, P.Eng., FEC Mechanical

Victoria

Councillors (five to be elected) C.J. (Caroline) Andrewes, P.Eng. D.E. (Dan) Campbell, P.Eng. C.I. (Catherine) Fritter, P.Eng.

Metallurgical Mechanical

Vancouver Sea to Sky

Electrical

Richmond/Delta

L.A. (Leon) Gous, P.Eng.

Civil

Vancouver

C.J. (Catherine) Hickson, P.Geo., FGC

Geology

Burnaby/New Westminster

V.G. (Vijay) Kallur, P.Eng., FEC

Civil

Richmond/Delta

N.B. (Neil) Kelly, P.Eng. J. (Julius) Pataky, P.Eng.

Mechanical

Sea to Sky Vancouver

Electrical

A.E. (Albert) Sommerfeld, P.Eng.

Civil

Central Interior West Kootenay

L.B. (Larry) Spence, P.Eng. J.T. (Thomas) Tiedje, P.Eng.

Mechanical

Electrical

Victoria

M.P. (Matthew) Walton-Knight, P.Eng.

Civil

Sea to Sky

Nomination by 25 Members Members are reminded that nominations for President, Vice President and Councillors may also be made in writing by any 25 or more members or limited licensees in good standing. Such nominations, signed by the members and/or limited licensees making the nomination with the written consent of the nominee, must be received by the Registrar at the association office no later than 5:00 PM , Wednesday, June 29, 2016. The form for nomination by 25 members is available at apeg.bc.ca/25_Member_Nomination_Form, or by contacting Tracy Richards at trichards@apeg.bc.ca or 604.412.6055. Role of the Nominating Committee The Nominating Committee is charged with seeking and selecting a slate of candidates for election to Council that they believe best demonstrate the qualities needed for strong leadership of the association. Specifically, the committee sought candidates that have demonstrated skills in strategic thinking, organisational management, financial fluency, governance and strategic planning, in addition to a minimum of five years of experience as a professional member or limited licensee. To fulfil its mandate, the committee sought candidates through a series of Call for Nominations notices sent to the membership, and committee members reached out to potential candidates in regions throughout BC.

Under Bylaw 3(b), in order to qualify as Nominating Committee candidates, candidates for the office of President must have served on Council for at least two full years prior to taking office, and candidates for the office of Vice President must have served at least one year on Council prior to taking office. Previous experience on Council is not required for write-in candidates. Important Dates Wednesday, June 29, 2016 Nominations by 25 members must be received at the association office by 5:00 pm. Friday, July 15, 2016 Nominees’ Statements of Candidacy must be received at the association office by 5:00 pm. Friday, September 9, 2016

Election package and ballots will be available online to all members by this date. Paper ballots available upon request. Friday, October 7, 2016, 12:00 pm noon All ballots must be submitted and received by noon. Election results will be published on the APEGBC website by Wednesday, October 12, 2016.

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Members Identify APEGBC Areas of Success and Areas for Improvement Just over 2,000 members participated in APEGBC’s recent Member Satisfaction Survey, which assesses the alignment between APEGBC’s duty, programs, and services, and members’ expectations and perceptions. The results aid Council and staff in identifying areas of success, areas in which program improvements could be made, and areas where member perceptions or understanding are not aligned with APEGBC’s role.

and maintaining academic and experience standards for entry to the professions (16.16%). Members also provided valuable input on the process of registration (66.34% satisfied, 21.79% somewhat satisfied), professional practice guidelines (54.46% satisfied, 24.41% somewhat satisfied), the content of Innovation magazine (57.12% satisfied, 28.84% somewhat satisfied), and the amount of email communication received from APEGBC (80.37% feel it is about right). Other areas measured include participation in voting, consultations, and providing feedback to APEGBC; information related to the investigation, discipline, and enforcement processes; member services such as career listings and affinity programs; events organised by branches and divisions; and, volunteer service. Overall, most respondents indicated they felt the survey was valuable (45.2%) or somewhat valuable (43.7%), and informative (40.0%) or somewhat informative (43.5%). Council received the survey results at their April 15 meeting. APEGBC staff are reviewing the feedback and determining ways in which it can inform improvements to programs and services. Staff will also determine what additional information could be provided to clarify areas of misunderstanding or misalignment between members’ perceptions and APEGBC’s duty.

