Prof. Jeffrey Siegel (Photo by Daria Perevezentsev)
In January 2022, the Centre for Global Engineering (CGEN) inaugurated the Global Engineering Seed (GESeed), a fund which aims to support community-engaged, socially-impactful engineering research. Through Round 1 of this fund, the Centre has provided funding to six multidisciplinary projects which engage nine faculty across the University and eight external collaborators. CivMin’s Prof. Jeffrey Siegel is part of a project team receiving Round 1 funding.
Cleaner Air for an Indigenous Community Heavily Impacted by Energy Development
Principal Investigator: Professor Jeff Brook Co-Investigators: Greg Evans, Arthur Chan, Jeffrey Siegel External Partners: Fort McKay First Nation Sustainability Department, AUG Signals Ltd.
Fort McKay, AB, is a First Nation and Metis community surrounded by oil sands development. Air quality is a major concern for all stakeholders. Despite improvements for some pollutants, the community suffers from odours and dust accumulation. These are the ‘visible’ tip of the iceberg in regards to environmental health concerns. Ongoing bitumen extraction, including nearby growth of surface mining, means prospects for a return to the air quality they once knew are small. Scientific evidence is needed to support community driven initiatives towards continual improvement. Specifically, the community is planning to retrofit all homes and buildings with air cleaning technologies. However, there are critical questions regarding the efficacy of this approach in reducing exposures and how it can be designed to have the greatest benefit. All stakeholders recognize that air cleaning is not the ideal solution, but a necessary alternative.
This project will help the community evaluate the effectiveness through measurements in the outdoor and indoor air before, during and after pilot installations. The goal is to ensure the investments are effective and that optimal operation parameters of the systems are determined early on as the effort is scaled-up. Moreover, climate change related forest fires will increasingly put many rural/remote first nations communities at risk of poor air quality, and indoor air cleaning is increasingly being recognized as a necessary adaptation measure. Thus, the lessons learned in Fort McKay will have benefits across many communities in Canada.
Prof. Doug Hooton (L) accepts the C01 Bryant Mather Award in Seattle, WA.
Another great honour this week for Prof. Emeritus Doug Hooton as the ASTM International Committee C01 on Cement presented the CivMin professor with the C01 Bryant Mather Award in Seattle, WA.
The Committee says Prof. Hooton has received the award for his “…Leadership on numerous C01 subcommittees, and as Chair of Committee, and also for many years of impactful #research contributions that have advanced the cement industry and strengthened cement standard specifications and tests worldwide.”
By David Goldberg
Pierre Lassonde (centre) and co-guest speaker, Ashley Kirwan (to his right), stand with CivMin students (L to R) Yu-Jen Yu, Junzhe Liu, Saleh Ghadernejad, Mojgan Faramarzi, Negin Houshmand, Amily Xu, Aarnav Deenapanray, Rain Ferrer, Junxiong Yang and Jennifer Gordon. (Photo courtesy The Northern Miner)
“Meeting Pierre Lassonde in person is an experience I will never forget.”
Event tickets were provided by The Northern Miner for the June 8 in-person event, including a luncheon, at the spacious One King West venue, known for its vaulted ceilings and rich ambiance. Co-guest speaker Ashley Kirwan, M.SC., P.GEO. ICD.D, Co-Founder, President & CEO | Orix Geoscience Inc., took the stage as well.
The mix of undergraduate and graduate students from CivMin expressed gratitude for the opportunity to attend the event and, in particular, see and talk to the man who has a name on a building.
Pierre Lassonde (centre) responds to a question while Ashley Kirwan (left) observes. (Photo courtesy The Northern Miner)
“Overall, the event was terrific. Meeting Pierre Lassonde in person is an experience I will never forget,” offers PhD candidate Negin Houshmand.
“As his name is on the building and the scholarship I got, it was a dream come true for me to see him. It was admirable to me that he was very humble. He spent most of his time with the students there and eagerly asked us each about our research topic. During the speech, he explained how he started his business and motivated us to invest in ourselves. It was a fantastic experience with such a humble, brilliant, and kind human being.”
“Attending the Pierre Lassonde talk was very valuable for me,” expresses Rain Ferrer (Year 2 MinE). “I greatly enjoyed meeting someone as preeminent in the mining industry as Mr. Lassonde. Through his talks and the Q&A period, I gained meaningful insight into his career path and the mining industry at large. Moreover, I was pleased to personally extend my gratitude for his generous contributions to our university. The entire event made for a truly memorable experience.”
“Everyone was friendly, and it was interesting to have two different perspectives (Ms. Ashley Kirwan and Mr. Pierre Lassonde) shared during the interviews over the lunch. For the first time, I heard personal stories about the key points in the recent history of the mining industry, and the origins of Pierre Lassonde’s success.” Jennifer (Jay) Gordon, a PhD candidate, says. “The Q&A period was probably my favorite part, as it gave me a chance to hear the voices of several people in the room, and what their interests in mining are. It was also an excellent opportunity for me to ask someone I would never normally have the chance to meet about equity, diversity, and inclusion in the mining industry, as that is something that will be very important to me in my future employment.”
As a bonus, Gordon remarks, “Imagine my surprise when it meant I won a bottle of wine for best question!”
Photos courtesy McMaster University & University of Waterloo.
Two Alumni from the Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering were elected as Fellows into the Canadian Academy of Engineering on June 13.
Maria Anna Polak (Civil PhD 9T2), earned her PhD in Structural Engineering at University of Toronto and currently teaches as a professor at University of Waterloo.
In a release, The Canadian Academy of Engineering wrote:
“Polak is renowned in the field of structural engineering, with pioneering contributions to the design and testing of concrete and reinforced concrete structures. Her innovations include new technologies for the retrofit of concrete slabs, powerful analysis tools for evaluation and testing of design standards, global structural damage assessment methods, and fibre-reinforced polymers.
Implemented worldwide, Dr. Polak’s work has directly contributed to international standards for infrastructure design. She sits on numerous international standards committees, is a Fellow of the American Concrete Institute and the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering and is recipient of prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship.”
The other U of T alumnus elected as Fellow was Brian Baetz (CivE 8T1 and MASc 8T3). Baetz is Professor Emeritus and Director, W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology at McMaster University.
In a release, The Canadian Academy of Engineering wrote:
“Baetz pioneered modern techniques and thinking in Civil, Environmental, and Systems Engineering. A Fellow of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering, Baetz made pioneering contributions in solid waste management and later energy and environmental systems modelling and decision support frameworks.
As a professor at McMaster and Tulane Universities, Baetz established groundbreaking programs to strengthen sustainability and societal dimensions in engineering practice at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Although his impact has been global, Baetz continues to apply his expertise locally in his community engagement activities for the preservation of the Niagara Escarpment.”
Baetz said he was honoured to be elected.
“Election as a Fellow of the CAE is equal parts humbling and inspiring. The Academy is made up of incredibly impactful Canadian engineers, and it’s a real honour to be included in this august group. It’s given me the opportunity to reflect on the amazing mentors and colleagues I have benefitted from along my path, and it has moved me to consider what I need to get working on to more fully to further justify this distinction. My undergraduate education in Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto, particularly the mentoring and training from Professors Phil Byer and Barry Adams, has been so beneficial to me throughout my career.”
Baetz also fondly remembers his experience at U of T Camp at Gull Lake, sharing this photo of him and his classmates from the class in 1979.
The induction ceremony will take place June 27 in Halifax, NS.
By David Goldberg
Marie-Eve Caron (CivMin MASc 2T2) and Salim Hourieh (CivE 2T2).
With the University’s Convocation ceremony on June 16, 2022 U of T Engineering students mark the end of one journey and the beginning of another.
Having enriched the U of T Engineering community as undergraduate and graduate students, they will join our vibrant, global network of Skule™ alumni, where they will continue to address pressing challenges around the world and inspire the next generation.
This year’s 14 “Grads to Watch” — selected by their home departments and institutes — embody the spirit of U of T Engineering. Their stories illustrate the creativity, innovation and global impact that define our community. Watch their next steps!
Here are CivMin’s representatives.
ENHANCING MINING STABILITY
Marie-Eve Caron. Photo submitted.
Marie-Eve Caron (CivMin MASc 2T2)
Caron describes her two years as a Civil & Mineral Engineering MASc student as a roller-coaster ride.
