2023 Conference

July 27 -28, 2023

Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

CIC Forum 2023

Innovation and Collaboration for Smart Sustainable Construction

This year's CIC Forum event was held at the University of Alberta's North Campus on July 27th and 28th, 2023!

The Forum provides a platform to share the most recent advancements in construction innovation and form collaborations among innovators, researchers, and construction professionals!

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FORUM Detailed_Agenda_07242023.pdf

Forum attendees had the opportunity to participate in all of the sessions listed below.

Thursday, July 27th: Conference Day 1

Welcoming Remarks

Simaan AbouRizk, PhD, PEng

Dean, Faculty of Engineering

University of Alberta

Dr. AbouRizk's research focuses on developing innovative information technologies for modeling, analyzing, and optimizing operations in the construction and natural resource extraction industries. With the goal of improving construction processes and enhancing decision-making in construction settings, he has refined theoretical advancements to simulation science to provide a suitable medium for construction operations analyses.

Keynote Speakers

Mary Persson

Deputy Minister

Alberta Infrastructure

Mary Persson was appointed Deputy Minister of Infrastructure in Alberta in August, 2021.Prior to this role, Mary served as the City of Edmonton's Chief Financial Officer and as Deputy City Manager for its Financial and Corporate Services Department. Mary has also served as Assistant Deputy Minister of Financial and Corporate Services at Alberta Health, and Senior Assistant Deputy Minister at Treasury Board and Finance. Mary has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Alberta, is a Fellow with the Chartered Professional Accountants, and has earned certifications in Risk Management Assurance and Auditing.

Cathy Maniego

Assistant Deputy Minister

Alberta Infrastructure

Cathy Maniego has been with the Government of Alberta for over 20 years and has experience in both technical and policy roles. As Assistant Deputy Minister of Strategic Integration and Operations at Alberta Infrastructure, Cathy provides leadership and strategic direction in infrastructure policy, procurement, technical standards for vertical infrastructure, Federal/Provincial Relations, Continuous Improvement programs and department operations. Prior to coming to Infrastructure, Cathy held roles in Municipal Affairs, Environment and Parks and Alberta Transportation, supporting municipalities, delivering projects for flood mitigation and transportation planning, as well as developing policies and legislation for both flood and drought infrastructure as well as developments alongside provincial highways. Cathy is a graduate of the University of Alberta, earning both a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master of Business Administration.

Crys Vanier

Executive Director, Post-Secondary Investments & Emerging Technologies, Alberta Innovates

Firmly entrenched in emerging technology and partnership building, Crys has over 20 years of experience with a career that began in capital markets, client service, and an education from around the globe. Crys leads a team at Alberta Innovates that support the researchers, students and start-ups at Alberta’s post-secondary institutions in their efforts to advance the use of emerging technologies in industry. These technologies cover a wide breadth of applications, from advanced manufacturing and nanomaterials to artificial intelligence and quantum science. Crys relishes the complexity of the innovation and interconnectedness of building partnerships and strategies that inspire uses of technology, mobilize research, and spur academic-industry connections that create prosperity. She is particularly proud to play a role connecting Alberta Innovates to organizations and entrepreneurs looking to access technical expertise, funding opportunities, applied research and engineering capability, and facilities that help de-risk technologies, offer access to infrastructure, stimulate start-ups, and draw funding and investment to Alberta.

Speaker Topics

Mary Persson and Cathy Maniego

Alberta Infrastructure: Emerging Technologies and Digitization of Information

Adoption of emerging technologies and digitization of information supports Alberta Infrastructure's projects and operations by enabling Infrastructure to visualize, analyze and utilize data. This presentation will outline key operation and uses of a variety of technologies, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Computer Aided Design (CAD), Laser Scanning, Drones, Building Information Modelling (BIM), Asset Information Management (AIM), and Database Management. Examples will include how the technology is being used and the benefits provided to GOA staff and others. By utilizing these innovative technologies to streamline internal processes, Infrastructure provides higher value services for effective decision making on behalf of Albertans.

Crys Vanier

Funding and supports for applying emerging technologies in Alberta’s construction industry

Crys Vanier from Alberta Innovates will explain how we can help Alberta’s construction industry adopt, test and use new technologies. Crys will discuss funding options and supports available to entrepreneurs and researchers and resources that are available to support SMEs or larger companies to test, de-risk and implement new solutions in construction. Whether you're a researcher, a startup, or a large company, Crys will provide information on how you can access these resources to speed up the development and testing of new ideas. She will also highlight the benefits of using emerging technologies in areas such as green construction, sustainable building, advanced manufacturing, and talent development. The goal is to help you bring new concepts into production, automation, cost-saving, safety or digitization in the construction industry in Alberta.

Research Driving Change: CIC Project Presentations

Researchers and industry experts will share the most recent advancements from several of the CIC's cutting-edge research projects. Attendees will gain insight into the latest developments in the following projects:

Federated Platform for Construction Digital Twins: Why and How?

Dr. Yasser Mohamed, PhD, PEng

Professor, Faculty of Engineering - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of Alberta

yaly@ualberta.ca

Dr. Mohamed’s research interest focuses on modeling construction processes using simulation techniques. He has conducted research for modeling tunneling and industrial construction operations. He has also provided test beds for a number of other researchers to test the applicability of new theories and analytical approaches (eg. Bayesian updating techniques) for a variety of construction applications.

The construction industry is one of the least digitized industries in the world. The development of technological solutions designed to maximize the value extracted from digital information represents a key area of improvement within the global construction sector.

This research aims to capitalize on this opportunity by developing a comprehensive, intelligent platform capable of integrating a variety of data streams, considering multiple aspects of project performance, and supporting important decisions across the entire lifecycle of a project.

The proposed solution centers around the development of a federated platform for Construction Digital Twins (CDT), which views the CDT as a federation of standalone systems (i.e., federates) capable of interacting with one another through a shared communication infrastructure.

A Marriage of Structural Design and Construction Engineering: How to Improve Productivity in Structural Steel Projects

Dr. Ali Imanpour, PhD, PEng

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of Alberta

imanpour@ualberta.ca

Dr. Imanpour’s research activities include the development of seismic design procedures for steel framed structures using analytical and experimental methods, and the application of machine learning in structural and earthquake engineering. He is also interested in the development of resilient structural systems for seismic and wind applications.

Design and execution of construction projects in the Canadian steel industry involve several interconnected tasks, including structural design and analysis, connection detailing, fabrication, and erection.

Currently, steel industry practitioners rely heavily on experience and rules-of-thumb in decision-making for various phases of the project, which does not necessarily take into account the significant impact of structural design on various construction phases and tasks, resulting in constructability issues, erection problems, low productivity, uneconomical structures, and sometimes structural safety issues.

This project will produce well-formulated methods based on data collected from the steel construction industry and the application of artificial intelligence techniques to render effective decision support and complement conventional experience-based decision-making methods. The proposed research is expected to improve productivity in the Canadian steel construction industry while maintaining the level of safety expected in design.

Can Exoskeletons be the Solution to Safety and Performance Challenges in Construction?

Dr. Hossein Rouhani, PhD, PEng

Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering - Department of Mechanical Engineering

University of Alberta

hrouhani@ualberta.ca

Dr. Rouhani is a Mechanical, Mechatronics, and Clinical engineer. His academic background is in signal processing, engineering mechanics, mechatronics, control, and computational intelligence. The current application of his research projects is in rehabilitation technologies, medical instrumentation, wearable technologies, ergonomics, and sports science. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of his research program, he collaborates with health scientists at hospitals across Canada. His research interests include neuro-musculoskeletal biomechanics, biomedical instrumentation design, gait and movement disorder measurement, rehabilitation technologies, wearable technologies for daily health monitoring, biomedical data/signal processing, postural balance and fall risk assessment, bio-feedback control systems, and computational Intelligence.

Exoskeleton technology holds the potential to enhance workers' capabilities, reduce physical strain, and mitigate the risk of injuries across various industries.

Through a comprehensive study, this project investigates the effectiveness of exoskeletons in reducing musculoskeletal disorders and accidents, while promoting worker safety and well-being in construction and maintenance sectors.

The evaluation involves measuring metrics such as kinematic postures, physiologic measurements (e.g., heart rate and muscle activity), and user feedback. The findings provide valuable insights into the practicality and benefits of integrating exoskeleton technology into construction work, aiding informed decision-making and facilitating industry-wide adoption.

Advancement of Load-Bearing Masonry Walls: Structural Performance, Constructability, and Energy Efficiency

Dr. Carlos Cruz Noguez, PhD

Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of Alberta

cruznogu@ualberta.ca

Dr. Cruz Noguez is interested in the analysis, design, and performance of reinforced masonry and concrete structures, modelling of their nonlinear structural behaviour, and repair/retrofit/rehabilitation strategies. His current lines of research include: nonlinear analysis, design, and behaviour of masonry and reinforced concrete structures; large-scale system and component testing (seismic and non-seismic); Structural simulation (finite-element analysis, strut-and-tie models); Use of innovative materials and details.

Masonry has historically played a key role in the development of civilizations as it has protected humanity from exterior elements and natural hazards. Today, the role of masonry as a building material is being challenged by the advancements of competing materials such as precast concrete and timber. To keep masonry’s competitive edge, several projects have been initiated. This presentation will cover advancing the structural performance of masonry walls through innovative block designs, the improved constructability of masonry structures through modular masonry assemblages, and the innovative mechanical systems implemented within masonry structures to improve thermal and energy efficiency.

Decarbonization of Construction Through Industrialization

Dr. Mohamed Al-Hussein, PhD, PEng

Professor, Faculty of Engineering - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of Alberta

malhussein@ualberta.ca

Dr. Al-Hussein’s research has proffered a number of contributions to the industrialization of the building construction process through the development of modular and offsite construction technologies. This has included construction automation for equipment selection and on-site utilization; 3D- and 4D-modelling and automation; optimizing construction operations (from the initial planning stage to project completion, including scheduling, budgeting, and general project management); automating the design and drafting process; minimizing construction material waste through intelligent 3D-design; quantifying and reducing CO2 emissions during the construction process, improving invoice processing for construction organizations through the application of lean and post-lean principles, conducting evidence-based studies to reduce health and safety hazards in the built environment through improved design, and improving the health and well-being of construction site workers and the quality of life for the public/users of completed projects.

Industrialized building construction improves quality and scheduling, reduces material and process waste, reduces the environmental GHG construction footprint, and enables higher safety standards to be implemented and met by ensuring that construction is performed within a controlled environment. In order to leverage the benefits of offsite construction, industrialized building construction emphasizes the need for highly developed manufacturing design, building information modelling (BIM) and automation or semi-automation of construction processes.

This presentation will address the need for innovation in industrialization and decarbonization of building construction, leveraging modern technology, and deploying novel research to facilitate the paradigm shift from conventional onsite-construction to decarbonized offsite-construction methods.

A Robust and Low-cost Technology for Risk Mitigation of Pathogenic Infection in HVAC Systems

Dr. Alireza Nouri, PhD, PEng

Professor, Faculty of Engineering - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of Alberta

anouri@ualberta.ca

My research activities are primarily in the area of petroleum geomechanics. My current focus is on developing numerical and physical model tests for the prediction of sand production, hydraulic fracturing, caprock integrity, and wellbore stability.

HVAC systems may facilitate microbial contamination in indoor environments. Several sterilization methods such as ultraviolet light systems are commercially available for the inactivation/lowering of various infectious agents’ concentration in the HVAC system.

This project develops a compact and economical device that works based on microbes’ entrapment in the filter and inactivation by heating. This technology can benefit all ventilated buildings including hospitals, high-rises, and care facilities. In addition to design and manufacturing a prototype, a filter testing laboratory in the Civil and Environmental Department at University of Alberta is being set up to study the performance assessment of the proposed technology.