Overall, the survey found that satisfaction across all areas amounted to 65%. Findings showed that the highest levels of satisfaction related to the resources available about ethics, law, and conduct (72.15% satisfied), interactions with APEGBC staff (78.42% satisfied), and the information available about members’ obligations under the Code of Ethics (81.96% satisfied). Areas of lower satisfaction related to access to Council (40.76%), information available about the Practice Review program (38.98%), and APEGBC’s professional development course offerings (35.01%). The majority of respondents indicated they felt APEGBC is fulfilling its duty (50.73%) or fulfilling it most of the time (25.88%). Those who felt APEGBC is not fulfilling its duty indicated perceived shortfalls in the following areas: protecting the interests of members and licensees (63.09%); establishing, maintaining, and enforcing standards of professional and ethical practice (24.51%); and establishing

A ndy M S mith C c B y 2.0

Annual Conference and AGM Take Place in Victoria: October 20–22, 2016 Join us October 20–22, 2016, in Victoria, BC, for APEGBC’s 2016 Annual Conference and 97 th Annual General Meeting. The Victoria Conference Centre serves as the site of two days of professional development, networking opportunities, and a tradeshow, followed by the half-day AGM. Professional development streams include engineering and geoscience in the resource sector, municipal engineering, environmental engineering and geoscience, emerging

All members are encouraged to attend the AGM, scheduled for the morning of October 22. There is no charge to attend the AGM business portions of the conference. Conference information and online registration are available at apeg.bc.ca/ac16. Sponsorship opportunities are available, with benefits to meet businesses’ needs, including recognition onsite, at events, on promotional materials, or online. For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Marketing Specialist Maria-Carmen Kelly at mckelly@apeg.bc.ca.

professional, management, structural, better business, energy efficiency and renewable energy, diversity and climate change.

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BC Auditor General Releases Report on Mining Sector Compliance and Enforcement British Columbia Auditor General Carol Bellringer has issued a report on her audit of compliance and enforcement in the BC mining sector. The audit was conducted to determine whether BC's Ministry of Energy and Mines and Ministry of Environment activities related to regulatory compliance and enforcement activi- ties in mining protect the province from environmental risks. The report, released May 3, also reviewed the Ministry of Energy and Mines’ performance as the regulator for the Mount Polley Mine. In her report, Bellringer concludes that the ministries’

the recommendations, the Government of British Columbia stated that it does not support the need for the ministries’ reorganisation, but is prepared to discuss the concept further with the Office of the Auditor General. Government outlined its intention to establish a mining compliance and enforcement board that will address the need for greater integration between the two ministries, as well as with the Environmental Assessment Office. APEGBC is reviewing the report in detail to determine the impacts it may have on members and the practice of engineering and geoscience in BC. As a regulator, APEGBC’s primary interest is in seeking to minimise risk to public safety. APEGBC currently has an investigation underway on the role of engineering professionals involved in the Mount Polley tailings dam collapse. Following up on the recommendations of the Independent Engineering Expert Panel Report on Mount Polley , APEGBC is continuing to provide input on the Ministry of Energy and Mines’ development of new codes for the mining industry and is working to clarify the role and responsibilities of Professionals of Record within this sector. APEGBC Council also recently approved the APEGBC Professional Practice Guidelines: Site Characterisation for Dam Foundations in British Columbia at their April meeting, with publication targeted for summer 2016. The Auditor General’s report, An Audit of Compliance and Enforcement of the Mining Sector, is available from the Office of the Auditor General’s website, www.bcauditor.com/pubs/2016/ audit-compliance-and-enforcement-mining-sector.