“It had its highs and lows,” she says. “But I am grateful for the support I had from those around me, including my thesis supervisor and members of the department.”
While many of her classes and projects were completed remotely, Caron was still able to immerse herself in the social life of her department through the CivMin Graduate Students Association (CivMinGSA), where she served as vice-president, social.
“We not only had good times during our events, but we were able to connect and share in the unique challenges of graduate studies,” she says.
She credits her CivMinGSA experiences, along with her studies, for allowing her communications skills to flourish and helping boost her self-confidence.
In the spring, Caron began her professional career at Agnico Eagle’s LaRonde Mine in Quebec, where she previously had worked during her thesis project. As a ground control engineer in training, she is responsible for following up daily on the stability of underground excavations.
“High-stress conditions and seismicity are among the challenges we deal with,” she says. “My master’s degree under the supervision of Professor John Hadjigeorgiou (CivMin) has prepared me for this role.”
Caron’s thesis focused on data collection for rockburst investigations. It involved collecting all available design, implementation, monitoring and performance data to construct a timeline for each rockburst, which are a sudden rupture or collapse of highly stressed rock in a mine.
“I have learned a lot in my field of study, and I now feel confident that I have established strong basis to strive in my career,” she says. “But I still have much to learn, and I am enthusiastic about it!”
“I would like to thank everyone who participated in CivMinGSA, whether it was by attending our in-person and online events or taking the time to help organize everything. Our time together was a highlight of my U of T experience, and I am happy for the memories we created! I would also like to thank Colleen Kelly, Phill Snel and Nelly Pietropaolo from the Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering. Their collaboration and positive attitude were always appreciated.”
GROWING GREENER CITIES
Salim Hourieh. Photo: Tyler Irving.
Salim Hourieh (CivE 2T2)
Growing up in Syria, Hourieh frequently found himself comparing the built infrastructure in his own country to that of cities in the West.
“Rapid urbanization was benefitting the general economy, but it was also leading to widening socioeconomic disparity,” he says. “I recognized that this was a planning issue and sought to provide myself with the education needed to address urban growth sustainably.”
With the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, Hourieh realized that pursuing his dream of studying civil engineering would mean leaving home. He began his schooling at the American University of Beirut, then transferred to U of T Engineering, where he found mentors who helped him combine his interests in economic progress, sustainability and engineering.
These included Professor Shoshanna Saxe (CivMin), with whom he developed a data set on construction material flow in North America. This data set will help researchers investigate how building design affects material use, as well as ways to reduce construction material consumption. Hourieh says that the project helped him realize how impactful his engineering skill set can be and how the incorporation of sustainable practices varies widely within regions across North America.
Another way Hourieh made an impact was by joining World University Services of Canada (WUSC), an organization that sponsors students from refugee camps to study in Canada. Serving as vice-president of his local committee, Hourieh and his team were able to directly sponsor two students to study at U of T. He later shared the team’s experience with 73 local committees from across Canada at the WUSC national conference.
“The social cause of sponsoring refugees resonates deeply with me after witnessing first-hand the displacement of thousands of Syrian families,” he says.
After graduation, Hourieh will take up a position as a consultant at IBM. His long-term goal is to lead sustainable urban development in under recognized areas through the implementation of multidisciplinary approaches in planning.
“I believe that my experiences and engineering background will allow me to facilitate empathetic dialogue that will empower us to address the global challenge of meeting urban needs sustainably,” he says.
“I am grateful to everyone who guided me throughout my undergraduate studies, especially Professors Shoshanna Saxe, Sarah Haines and Daniel Posen (both CivMin), and postdoctoral fellow Dr. Gursans Guven. I’d also like to thank Trinity College for being my home, and the Engineering community for supporting me. My heartfelt gratitude goes to my supportive family, who have been there for me every step of the journey, and to WUSC, an excellent organization that influences many students around the world.”