Enhancing Safety Management Systems on Construction Projects: A data-driven approach

Dr. Lianne Lefsrud, PhD, PEng

Risk, Innovation, and Sustainability Chair (RISC) and Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering - Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering

University of Alberta

lefsrud@ualberta.ca

Dr. Lefsrud’s research uses mixed methods to study how institutional and new venture entrepreneurs use persuasive language and imagery to shape our conceptions of technology, the environment, and regulations. Specifically, her research examines methods of hazard identification and risk management, risk evaluation and social license to operate, and drivers of technology adoption in oil and gas, mining, pipelining, construction, agriculture, and railroading, among other industries.

The goal of this project is to research and develop a new framework for safety management that will enable robust and holistic planning for safety based on historical and project progress data.

This framework will facilitate the integration of quantitative and qualitative data collected during different time windows and from different sources into the process of planning for safety and will enable the testing of what-if scenarios to predict and evaluate the impact of different management decisions on safety performance.

Successful development of the proposed framework will assist the decision-making process of construction practitioners and organizations during construction project planning and execution and will facilitate the development of more effective policies for improving safety performance.

Canadian Book Launch

Lean Construction 4.0: Driving a Digital Revolution of Production Management in the AEC Industry

Dr. Farook Hamzeh, PhD, PEng

Professor, Construction Engineering and Management - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of Alberta

hamzeh@ualberta.ca

Dr. Hamzeh is a Lean Construction expert. His theoretical and applied research in the US, Canada, and the MENA region aim at improving the design and construction of projects. Dr. Farook Hamzeh is a Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alberta. He was full time faculty at Colorado State University and at the American University of Beirut. Dr. Hamzeh is an active member of the International Group of Lean Construction (IGLC) and has published heavily on Lean Construction and related topics. Dr. Hamzeh has worked in the construction industry on several mega projects: the $1.7 Billion Cathedral Hill Hospital in San Francisco, the 333 m high Rose Rotana Hotel in Dubai, Losail motor-bike racetrack in Qatar, Olympic Tower in Qatar, Al-Amal Oncology Hospital in Qatar, Serail 1374 Building in downtown Beirut, and Sibline Cement factory 2nd production line in Lebanon.

Dr. Vicente Gonzalez-Moret PhD, M.ASCE, MEngNZ

Professor and Canada Research Chair, Faculty of Engineering - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of Alberta

vagonzal@ualberta.ca

Vicente is a Professor of Construction Engineering and Management within the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Alberta, and a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Digital Lean Construction. Before joining the University of Alberta, Vicente was a faculty member at The University of Auckland (New Zealand) for over 12 years, where he currently holds an Honorary Academic position. His research interests are at the interface of Construction Engineering and Management and Computer Science, pioneering the Lean Construction 4.0 concept. He has secured CAN$63+ million in research and teaching grants and sponsorships over his career. Vicente is a prolific author accounting for 1 book, 2 book chapters, 87 journal papers, and 75 peer-reviewed conference papers to date. He is an associate editor and member of editorial boards, not-for-profit’s local construction organizations promoting the transformation of the Canadian Construction Industry, and board member at Bent Arrow, a not-for-profit’s society serving indigenous children, youth and families in Edmonton. He has supervised to completion over a hundred undergraduate and graduate students’ theses including 13 PhDs.

This session will be an introduction to Lean Construction 4.0: Driving a Digital Revolution of Production Management in the AEC Industry. Join a discussion on the topic of Lean Construction's capability to effectively adapt the architecture-engineering-construction (AEC) industry to the new era of digital transformation through the reconceptualization of the triad of people-processes-technology as a foundation for the theoretical and practical framework of Lean Construction.

Lean Construction 4.0 is a new systems-wide thinking approach where synergies and overlaps between Lean Construction and digital/smart technologies go beyond BIM to reshape the way we design, manage, and operate capital projects in the modern age of automation. This pioneering new book brings together the views of world experts at the interface of Lean Construction and digital/smart technologies in order to channel research efforts; introduce and discuss current research, practice, challenges and drivers; and future perspectives on Lean Construction 4.0.