“compliance and enforcement activities of the mining sector are inadequate to protect the province from significant environmental risks.” It identifies gaps in planning, resources, and tools. With respect to the Mount Polley tailings dam, the report notes that weak regulatory oversight by the Ministry of Energy and Mines allowed inconsistencies within the intended dam design to persist, and cites over-reliance on qualified professionals as one factor. The report notes that the mandate of the Ministry of Energy and Mines includes a responsibility to both promote and regulate mining, and that having both activities within the ministry “creates an irreconcilable conflict.” As a result, Bellringer’s overall recommendation is that government create an integrated and independent compliance and enforcement unit for mining activities, and that compliance and enforcement be removed from the ministry. She also makes an additional 16 recommendations to improve compliance and enforcement processes. Included in the report was the government’s response to the audit findings, which acknowledged the recommendations. While indicating agreement with most of

Update: Task Force Examines Regulatory Oversight of Corporate Practice The APEGBC Advisory Task Force on Corporate Practice has met twice since January and has begun work to examine whether the association should pursue regulatory oversight for corporate practice in BC. The task force is working through a high-level discussion of representatives from the manufacturing, construction, and high-tech industries, provincial and local governments, major utilities, the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies - BC (ACEC- BC), and others.

experiences, successes and challenges. The association’s primary duty of public protection remains central to its consideration of this issue. Also key is ensuring that the perspectives of individual members and the industry are heard. Member consultation is expected to proceed later this year. Additional information, a list of task force members, and consultation opportunities will be published on an ongoing basis at apeg.bc.ca/ corporatepractice. Questions or comments on this issue are welcome at corporatepractice@apeg.bc.ca.

Over the coming months, the task force will work to develop models for possible corporate regulation in BC. As part of this, the group is reviewing existing models within the engineering, geoscience, and other professions across Canada, and consulting with engineering and geoscience regulators and other professions to learn from their

the potential benefits, challenges, and key problems corporate regulation could address for the public, members, organisations, and APEGBC. The task force’s diverse representation ensures the discussions capture valuable, broad perspectives and insights. Its members include APEGBC members and

Council Approves 2016/2017 Budget Council has approved APEGBC’s 2016/2017 operating and capital budget. The budget was prepared in accordance to the Council-approved 2016/2017 Budget Guidelines and reviewed by the Executive Committee prior to being presented to Council at its April 15 meeting. Increases in revenue forecasted in the budget will be achieved mainly from membership growth, as well as from fees raised to cover the increased costs of providing the online

professional practice exam. The fee charged to applicants taking the exam will remain at $325.50 (including GST). The annual professional membership fee will remain at the 2015/2016 rate during this budget cycle. This is Year 3 of the three-year budget approved in April 11, 2014, and aligns fully with the association’s strategic plan. For more information on the 2016/2017 budget and process, visit apeg.bc.ca/Responsible-Financial-Management.

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as soc ia t i on notes c ounc i l repor t

APEGBC’s Council of elected members and government representatives meets throughout the year to conduct the business of association governance.

Revisions Made to Sustainability Guidelines Revisions to the Sustainability Guidelines were approved by Council, with final editorial and legal review to follow. The guidelines were updated to better reference climate change and related factors. Statement of Compliance Related to Pool Regulation Prompted by the absence of standardised wording for a compliance statement required by the Pool Regulation f or the construction and operation of pools, and the potential for resulting related professional liability issues, APEGBC worked with the BCMinistry of Health to develop a Statement of Compliance that could be used for this purpose. Council endorsed the British Columbia Pool Regulation Statement of Compliance, pending further editorial amendments. Professional Practice Guidelines for Site Characterisation for Dam Foundations in BC Approved Council approved the APEGBC Professional Practice Guidelines: Site Characterisation for Dam Foundations in BC for final editorial and legal review prior to publication. The guidelines were developed in response to Recommendation 6 in the Report on Mount Polley Tailings Storage Facility Breach prepared by the Independent Expert Engineering Investigation and Review Panel. Member Satisfaction Survey Results Council received the result of the Member Satisfaction Survey conducted in February/ March, 2016. The survey is conducted every three years to determine alignment between APEGBC’s duty, programs and services and members’ expectations and perceptions (Page 10). AGMMotion on Continuing Professional Development Program At the request of Council, the CPD Committee reviewed the AGM motion that “Council consider revising the current voluntary CPD tracking guidelines and the online system to better reflect the simplified tracking as recommended by the CPD Committee.” In the context of the defeated bylaw for a formal CPD program, and based on cost, time and resources required to change the program requirements—such as updating the online recording tool and developing a new guideline document—the CPD Committee