(Pictured L to R rear) Prof. Brent Sleep, Chair, Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering at University of Toronto, and Dan Carter, Mayor of Oshawa, stand behind (seated L to R) Dr. Scott Henderson, Dean & Head, Trent University Durham GTA, Dr. Steven Murphy, President, Ontario Tech University and Don Lovisa, President, Durham College. (Photo by Phill Snel)
Today The Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering at the University of Toronto celebrated the five-year anniversary of the TeachingCity partnership with the City of Oshawa, and agreed to extend the collaboration.
Department Chair Prof. Brent Sleep, along with representatives from educational partners gathered at the TeachingCity hub in downtown Oshawa to sign the extension.
“This has been a great partnership, providing meaningful experiences for U of T Engineering students, working across the spectrum of urban issues to engage with Oshawa staff, residents, and businesses to solve real-life problems facing urban areas today,” said Sleep. “This is a tremendous educational opportunity for our students and we are excited to continue developing our activities and projects.”
Prof. Brent Sleep signs the TeachingCity extension. Photo by Phill Snel
CivMin Chair, Prof. Brent Sleep, addresses the TeachingCity members at a ceremony in Oshawa, Ont. on Friday, June 3, 2022. (Photo by Phill Snel)
“The Oshawa TeachingCity is a great living lab initiative and has provided great opportunities for U of T Engineering students working on real-life urban issues. Several UofT Engineering graduate students have benefited from being involved in TeachingCity projects and from working with City of Oshawa staff.
One project addressed the problem of predicting the deterioration of road pavement to allow better decisionmaking for pavement maintenance and replacement. The UofT research team collaborated with the City’s Engineering Branch to use data analytics and artificial intelligence algorithms to accurately predict conditions of roadways in the city. The final model developed by the faculty and students achieved an accuracy level of prediction of pavement deterioration of 80%, greatly improving on the 45% accuracy of the existing model.
Air pollution is a problem in many urban centres and vehicles can make a substantial contribution to urban air pollution. The Southern Ontario Centre for Atmospheric Aerosol Research at the University of Toronto collaborated with a sensor company (A.U.G. Signals and North Line Canada) in a research study to monitor air quality and traffic movements in Oshawa’s downtown core. Faculty and students began the assessment in 2019, and tracked several indicators of air quality to determine the impact of traffic volume on air quality.
I look forward to more exciting TeachingCity projects and opportunities for our students to get involved in meaningful TeachingCity projects that will be of benefit to both the students and to Oshawa. Thank you to the City of Oshawa for supporting the continuation of the TeachingCity!”
`Prof. Brent Sleep
Over five years, 1,711 students and 135 post-secondary faculty have worked with city staff on unique TeachingCity projects that cover core topics including: diversity, equity and inclusion; storm water management ponds; training and advanced technology for firefighters; active transportation; engaging youth; supporting local culture and business; digital wayfinding; optimizing city operations routes; and corporate energy management planning.
The partnership has included 55 applied research projects and 52 courses, as well as 192 experiential learning opportunities where students have become part of team Oshawa through placements or practicums.
The TeachingCity Initiative is a strategic partnership of municipal government, City partners and academic institutions focused on studying and addressing urban issues in Oshawa through innovation, collaboration and shared experiential learning opportunities. The initiative launched in 2017 for a five-year period.
Other post-secondary institutions include Durham College, Ontario Tech University, and Trent University Durham GTA.
By David Goldberg & Phill Snel
Professor Amer Shalaby accepts award from Dr. Brenda McCabe, President, CSCE, at the CSCE 2022 Annual Conference, Whistler, B.C., May 27, 2022. Courtesy: Coast Mountain Photography.
Congratulations to Professor Amer Shalaby of the Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering on his election to the grade of Fellow of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE).
He accepted the recognition at the Awards for Civil Engineering Excellence Gala held at the CSCE 2022 Annual Conference on May 27, 2022 in Whistler, B.C.
Shalaby was notified of his election to Fellow by CSCE President Dr. Brenda McCabe who wrote on behalf of the CSCE Board of Directors:
“This recognition is based on an assessment by your peers of:
your career achievements,
your contributions to civil engineering, and
your demonstrated leadership in the profession.
It is members such as you, who give unselfishly of their time, that make CSCE successful and make our society a key contributor to the profession of civil engineering. I warmly congratulate you on receiving this honour to join the rank of Fellows. We are justifiably proud.”
