SCIENCE TO TECHNOLOGY--THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF PERMAFROST SCIENCE FOR ENGINEERS PRACTICING IN THE NORTH

Don Hayley

In the proceedings of: GeoQuébec 2015: 68th Canadian Geotechnical Conference & 7th Canadian Permafrost Conference

Session: John Ross MacKay Symposium - Permafrost I / Symposium John Ross MacKay - Pergélisol I

ABSTRACT: The author met J. Ross Mackay in 1972 after requesting his assistance to prepare for a pipeline data collection program in the Mackenzie Valley. Mackay provided selflessly of his time to transfer basic knowledge of permafrost and ground ice with advice on what to look for in the field. That relationship carried on to the end of his life with exchange of information useful for engineering purposes. He was outstanding in his dedication to his research and to those who worked with him and then went on to carve out their own niche in this important region of Canada. The paper looks at the importance of understanding the genesis of ground ice and its importance to engineering. Polygonal ground formed by ice wedges is identified as a high-risk terrain unit. The paper relates this knowledge to decisions that had to be made when routing a new highway from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk. The route crosses 140 km of some of the most difficult terrain for road building in Canada.

RÉSUMÉ: L™auteur a rencontré J. Ross Mackay en 1972 lors des études du projet d'un couloir de gazoduc dans la vallée du Mackenzie. Mackay lui a transmis ses connaissances en pergélisol et en glace de sol ainsi que ce qu™il faudrait chercher sur le terrain. Cette relation a continué tout au long de sa vie avec des échanges d™informations utiles en ingénierie. C™était un chercheur dédié à ses travaux et à ceux qui travaillaient avec lui et qui ont ensuite fait carrière dans cette importante région du Canada. Cet article démontre l™intérêt de comprendre la naissance des glaces de sol et leur importance en ingénierie. La structure polygonale formée par les coins de glace est identifiée comme très dangereuse. Cette information est ensuite liée aux décisions prises lors de la création de l™itinéraire de la nouvelle autoroute entre Inuvik et Tuktoyaktuk, route qui traverse 140 km de terrain le plus difficile pour la construction d™une route au Canada.

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Cite this article:
Don Hayley (2015) SCIENCE TO TECHNOLOGY--THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF PERMAFROST SCIENCE FOR ENGINEERS PRACTICING IN THE NORTH in GEO2015. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Geotechnical Society.

@article{241,author = Don Hayley,title = SCIENCE TO TECHNOLOGY--THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF PERMAFROST SCIENCE FOR ENGINEERS PRACTICING IN THE NORTH,year = 2015}