Lean Construction 4.0 Workshop

Dr. Farook Hamzeh, PhD, PEng

Professor, Construction Engineering and Management - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of Alberta

hamzeh@ualberta.ca

Dr. Vicente Gonzalez-Moret PhD, M.ASCE, MEngNZ

Professor and Canada Research Chair, Faculty of Engineering - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of Alberta

vagonzal@ualberta.ca

In this workshop, the first of its kind in Canada, speakers and attendees will explore the possibilities of Lean Construction 4.0's use and implementation in construction projects and organizations. The expected learning outcomes for those attending this workshop as follows:

Understand the basic principles of Lean Construction 4.0
Explore some of the challenges and opportunities inherent to implementing Lean Construction along with Digital Technologies in construction projects.
Understand how to integrate Digital Technologies and people under the umbrella of Lean Construction 4.0.
Reflect on the practical organizational and cultural challenges of implementing Lean Construction 4.0.
Explore the future development of Lean Construction 4.0 in the construction industry.

This workshop will be delivered in an interactive way combining presentations with hands-on exercises and games as follows:

An introduction to Lean Construction 4.o and a discussion of its future will be presented. attendees will learn about the basic principles of Lean Construction 4.0, its impacts on construction organization, and predictions for future developments.
A simulation game which will deepen attendees' understanding of the dynamics that impact planned work and process deficiencies. Attendees will also explore the principles of systems change and how Lean Construction 4.0 plays a major role in this change.

Friday, July 28th: Conference Day 2

Welcoming Remarks

Aminah Robinson Fayek, PhD, PEng

Vice-President Research and Innovation

University of Alberta

Dr. Aminah Robinson Fayek is Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and a professor in engineering at the University of Alberta. Throughout her academic career, she has demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, innovation, and partnership. Dr. Robinson Fayek is a renowned expert in artificial intelligence techniques for developing decision support in the construction industry. She has created an internationally-renowned research program that has been recognized by a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair and three consecutive terms of an NSERC Industrial Research Chair.

Dr. Robinson Fayek has received further recognition in the form of many national- and international-level awards, including a commendation award from the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction, the Peurifoy Construction Research Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Walter Shanly Award from the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering.

Keynote Speakers

Lynnell Crone

Vice President of Alternative Contracts and Light Industrial, Bird Construction

President, Integrated Project Delivery Alliance

Lynnell Crone has enjoyed a dynamic, 30-year project management career, having worked on several multi-billion-dollar projects in the oil, gas and petrochemicals industries. Much of her career has been spent working for Owner organizations, resulting in a keen insight and understanding of client requirements and expectations. Over the past several years, she has held executive leadership roles at Bird for manufacturing and environmental projects such as biosolids, renewable RNG, organics processing, water treatment, wastewater treatment, and food processing.

Lynnell has been instrumental in developing Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) projects withing Bird and provides expertise on IPD throughout Canada. She is passionate about the value IPD brings to owners, consultants and contractors, as well as job satisfaction for all project participants.

Markku Allison

VP Strategy & Innovation, Chandos Construction

Chair of Research and Performance Committee, Integrated Project Delivery Alliance

Markku has over 35 years’ experience as an award-winning designer and thought-leader on design and construction industry transformation issues. In his current role, Markku heads up Chandos’ innovation initiatives.

He is a past president of the Integrated Project Delivery Alliance (www.ipda.ca) in Canada which published IPD: An Action Guide for Leaders (with Markku was a co-author) as well as several influential IPD research studies. Markku currently serves as chair of IPDA’s Research + Performance Committee and has held positions at the American Institute of Architects, where he played a key role in developing the AIA’s Integrated Project Delivery: A Guide in 2007.

Deon H. J. Wilner

ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd.

With over 32 years of experience in professional engineering, Deon's focus has been on Water and Wastewater Treatment, Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), and Lean methodologies. He has a proven track record of delivering successful projects across a range of industries and client types and has developed a deep understanding of the unique challenges associated with delivering projects of any scale, on-time and within budget. In the latter part of his career, he has transitioned to focus solely on IPD and Lean projects, both as a practitioner and as a coach/facilitator.