Shalaby, who is Director of Transit Analytics Lab, will be recognized in CSCE’s 2022 Awards Booklet with the short biography shown below.
Amer Shalaby, P.Eng., is Professor and Bahen/Tanenbaum Chair in Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto. He is the founding Director of the Transit Analytics Lab and Co-Director of the Centre for Automated and Transformative Transportation Systems. Dr. Shalaby received a B.A.Sc. degree (1988) in Civil Engineering from Ain Shams University, and M.A.Sc. (1991) and Ph.D. (1996) degrees from the University of Toronto. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow (1996-1997) at the University of Toronto, NSERC Industrial Research Fellow (1997-1998) at IBI Group and Assistant Professor (1998-2000) at Ryerson University.
Dr. Shalaby made significant contributions in transit planning and scheduling, intelligent transit systems, transit operational management, transit system resilience, automated and connected transit technologies, emerging mobility systems, transportation planning for large-scale events and mega cities, and simulation and modelling of transportation systems. His research program has produced innovative analytical tools and studies which enriched the state of knowledge and practice in transit planning and management. He is the author of 124 manuscripts in technical journals and books. Dr. Shalaby has delivered consulting services to many transportation organizations in Canada and internationally, and he has offered short courses on public transit planning and modelling to the professional community since 2008.
Dr. Shalaby is the recipient of the CSCE Sandford Fleming Award (2019), ThinkTransit Award of Excellence in Innovation (2019) and TRB William Millar Award (2015). He has been an associate editor of the Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering since 2014, and he sits on the editorial board of several international journals. Dr. Shalaby has also served on advisory panels of multiple transportation projects in Canada and internationally. Between 2008 and 2010, Professor Shalaby held an honorary appointment of a visiting scholar at Carnegie Mellon University.
A reunion of Civil Engineering alumni from the Class of 5T8 meet up on Saturday, May 28, 2022. L to R: Don Cryder, Len Pitura, Ernst Ounpuu, Robert James, George Fleming and Barry Hitchcock. (Photo by Phill Snel)
After more than two years of not being able to meet up, due to the pandemic, Civil Engineering alumni from the class of 5T8 gathered for a much-deserved reunion. Six classmates assembled for a downtown Toronto patio lunch on Saturday, May 28, before partaking in other formal U of T Alumni Reunion activities on the nearby St. George campus.
Some 64 years since graduating, the group has kept in regular touch through emails and newsletters. The usual practice was to meet twice a year at a North York hotel for a lunch. As of March 2020, when the pandemic forced everyone to stay safely at home, the lunches had to be cancelled.
Hearing of their plight to stay in contact, CivMin aided the octogenarians in their quest to digitally gather with video sessions. The first gatherings saw some technical challenges, but they were soon overcome.
After more than two years and some seven virtual reunions, the group has seen as many as 12 able to join from across North America. The ease of digital meetings allowed the simultaneous connecting of multiple time zones – from the Maritimes, San Francisco, Florida, Vancouver and all over Ontario.
The old chums wasted no time in getting caught up, acting much like they’d never been apart. Old tales of pranks pulled, careers served and family highlights were recounted easily under the pleasant canopy of patio umbrellas.
Sonia de Buglio, Director of Engineering’s Alumni Relations, dropped in to express her admiration for the group’s ability to stay in touch for so long, before heading off to host the Skule™ Reunion event.
The group, represented by its most senior member, Barry Hitchcock (92) formally thanked the Department for facilitating virtual reunions, as well as the in-person lunch, and expressed an avid interest in continuing to hold video meetings hosted by CivMin. In response, Nelly Pietropaolo, Director of Student Services and External Relations for CivMin, replied with a plan to host the group with a gathering at Camp on Gull Lake this September.
After more than two years of not being able to meet up, due to the pandemic, Civil Engineering alumni from the class of 5T8 gathered for a much-deserved reunion. Six classmates assembled for a downtown Toronto patio lunch on Saturday, May 28, before partaking in other formal U of T Alumni Reunion activities on the nearby St. George campus.
The old chums wasted no time in getting caught up, acting much like they’d never been apart. Old tales of pranks pulled, careers served and family highlights were recounted easily under the pleasant canopy of patio umbrellas.