Reference number : GC-2017-Q4-00087, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Azam, Shahid (University of Regina), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Saskatchewan, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Collaborative Research and Development Grants - Project, program name french : Subventions de recherche et développement coopérative - projet, program purpose english : The sustainable (cost effective, environmentally friendly, and socially viable) management of civil_x000D_
infrastructure depends on a clear understanding of the engineering properties of the supporting soils. The_x000D_
interaction of marginal earthen materials (expansive clays and collapsible silts) with changing meteorological_x000D_
conditions poses serious challenges to an uninterrupted use of buried utilities. TransGas Limited provides_x000D_
natural gas (14,000 km long pipeline) as well as system integrity assessment and service for the distribution_x000D_
network (69,000 km of mains and 390,000 individual services). The main issue associated with buried pipes is_x000D_
the variable geotechnical pipe failure rate that ranges from 40/year to 110/year. In support of the company's_x000D_
management strategy, the main objective of this collaborative research is to understand and improve the_x000D_
geotechnical behavior of marginal soils. This is the first time that the company is participating in a_x000D_
comprehensive geotechnical evaluation of indigenous soils deposits. Based on a detailed research program_x000D_
(using laboratory investigation and numerical modeling), a scientific framework will be developed to work_x000D_
with expansive and collapsible sediments in Saskatchewan. Soil properties will be investigated using_x000D_
fundamental concepts of saturated and unsaturated soil mechanics under natural and compacted conditions._x000D_
The resulting innovative technology (characterization protocols and computational predictions) will be pivotal_x000D_
for the design, construction, operation, and rehabilitation of civil infrastructure systems. The expected_x000D_
economic benefits of understanding and improving local marginal soils for TransGas Limited are minimizing_x000D_
the number of leak surveys and prioritizing vulnerable areas within the networks. Likewise, the environmental_x000D_
and safety benefits due to reduced pipe ruptures and gas leaks will ensure public confidence in the natural gas_x000D_
distribution system. The research results will be critical for the company for ongoing and future pipeline_x000D_
network expansions. Finally, the expected capacity development in technical expertise, recruitment of highly_x000D_
qualified professionals, and multi-disciplinary interactions are important benefits for the University of Regina, program purpose french : The sustainable (cost effective, environmentally friendly, and socially viable) management of civil_x000D_
infrastructure depends on a clear understanding of the engineering properties of the supporting soils. The_x000D_
interaction of marginal earthen materials (expansive clays and collapsible silts) with changing meteorological_x000D_
conditions poses serious challenges to an uninterrupted use of buried utilities. TransGas Limited provides_x000D_
natural gas (14,000 km long pipeline) as well as system integrity assessment and service for the distribution_x000D_
network (69,000 km of mains and 390,000 individual services). The main issue associated with buried pipes is_x000D_
the variable geotechnical pipe failure rate that ranges from 40/year to 110/year. In support of the company's_x000D_
management strategy, the main objective of this collaborative research is to understand and improve the_x000D_
geotechnical behavior of marginal soils. This is the first time that the company is participating in a_x000D_
comprehensive geotechnical evaluation of indigenous soils deposits. Based on a detailed research program_x000D_
(using laboratory investigation and numerical modeling), a scientific framework will be developed to work_x000D_
with expansive and collapsible sediments in Saskatchewan. Soil properties will be investigated using_x000D_
fundamental concepts of saturated and unsaturated soil mechanics under natural and compacted conditions._x000D_
The resulting innovative technology (characterization protocols and computational predictions) will be pivotal_x000D_
for the design, construction, operation, and rehabilitation of civil infrastructure systems. The expected_x000D_
economic benefits of understanding and improving local marginal soils for TransGas Limited are minimizing_x000D_
the number of leak surveys and prioritizing vulnerable areas within the networks. Likewise, the environmental_x000D_
and safety benefits due to reduced pipe ruptures and gas leaks will ensure public confidence in the natural gas_x000D_
distribution system. The research results will be critical for the company for ongoing and future pipeline_x000D_
network expansions. Finally, the expected capacity development in technical expertise, recruitment of highly_x000D_
qualified professionals, and multi-disciplinary interactions are important benefits for the University of Regina, agreement title english : Geotechnical assessment of marginal soils for sustainable infrastructure, agreement title french : Geotechnical assessment of marginal soils for sustainable infrastructure, agreement number : CRDPJ, agreement value : 239862.0, agreement start date : 2018-03-07, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2022-2023)., additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2022-2023)., owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada