68th Canadian Geotechnical Conference and 7th Canadian Permafrost Conference

CONSIDERING PERMAFROST IN THE DESIGN OF LINEAR INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN

Session: Permafrost Considerations in Design / Pergélisol et conception en milieu nordique

Lukas Arenson, BGC Engineering Inc. (Canada)
Katherine Johnston, BGC Engineering Inc. (Canada)
Pete Quinn, BGC Engineering Inc. (Canada)
Pablo Wainstein, BGC Engineering Inc. (Canada)

Traditionally, only a 500 - 2000 meter corridor width is considered and assessed when linear infrastructure, such as a road, pipeline or transmission line is planned. As such, hazards that originate from the periglacial belt at high elevations outside the corridor, which are often controlled by climatic parameters, may not be considered. Rapid climate change and variations in climate extremes can have a significant impact on the permafrost degradation and deglaciation in mountainous terrains of the Canadian Rockies and the Coast Mountain Range and change the geohazard potential with time. In order to assess such potential hazards for linear infrastructure projects through northern British Columbia, the role of permafrost must be addressed. This is best carried out in a systematic way, where direct and indirect hazards are assessed by using a scenario based approach that may also consider future climate change.