First Circular

International Short Course on

Permafrost Engineering

Effective Design and Construction in

Permafrost Regions

May 8 – 13, 2015

Edmonton, Alberta

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of Alberta
and
Cold Regions Geotechnology Division
Canadian Geotechnical Society
 Permafrost Engineering

May 8 – 13, 2015 in Edmonton, Alberta

Why should you attend this Course Who should attend this Course?
Upon completion of the course you will: If you are an engineer who has never attended a permafrost
engineering course, or want to learn about the latest
• Have a working knowledge of logistic challenges of building information in permafrost engineering.
in Northern Regions.
• Understand the origin and different types of ground ice • Public works engineer
• Know how to determine the existing thermal regime and • Environmental engineer
impact of changing environmental conditions on this regime. • Geotechnical engineer
• Understand the unique behavior of freezing, frozen and • Mining engineer
thawing soils and understand how to design for these
• Construction engineer
conditions.
• Pipeline engineer
• Know how to evaluate and design foundations and slopes in
permafrost. • Regulatory engineer
• Be exposed to case histories related to hydrocarbon pipelines • Engineers – in-training
in permafrost, mine design, tailings impoundments under
Arctic conditions and pile foundation support systems in
regions of saline permafrost.
COURSE CONTENT Site Investigation in Permafrost Areas
Introduction General considerations.
Logistics.
Definition of the North. Drilling and sampling.
Environmental Considerations. Geophysical techniques.
Geology and Physiography of Northern Regions. Temperature measuring systems.
Definition of Permafrost and its distribution.
Engineering challenges working in a permafrost. Frozen Soils Mechanical Properties
Surface Features (landforms) in permafrost areas Elastic Parameters
Strength properties
Features associated with freezing, thawing or cyclic freezing and Effect of temperature, ice content, confining pressure and time
thaw. Special aspects of failure of frozen ground
Creep behavior
Ground Ice and Ground Ice Landforms
Mechanics of Thawing Ground
Surface and atmospheric water.
Subsurface water. Amount of thaw settlement and time rates of settlement.
Ground ice and geology. Linear theory of thaw consolidation.
Engineering classification of permafrost soils.
Freezing of Soils and Frost Heave Theory
Ground Thermal Regime in Permafrost Areas Frost heave mechanics
Earth's energy balance.
Foundations in Permafrost
Thermal Properties of Frozen and Unfrozen Soils Geothermal aspects
Thermal conductivity, specific heat, latent heat, and apparent specific Shallow foundations
heat. Piles

Slope Stability in Permafrost

Heat Flow Equations
Falls, flows and slides
No phase change, phase change and heat flow around pipes.
Creep
Cuts in permafrost

Case Histories
Course Conduct and Instructors

You will have numerous opportunities during the course to interact with and learn from the exceptional experienced instructors. Each
is a professional engineer with extensive permafrost engineering experience in leading edge research and consulting, as well as, being
dedicated to your learning

