Shining daylight on underground infrastructure

a news release from the media relations office

The benefits of using trenchless technology to rebuild our deteriorating and aging water and sewage systems in an affordable and sustainable way will be explored this week at Canada's largest gathering of experts in the field.

The Underground Infrastructure Research International Conference and Trenchless Road Show will draw more than 400 representatives from municipalities, industry and universities. The event begins today at the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

The conference and trade show is organized by the Centre for the Advancement of Trenchless Technologies (CATT), based in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Waterloo.

"Our focus is on our out-of-sight buried aging, deteriorating and failing water mains and wastewater infrastructure," said Mark Knight, executive director of CATT and a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Waterloo. "Affordability is the key issue. We can't afford to do things using the traditional dig and replace methods as it is not sustainable or affordable. We want to make sure this critical infrastructure, through proper water user rates, is maintained, renewed, rebuilt and is sustainable for future generations."

The two-day event brings together world experts - engineers, municipal leaders and construction contractors - to see new technologies and discuss the use and benefits of trenchless construction methods, which can assess remaining pipe life, as well as rebuild and renew pipe in place. They will also discuss new innovative management practices.

The event will feature the latest research and development, 50 exhibiting companies, along with educational breakout sessions and live outdoor technique sessions.

Trenchless technology involves techniques for pipe and utility line installation, repair or replacement with a minimum of excavation from the ground surface. It is a rapidly growing sector of the construction and civil engineering industry.

The event will also showcase Waterloo Engineering researchers, who have developed new innovative urban water and wastewater infrastructure asset management tools for municipalities. They have conducted years of collaborative research with the cities of Cambridge, Niagara Falls and Waterloo.

These tools allow for effective, efficient and sustainable asset management of urban water and wastewater networks.

They provide:

• a dynamic framework for improved buried infrastructure asset management;
• a setting of sustainable and justifiable water user fees over the long term;
• an understanding of the impact of water conservation and reuse on financial sustainability; and
• financial methods to remove or eliminate Canada's infrastructure backlog.

"Our asset management tools will provide governments and industry with a framework to set realistic and justifiable policies and regulations that will improve the performance of this critical infrastructure," said Knight. "We are developing a new management system for sustainable water use. This is exciting."

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Updates to the retiree roster

A number of staff members have retired in recent months, according to the human resources department.

Retirees as of February 1, 2012:

• David Frey, custodian in Plant Operations, on staff since May 1976.
• Shonn Martin, Pure Math administrative co-ordinator, graduate studies, on staff since May 1987.
• Ruth Gooding, Executive Secretary, Graduate Studies - Kinesiology, who started in January 1977.
• Sharon Adams, Psychology administrative officer, on staff since August 1980.
• Ian Turner, computer support specialist in the Cheriton School of Computer Science, who joined the university in October 2001.

Retirees as of March 1, 2012:

• Christopher Redmond, Director, Internal Communications in Communications and Public Affairs, who started in July 1973.
• Sandra Machan, department chair and secretary to the Chair in the Civil and Environmental Engineering department, who joined the university in May 1990.
• Edward Papazian, team manager in Co-operative Education and Career Action, who started in July 1996.
• Bonnie Neglia, administrative assistant in Civil and Environmental Engineering, who joined the university in December 1970.
• Keith Townsend, maintenance/support technician in Information Systems and Technology, who started in September 1979.
• Sretomirka Terzic, custodian in Plant Operations, on staff since June 2003.
• Rosalind Exton, head recruiter for the Centre for Contact Lens Research, who joined in July 2000.
  

Retirees as of April 1, 2012

• Neil Poworoznyk, custodian in Plant Operations, started at the university in 1998.

Retirees as of May 1, 2012

• Joanna Taylor, Associate Director, Stewardship in the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, who started in February 2006.
• Donna Wright, Student Advisor at St. Jerome's University, on staff since November 1998.
• Rhonda Flewwelling, advancement assistant at St. Jerome's, with a seniority date of August 1982.
  

The following staff retired as of Friday, June 1.

• Judite Ferreira, custodian in Plant Operations, who started in December 1998.
• Elizabeth Varriano, salesperson at Pastry Plus in Village One, who joined in February 1997.
• Lesley Hartley, administrative assistant in Fine Arts, on staff since April 1980.
• Sharon Bissonnette, library clerk at the Library, who joined the university in January 1985.
• John Potzold, who was a student shop technician in the Engineering Machine Shop, who started in April 2005.
• Debbie Tytko, head of acquisitions at the Library, who has been on staff since September 1976.

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Building a better myHRinfo and other notes

"The University of Waterloo is committed to increase the consistency, transparency and ease of use of our people management systems," reads a message from Human Resources. "That’s why we’re constantly working to improve myHRinfo, the web based interface the University uses to support payroll, human resources, recruitment, and learning services."

"To ensure the services available through myHRinfo are most valuable to you, we need your input. Our goal is to ensure managers can complete administrative tasks quickly and efficiently while putting individuals in control of their careers."

There are two options for you to share feedback:

• Book a one-hour presentation on what myHRinfo can do for you, experience new functionality and provide input about future enhancements. Contact Stacey Parsons (sjparson@ uwaterloo.ca) or Pam Fluttert (fluttert @uwaterloo.ca) now to book a presentation.
  
• Take part in a quick and easy online survey. The survey is open to all users of myHRinfo (employees, managers, students). Go to the myHRinfo login page to get more information on the survey.
  

"Act now, the opportunity to participate is only available from June 4 to July 31, 2012."

Renison University College's Chancellor, Bishop Ralph Spence (right), was invited to be one of 10 heralds from Canada, Scotland, and England at the Diamond Jubilee festivities now underway in the U.K.

Spence, a member of the Canadian Heraldic Authority, is a flag designer (the City of Hamilton's flag is his handiwork), and participated in the Thames barge flotilla honouring the Queen Sunday.

The Spring term's exam period runs from July 30 to August 10, and the schedule is now online.

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