INNOVATION September-October 2014

Portage Creek Bridge on Vancouver Island; George Massey Tunnel (Hwy 99) and Queensborough Bridge (Hwy 91A) both south of Vancouver. These systems are now being incorporated into the BCSIMS network. In 2008 the newW.R. Bennett Bridge opened on Highway 97 near Kelowna. The partially floating bridge was instrumented with a 12-channel accelerometer system. In 2009, the new Pitt River Bridge opened on Highway 7 near Maple Ridge. The cable-stayed bridge was instrumented with a 46-channel system including accelerometers and wind sensors. In 2011, instrumen- tation was installed on the 50-year old Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Bridge on Highway 1, between Vancouver and North Vancouver. The system features 122 channels of acceler- ometers, free-fields, downhole accelerometers, strain gauges, and temperature and wind sensors. A new structure with a large number of sensors now be- ing incorporated into the network is the Port Mann Bridge on Highway 1. The 10-lane cable-stayed bridge will be instrumented with more than 300 sensors as part of the Port Mann Highway 1 Improvement program. This major infrastructure project includes the instrumentation of three underpass bridges, one 650 metre-long twin steel girder viaduct type structure and seven more strong mo- tion network stations. Another major infrastructure project in BC, the South Fraser Perimeter Road, will add several more interchange structures and ground motion stations to the network this year.

In 2003 the Geologic Survey of Canada (GSC) started deploy- ing a pilot urban Strong Motion Network (SMN) in BC. As part of this network, the GSC developed a strong motion seismograph that is permanently connected to the internet, automatically reporting on earthquakes to remote receivers. The instrument also continuously computes a set of parameters that character- ize the intensity of shaking and actively reports those values to the GSC’s data centres and to the BCSIMS shake maps whenever ground shaking exceeds predefined threshold levels. Over the last several years MoTI has been working to expand the range and number of the stations in the network. The BCSIMS website (bcsims.ca) is the gateway for user interac- tion and operational management. There are two viewmodes – pub- lic and restricted. The public view consists of shake maps intended for general public consumption and the restricted view contains further information for advanced users, such as structure condition, downloadable data and unpublished results. The implementation of the BCSIMS will help transform the current practice of inspecting and evaluating all structures after an earthquake to a more rational and effective one that makes ef- fective use of state-of-the-art sensing technology with faster and more efficient data analysis and interpretation. Inspections can then be focused and prioritized to maximize the effectiveness of scarce resources. v

Thank you . . . to all our loyal clients. It has been a pleasure keeping pace with the insurance needs of APEGBC members for over 25 years, through our customized APEGBC Member Insurance Program ! In 1989, we developed this program exclusively for APEGBC members and we remain committed to providing you with outstanding value and quality insurance coverage for your homes, vehicles and businesses. Call us today for a competitive

no-obligation quote: 1.800.663.3739 www.parkinsurance.ca

Visit Us at Booth #4 APEGBC Annual Conference & AGM Come meet our team. Staff from Park Insurance and Northbridge Insurance will be on hand to answer your insurance questions.

25 Years 1989—2014

25

S E P T E M B E R /OC TO B E R 2 014

i n n o v a t i o n