recommended that the voluntary program be kept as is until further direction is provided by Council on how to move forward. Council approved the recommendation. 2017 Budget Approved; Revised PPE Exam Cost Confirmed Council approved the 2016/2017 operating and capital budget. The proposed budget was prepared in accordance with Council’s approved 2016/2017 Budget Guidelines. Council also approved a motion that the Professional Practice Examination Fee remain at $325.50, including GST. This fee was set at the February meeting, and Council had asked that it be reviewed and reconfirmed for future examination sessions at the April 2016 meeting, following the 2017 budget review. Human Rights and Diversity Guidelines Approved Council approved the Professional Practice Guidelines: Human Rights and Diversity for final editorial and legal review before publication. The guidelines were created with the aim of providing guidance to APEGBC professionals on dealing with human rights and diversity issues in the course of their professional practice, with input from APEGBC committees and divisions, and internal and external stakeholder groups, through a coordinated consultation process. APPOINTMENTS Advisory Task Force on Corporate Practice David Chwaklinski, P.Eng., FEC Patricia Chong, P.Eng. Kathy Groves, P.Eng. EdMiska, P.Eng. Dirk Nyland, P.Eng. CPDCommittee Jerrick Dangaran, P.Eng. Anja Lanz, EIT Dr. MahmoudMahmoud, P.Eng., FEC Dennis McJunkin, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) Editorial Board Dr. Houman Ghalibafian, P.Eng. AllisonWestin, GIT Investigation Committee Neil Nyberg, P.Eng. Practice ReviewCommittee

APRIL 15, 2016 APEGBC Provides Feedback to Geoscientists Canada Council passed a motion to provide feedback to Geoscientists Canada—the national organisation of provincial and territorial geoscience regulators—regarding current definitions of geoscience, a draft Geoscientists-in-Training Program Guide, the applicability of a proposed Engineers Canada national code of ethics to geoscience, and the board’s diversity. Interprovincial Transfers: Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island Council approved a motion authorising the signing of an agreement with the engineering regulatory bodies for Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island to enablemultiple applications for professional engineer licensing or regulation through a single application process, as well as the allocation of staff resources toworkwith the participating jurisdictions tomitigate identified operational issues before implementation.

Vijay Kallur, P.Eng., FEC Technical Review Board Sebastian Guerrero, P.Eng.

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Revisiting Ancient Engineering Principles in a Modern Construction Context

James (Jay) Drew, P.Eng. Thousands of years ago, Roman engineers built infrastructure across their empire. They used available materials such as timber, rock, earth and mortar. Timber resists tensile forces, but deteriorates in open weather conditions. The other materials are serviceable in compression, and shear, and ancient Roman engineers used them to build long-term structures that would experience limited tensile forces. The Roman arch, for example, distributes both dead and active loads through the structure to the base and tolerates seismic loading if properly designed. Some Roman structures built with stone and mortar—which is similar to concrete—remain standing today. Yet, today, it is considered acceptable to design bridges and other structures with service lives of 85 to 100 years. Some modern bridges do not last 50 years without costly rehabilitation. Even our profession, which is governed by a Code of Ethics that instructs us to protect the public interest—which includes spending client and tax dollars wisely—has come to accept limited service life spans as normal and acceptable. Why do we fall so short of our Roman predecessors? One of the main reasons is because we build with reinforced concrete. It is a fairly inexpensive building material, and engineering students are taught in their first concrete-design course that steel and concrete make the “perfect marriage” of load-bearing structures—the coefficients of thermal expansion are almost identical and, thus, the materials will not destroy each other with temperature fluctuations. What students are not told about is the nasty divorce that happens after some 85 years. The expansion of embedded rebar in a concrete matrix limits the service life of reinforced concrete structures in open weather or wet environments. Concrete is porous. It allows moisture and oxygen to penetrate to the rebar, which causes rusting and subsequent expansion. This, in turn, cracks the concrete. Students are also encouraged to minimise the dimensions of load- bearing members, which results in stresses close to the maximum allowable levels. Higher stress contributes to earlier failures. If concrete does not contain steel and is subjected to predominately compressive forces, it lasts considerably longer, even in wet environments.

