Innovation, adaptability and finding solutions for the challenges
of building in Arctic and marine environments:
PND Engineers has developed a solid reputation for all
these things over the course of its 37-year history. That pattern
of excellence continues as the U.S.-headquartered civil
and structural engineering firm expands its reach in Canada’s
north through a Canadian subsidiary.
A prime example of PND’s innovation is the firm’s proprietary
(and award-winning) OPEN CELL® sheet pile technology,
used over 200 times since PND Engineers developed it in
the early 1980s for bridge abutments in Alaska’s North Slope
region. PND’s website says OPEN CELL systems have “been
used effectively in locations where other traditional
bulkhead systems cannot work, including severe ice
conditions, soft soils, exposed bedrock, deep water,
high loading conditions, extensive scour and seismic
events.”
“The OPEN CELL system has been used for a variety
of projects including bridge abutments, shoreline
erosion control, temporary module offloading facilities
and break-bulk and container terminals,” said
Gary Watters, PND Engineers Canada president,
from his office in Vancouver, adding that the OPEN
CELL bulkhead can be installed quickly with limited
equipment and manpower needs, making it an exceptionally
cost-effective solution whether in a remote or urban location.
“Time is money, and construction costs decrease considerably
with the OPEN CELL system,” said Watters. “The OPEN
CELL system’s main advantage is cost reduction via scheduletightening
compared to other types of systems.”
Another example of the company’s innovation is its SPIN
FIN® piles – steel pipe piles with angled fins for anchoring them
into the ground. Thousands have been installed in numerous
locations since SPIN FIN piles were developed in 1983.
“You take a normal pile, which relies on skin friction,
and weld angled steel fins to the lower end of the pile,” said
COMPANY PROFILE
Watters. “That not only increases your skin friction capacity,
it’s like driving a screw into wood – you get more resistance
both in tension and compression. It can dramatically reduce
the number, size and length of piles needed. We’ve had some
applications where we were able to reduce the number and
tonnage of piles needed by 50 per cent.”
With decades of experience in engineering, the last 20
of them with PND, Watters is very much an expert in these
matters. He’s putting his expertise and experience to work
for the international engineering firm as head of operations
in Canada, where PND has been making a name for itself by
taking on tough projects and succeeding admirably.
A full-service civil and structural engineering company,
PND Engineers has distinguished itself as designers and consulting
engineers in Arctic and marine projects, roads and
bridges, geotechnical consulting, construction engineering
and other applications of engineering expertise for a wide
variety of clients in locations from Nunavut to Texas and
beyond.
Founded in Anchorage, Alaska in 1979 as Peratrovich and
Nottingham, the firm incorporated in 1981 as Peratrovich,
Nottingham and Drage before doing business under its current
name. PND has grown to comprise a staff of more than
110 in four U.S. states, having recently opened a Houston
» PND’s proprietary OPEN
CELL system was used in
construction of an iron ore
loading dock in Nunavut
» Right: The Baffinland
iron ore dock project, with
OPEN CELL bulkhead,
was completed in 2015
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PND ENGINEERS CANADA
“We are a go-to engineering firm for
when projects are challenging and
need resourcefulness.”
– Gary Watters, PND Engineers Canada
PILING CANADA 45