He believes that where possible, IPD and Lean provide the most collaborative and efficient approach to project delivery. However, he also understands that not all projects can be delivered in this manner. The true value of IPD and Lean lies in the skills and tools acquired and mastered in this delivery method, which can be applied to more traditional projects, in the design office, construction, and in our daily lives.  Deon is passionate about leveraging his expertise in IPD and Lean methodologies to drive collaboration and innovation in project delivery. He welcomes the opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals and explore potential collaborations.

Speaker Topics

Lynnell Crone

Integrated Project Delivery: Methodology and Lessons Learned

Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) is relatively new in Canada but has resulting in very favorable project outcomes. We are experiencing substantial momentum towards this collaborative and agile project delivery method. IPD is a contract form that facilitates collaborative design and construction process. This team-based approach can help address what is arguably today’s most pressing concern within the construction industry: making the most of our scarce resources. Utilizing first-hand experience in IPD project delivery methodology and lessons learned from numerous projects from across Canada, this presentation will explore how this contract type can assist in better project outcomes and improved business cases.

Markku Allison

Collaboration, Innovation, and Research: Challenges and Opportunities in Design and Construction

The AEC space today faces a set of challenges that will significantly impact our future as an industry but more importantly the future of humanity as a whole. Let’s explore what those challenges might be and how we might turn them into opportunities, improving outcomes at every scale.

Deon H. J. Wilner

Integrated Project Delivery: How Deep Collaboration contributes to Project Success

Integrated Project Delivery is NOT a guarantee of project success, especially since an IPD Team is a highly complex social system. Is it an art, is it a science, how do we set the project up for success? Team formation, a solid foundation, intentional design of the socio-technical framework, and purpose is key to deep collaboration and ultimate project success. The Project Management Team (PMT) should be the highest performing team within any IPD project. This talk will include key characteristics of deep collaboration, project values/objectives, team structure, and more.

Introduction to Sustainable Construction

Ahmed Hammad, PhD, P.Eng., PMP

Director of Academic Integrity - Faculty of Engineering, Associate Professor of Construction Engineering & Management, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

University of Alberta

Dr. Hammad is currently an associate professor of construction engineering and management in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alberta.

Prior to joining the University of Alberta in 2018, Dr. Hammad spent 2 years as an assistant professor at the University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Before joining academia, he spent 25 years in the construction industry, mainly as a project planning and control manager. He has experience working on several mega multi-billion dollar infrastructure, commercial, oil sands, offshore conventional oil, and liquid natural gas projects. These projects were planned and executed in Canada, USA, South Korea, UAE, Australia, and Egypt.

Dr. Hammad has published several journal papers and refereed conference papers using real projects’ data to address significant industry problems such as resource allocation, cost overruns, schedule delays and achieving sustainability. He also provided training to engineers in project management and developed project planning and control systems. His research interests are focused on knowledge-based decision support systems, machine learning, and optimization to maximize collaboration and minimize greenhouse-gas emissions in engineering, procurement, and construction phases of capital projects. In 2023, he established the Sustainable Construction Research Group (SCRG) with the support of 16 industry partners who represent major owners, designers and contractors.

In this session, Dr. Hammad and his PhD students will present the SCRG and three of the research projects they are currently working on in collaboration with their industry partners.

Sustainability Presentations and Panel

Tracey Didluck, PMP, BEPCP, OTF

Project Manager under contract to PMO - Integrated Planning, Development & Partnerships, University of Alberta - Facilities & Operations

Tracey has been engaged in several facets of the construction industry over the past 35 years. For the past 22 years, his firm’s role has primarily been that of an owner’s representative. In addition to a PMP, he has augmented his knowledge in Built Environment Communications and Organizational Transformation (PMI). He is a member of PMI, LCI and LDCC and actively engaged in sustainability research projects with University of Alberta, Faculties of Engineering and (Computing) Sciences. As an industry veteran, Tracey is actively pursuing more innovative, collaborative, Lean, and sustainable design and construction practices to provide better outcomes for his clients. Tracey has participated in numerous Edmonton Construction Association panels as well as presenting at International Group for Lean Construction and is an advocate of Digital Project Delivery with a lifecycle approach to building and operating facilities. He also implements the expansion of Building Information Modeling and Data Integration in project delivery for long-term data utilization, planning and optimization activities as well as the digitization and twinning of existing buildings.