As current structures are replaced, wouldn’t it be fantastic to replace them with 2,000-year structures? Although compressive designs, such as those favoured by ancient Roman engineers, are not practical for many modern structures, appropriate structures to consider include bridges and tunnels with spans of 30 metres or less, as examples scattered across Europe demonstrate. We could build highway overpasses, small bridges, railway snow sheds, wine cellars, underground homes, and so on, to last . Think of the incredible savings for residents of towns or cities that would not need to rebuild bridges for another 20 centuries or more. Because modern concrete is a relatively inexpensive building material, by increasing the size of compressive concrete members in a structural arch, two considerable benefits accrue for little additional cost. The wider load-bearing surfaces between members makes the arch more stable, and the concrete lasts longer in service at lower stress levels. Furthermore, compressive arches constructed with modular voussoirs and locking keys are more stable than monolithically cast arches without reinforcement. A one-piece arch will eventually crack and may fail if the crack occurs at the wrong angle and location. In modular arches, cracks are predetermined between voussoirs to remain stable. Keyways keep the voussoirs aligned during movement caused by differential settling, landslides, and so on. The timing for revisiting this approach is perfect. The current federal government is committed to stimulating the economy by building infrastructure. Let us, the engineering profession, take a leadership role in encouraging today’s politicians to favour designs with lower annual costs of ownership tied to extended service lifespans. I believe this approach is feasible and have dedicated the last 15 years to this goal. If we work together, BC engineers can lead in promoting the construction of long-lasting infrastructure that will benefit society in more ways than we can imagine. v Jay Drew, P.Eng., is president of Richmond, BC-based Lock-Block Ltd., makers of Lego-like, concrete retaining wall blocks. He is also an inventor, and keeps his 1938 Dodge vehicle (Shown) in excellent working condition.

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Abbotsford Senior Secondary: “A school to be proud of”

Known to locals as “Abby Senior,” the new Abbotsford Senior Secondary School incorporates technology suggested by BC Hydro that has helped make it 33% more energy efficient than it might otherwise have been. The old Abby Senior dated from 1952 and was “deteriorating rapidly,” says Bob Mainman, Assistant Director of Facilities for School District No. 34 (Abbotsford). “It turned out that it was more economical to retain a few of the newer sections, two gyms and some classrooms, and build the rest new – and better. We had the opportunity to make the new school a school to be proud of, that the students would really like to come to every morning.” School District 34 also wanted the new Abby Secondary to be a model of how to build responsibly, sustainably and energy efficiently, even on a limited budget. With the help of an energy-modeling study funded by BC Hydro’s New Construction Program, the District was able “to ask all of the ‘what if” questions: what if we turn the building this way, what if we add triple glazing, what if we go to three storeys instead of two,” says Rick Walker, in charge of energy management for the District. The result is a building situated east-west to capture the most light and heat, with a stunning, three-storey, cast-in-place concrete, steel, glass and wood rotunda that provides natural “stack effect” ventilation. It also features increased roof and wall insulation, a heat recovery ventilator, and a wind and solar powered computer lab (if it’s cloudy or calm, students pedal stationary bikes to generate electricity). The building’s advanced, energy-efficient lighting systems – designed by Abbotsford’s Jarvis Engineering Consultant’s Ltd. – account for 33 per cent of the school’s total electrical energy savings, but perhaps the most innovative energy conservation measure of all is an open loop ground source heat pump system that uses well water for year-round heating and cooling. Making the new Abby Senior even more special: it was designed by Ryan Huston of Chilliwack’s Craven Huston Powers Architects. Huston graduated from Abby Senior in 1975. 37 years later, he returned to design a beautiful new, sustainable school for generations to come.

Looking for new ways to build better? Visit bchydro.com/construction or call 1 866 522 4713 to learn more.

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