Making connections at Douglas Partners’ 35th annual Technical Seminar
After much anticipation, almost 300 engineers, scientists, consultants, and other professionals from across the country gathered recently for the annual Douglas Partners Technical Seminar. The event, now in its 35th year, is a celebration of science and engineering, and importantly the strong culture of learning and development that exists at Douglas Partners. For many, however, […]
Concrete Testing – Three tests that can verify the quality of concrete
As one of the most widely used materials in construction, concrete demands strict quality control to ensure its strength and long-term performance. The strength will depend on many factors, including water-cement ratio, quality of materials and quality control during the production of concrete. Below are three common concrete tests that help to ensure it meets […]
Understanding ground conditions for site classification and land development
Irrespective of scale, to build, develop or redevelop on a foundation without a detailed understanding of the ground conditions is a high-risk activity. In fact, to ignore this can lead to consequences like development structures cracking, leaning, sinking, slipping, and sometimes collapse. And not to mention, drive costs up in the process. Ground composition and […]
The importance of Concrete Testing
Concrete is a necessary and very useful material for construction work. It has been critical in structural engineering throughout history – from the Great Pyramids of Giza to the structures of Ancient Rome to Gothic Architecture of the 18th century. While technology and materials have advanced since it was first developed, concrete continues to be […]
How does groundwater affect engineering construction?
Civil engineering projects can have a significant impact on the groundwater environment. Some of these impacts are temporary, while others can introduce more long-term effects. If we consider the construction of basements, or simple retaining walls on sloping land, there are potential consequences on groundwater systems that can hinder, inhibit, or redirect the flow of […]
Groundwater – why we protect this precious resource
What is groundwater? Groundwater is found deep beneath the Earth’s surface in aquifers, which are bodies of rock and/or sediment that hold large quantities of water. Because of this, groundwater contamination happens slowly; but the consequences can be serious, and the recovery is equally as slow. The quality of groundwater is vital to human health […]
How inclinometers assist geotechnical monitoring
Inclinometers have been around for many years and are an important tool used to monitor the deflection (degree of tilt) of important assets (like retaining walls). They are a simple, cost-effective, piece of equipment that usually consists of a hollow PVC tube with two sets of internal grooves which allow measuring wheels to measure deflection […]
The answer is in the soil: the importance of testing and analysing soil properties
One of the major goals in any successful construction project, is to have confidence that the structure you intend to build, will sit on a solid foundation. To achieve this, a Geotechnical Engineer must analyse the qualities and engineering parameters of the soil, to understand the conditions present at the site. The type of soil […]
How to become an Environmental Engineer/Scientist
The growth of our communities, cities, and society at large, relies significantly on industries such as mining, manufacturing, and construction. This ensures that we can access natural resources and build homes, and so that industries can produce food and other items to meet our daily needs. Waste, pollution, and disruption to our natural ecosystem, are […]
Five Essential Geotechnical Tests
A geotechnical investigation assesses the ground properties at a site where buildings or other construction is planned, to establish whether the ground conditions are suitable for the intended land use. It is achieved by inspecting and testing soils, rocks and other materials (e.g., possible fill), below the Earth’s surface. It is a necessity in all […]