Paul Rasmussen

Project Manager

Clark Builders

Paul Rasmussen is a Professional Engineer with 15 years in the industry. As a Senior Project Manager, Paul’s experience has ranged from small municipal to large institutional projects. Throughout his career, his focus has been IPD, CM and other collaborative project deliveries to integrate with the owner and design teams while leveraging innovative processes and technologies wherever possible. The Dentistry Pharmacy / University Commons projects are highly-collaborative with the construction team involved early in the design process with the owner and design team. Along with the typical Construction Manager’s role, this project collaboration began with evaluating the project’s sustainability goals, providing the contractor’s perspective on constructability, cost and schedule. This experience was then carried forward to the construction phase with the execution of the sustainability plan. Additional factors not typically incorporated in the conceptual and design phases are also considered such as sustainability of temporary facilities, social impacts, and lean construction.

Peter Osborne

Partner

GEC Architecture

Peter Osborne is a partner at GEC Architecture establishing the firm’s Edmonton Studio in 2011, and taking on the management and strategic direction for the entire practice in 2018. In 2020, Peter was instrumental in opening GEC’s Toronto Studio, working on projects across GEC’s three integrated design studios. Peter is a Fellow in the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, past president of the Alberta Association of Architects and past chair of the Edmonton Design Committee. He is currently on the board of the Edmonton Construction Association, and Vice-president of the Canadian Architectural Certification Board. Peter leads projects for GEC across post-secondary, residential, and civic sectors. Notable projects include the LEED Gold redevelopment of the University of Alberta’s University Commons, the Zero- carbon, LEED Gold, and WELL Silver Okanagan College Health Science Centre, and LEED Gold Productivity and Innovation Centre at NAIT. Current works include the new School of Business for MacEwan University (LEED Gold), the redevelopment of the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering Civil Wing (Zero-Carbon, LEED Platinum), and SAIT Campus Centre (Zero-carbon, LEED Gold). Peter has also lead the design of some of Edmonton’s more important civic public spaces including the redevelopment of Edmonton’s City Hall Plaza and Fountains, Paul Kane Park and the current redevelopment of the Alberta Legislature’s North Plaza and Fountains.

This session will include three 15-minute presentations and a 15-minute Q&A discussion session. The “University Commons” Project will be discussed from three experts from the construction industry, who will discuss the project from the owner, designer, and constructor perspectives. Topics of discussion will include the carbon lifecycle of a building, the use of decision support systems for the selection of the most sustainable structural materials for the construction of a multistory building, details of the case study created for this project, and a discussion of the methodology and results of the project.

Construction Safety Panel

Dr. Lianne Lefsrud, PhD, PEng

Risk, Innovation, and Sustainability Chair (RISC) and Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering - Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering

University of Alberta

lefsrud@ualberta.ca

Jim Kanerva

General Manager

Carrey Steel

Jim Kanerva was a long-term employee and Shop Operations Manager at Waiward Steel Fabricators Ltd. He is currently the general manager at C.W. Carry Ltd. He holds an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Engineering degree in Engineering Management from the University of Alberta

Emerging Leaders Expo: Graduate Student Posters

Student posters will be available so attendees can see and learn more about what projects students with the University of Alberta's Department of Environmental and Civil Engineering are working on and exploring. Don't miss this opportunity to see some of the great ideas being pioneered!

Established in 2019 by the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Engineering, the CIC brings together more than 30 faculty members from different disciplines and more than 50 industry partners, professional associations, government agencies, and funding bodies to provide unparalleled opportunities for collaborative and multidisciplinary research, education, and training that directly benefit Canada’s built environment and provide a competitive advantage for the Canadian construction industry.