Kevin Biggar, P.Eng., Ph.D. industrial wastewater using spray-freezing technology. He also has
directed industrial projects and research directed a using artificial
Dr. Biggar has worked in Arctic and cold temperature environments ground freezing.
since 1981. He has considerable experience in foundations, frost
heave, and fate and transport of contaminants in these conditions. He
currently co-teaches the Permafrost Engineering graduate course at
the University of Alberta. He has done research in the following Lukas Arenson, Dr.Sc.Techn.ETH, Dipl.Ing.ETH
areas related to Cold Regions engineering: assessment of the fate of
petroleum spills in permafrost, remediation of petroleum Dr. Lukas Arenson’s main area of expertise is geotechnical,
contaminated sites in Canadian climates, improvement of mountain permafrost engineering with specialization on frozen
foundations in permafrost, improvement of electrical grounding in
soil mechanics. He studied the dynamics of ice-rich frozen
permafrost, ground freezing for soil stabilization and sampling of
loose cohesion less sediments, use of freeze-separation to clean up
slopes, in particular rock glaciers, from a geotechnical view
contaminated waters. He also chairs a biennial workshop on point and has expert knowledge in in-situ testing and
assessment and remediation of contaminated sites in Arctic and cold monitoring of mountain permafrost. In addition, analytical
climates solutions were developed to analyze rock glacier stability.
Later, Dr. Arenson concentrated on the thermo-mechanical
processes of frozen and freezing soils on a microstructural
level to better understand the strength and deformation
David C. Sego, Ph.D., P.Eng. properties of frozen soils with changing stress, temperature and
salinity. Dr. Arenson has further been studying the effects of
Dr. Sego is a Professor in the Department of Civil and natural air convection in cold climates to prevent permafrost
Environmental Engineering at the University of Alberta, Edmonton,
degradation, to re-establish pre-construction thermal regimes
Alberta. He currently co-teaches a course on Permafrost
Engineering. His industrial experience and research interest focus on
after pipeline or road constructions, and to accelerate the
behavior of saline and non-saline permafrost and special problems consolidation of mine waste tailings
with foundations in saline permafrost. He has directed extensive
research studying the interaction of offshore Arctic structures and sea
ice. Recently he has undertaken research into dewatering of mine
wastes using freeze-thaw, and separating contaminants from
General Information
Fee Covers Five full days of instruction, course notes, textbook, list two CD set of presentation made at the Permafrost and Arctic
of references for further study, break refreshments, and lunches. Fee Geotechnology Symposium – Our Canadian Legacy held
does not include lodging or other meals. We do not publish November 15 and 16, 2004 in Calgary, Alberta.
proceedings, and due to copyright laws, course materials are not
available for resale after the course.
Course Location and Accommodation This course will be held at
Cancellation We strongly encourage enrollment in advance as the University of Alberta.
enrollment will be limited and course conduct is also predicted on
adequate enrollment. If you cannot attend once enrolled, please
notify us immediately. Cancellations will be accepted up to Campus Tower Suite Hotel: Reservations call 1-800-709-1824 or
March 31, 2015. After that date you may substitute another person (780) 439-6060. Inform the reservation specialist that you will be
to take your place at the course. This is a limited enrollment course attending the University of Alberta Permafrost Engineering Short
and "no-shows" will be billed the full amount if they have not Course. 1 Bedroom Superior-$179.00 + tax.
cancelled prior to March 31, 2015.
Lister Hall Conference Centre: Reservations call: (780) 492-6056.
Payment Please forward your cheque made payable to The New Hotel Style rooms are also available at $99 + tax per night
University of Alberta with your registration form. MasterCard, including continental breakfast, parking, and daily housekeeping.
American Express and Visa are also accepted for payment of fees.
Upon receipt of payment your registration will be confirmed by Varscona: Reservations call: (780) 434-6111. Inform the
email or fax. reservation specialist that you will be attending the University of
Alberta Permafrost Engineering Short Course. The standard rooms
Enrollment Options Enrollment in advance by fax, phone or mail is are available at $140/night.
recommended before March 31, 2015 (Fee $2,300). After that date,
enrollment is available with an additional fee of $400. If inadequate The Met Hotel: Reservations call: (780) 465-8150. Inform the
enrollment is not received by March 31, 2015, the course will be reservation specialist that you will be attending the University of
cancelled and payments refunded. Be sure you receive our Alberta Permafrost Engineering Short Course. The standard rooms
confirmation before the course or call 780-492-2176. The course are available at $150/night.
participants will receive a copy of O.B. Andersland and B. Ladanyi's
book published in 2003. Students will also receive a
Four Easy Ways to Enroll

Enrollment Form
Phone: 780-492-2176 Course Information

Please enroll me in Permafrost Engineering

May 8-13, 2015 in Edmonton, Alberta

Fee: (before March 31, 2015): $2,300.00

Mail to: (after March 31, 2015): $2,700.00
U of A Geotechnical Center
(Permafrost Short Course)
University of Alberta
Civil & Environmental Eng.
Room 1-133 NREF Registration Information:
Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2W2
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