Dean Shiskowski appointed as Corporate Practice Leader, Wastewater Management

Kerry Rudd, President and CEO, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dean Shiskowski, Ph.D., P.Eng. to the position of Practice Leader, Wastewater Management for the Associated Engineering group of companies. Dean has more than 15 years experience as a Wastewater Process Specialist. He has participated in planning, treatment facility evaluation/design, and resource recovery projects across Canada and overseas. He is recognized internationally for his expertise in bioreactor nitrous oxide generation and participates in related WERF and WEF greenhouse gas initiatives. in addition to Practice Leader, Wastewater Management, Dean is also the Company's Process Wastewater Discipline Group Chair and participates in the company's research at universities in Canada and the United States.

Bermuda Airport project completed on time despite Hurricane Bertha

Patrick Stancombe provided resident inspection services on the Bermuda international Airport rehabilitation project

The Bermuda international Airport was originally constructed in 1943 by the u.S. Navy. Since 1995, the airport has been operated by the Bermuda Government Department of Operations (DAO) as an international airport under ownership of the Bermuda Government. Bermuda International Airport provides regular scheduled international flight service to major cities in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

The Bermuda Ministry of Tourism and Transport, Department of Airport Operations, announced a major capital project to resurface the Airport's runway, taxiways, and aprons in early January 2007. A call for Expressions of Interest for the project was advertised locally and internationally. The Department engaged Associated Engineering for the design of the 2008 airside paving project, the scope of which included Runway 12-30 pavement rehabilitation, Taxiway A, B, and R resurfacing, Apron I resurfacing, and application of new taxiway, runway, and apron pavement markings. Associated Engineering completed preliminary and detailed design and construction inspection for the project.

Runway Rehabilitation
Runway 12-30 is 2,954 metres in length and 45 metres wide. The critical aircraft for Runway 12-30 is the Boeing B777. The largest aircraft to be used for the airport facilities is the Boeing B747. The scope of work for the Runway 12-30 rehabilitation included milling of the existing pavement, hot mix asphalt concrete resurfacing of the existing runway surface, and application of new runway pavement markings for 2,500 metres of Runway 12-30.

Taxiway and Apron Pavement Assessment Survey
The Department of Operations identified the requirement to prepare a complete Taxiway and Apron Pavement Assessment Survey for the existing airside pavements. The scope of work included preparation of a pavement management plan and summary report based on information obtained from a pavement condition inspection, pavement testing services, HWD (heavy weight deflectometer) pavement analysis, rehabilitation life cycle cost analysis, preliminary cost estimates, and implementation schedule.

Construction of upgrades
According to the Airport Manager of Maintenance & Engineering, Wendall Burchall, the magnitude of the project is impressive, "The works used approximately 60,000 metric tonnes of crushed granite and sand along with 3,050 metric tonnes of asphalt cement. Additionally, we applied 100 kilometres of regulated line markings to the new surfaces."

Construction took place mainly at night when sections of the taxiways and aprons were repaired and overlaid with new asphalt surfaces. Associated Engineering Project Manager Dave Anderson relates, "Liaison with Airport Operations, facility users, cargo handlers, and charter companies was maintained at all times in order to facilitate a successful construction period. While the majority of the works occurred at night during non-scheduled flight activities, contingency plans were in place to ensure that the airport runway was available in the event of an aircraft medical or mechanical emergency."

During the construction phase of the project, one of the challenges was to maintain the implementation schedule without allowing any decrease in quality. Scheduling was further complicated when poor weather conditions caused several shift cancellations. During the months of April and May, Bermuda received nearly three times the normal amount of rainfall along with several thunderstorms. Pat Stancombe, Resident Engineer adds, "in July, Hurricane Bertha passed by the islands bringing significant precipitation and high winds. A hurricane contingency plan was put into place which would see the project team evacuated to the mainland if the hurricane were to change course and hit Bermuda straight on. Fortunately, the storm passed, causing only minimal damage and slight delays to the project schedule."

Despite these challenges, the project was completed on time without compromising on the quality of works constructed.