Publications

08 Jan 2026
Mining and Metals

Electric vehicles and power distribution: considerations for underground mine operators

Shifting to electric vehicles in underground mining offers significant benefits, but it also introduces new challenges. Power feeds often lack the capacity to handle the large power demand during charging; infrastructure upgrades require large capital investments; and even the overall service to site may not be sufficient. Without careful planning, mines risk load imbalances, brownouts, nuisance tripping of power distribution systems and possible reductions in production without significant capital investment. There’s no single fix to address all these obstacles. Instead, success depends on adaptive integration designs that evolve alongside the technology: solutions that demand ingenuity, innovative thinking and close collaboration across teams and vendors.
Jason James Gander

Senior Technologist
07 Mar 2019
Power and Renewables

Optimize production ramp-up through operational readiness
- Nicolas Beauchamp, P.Eng.
  
  Commissioning Manager, Operational Readiness and Commissioning
28 Feb 2019
Power and Renewables

Business analysis: an essential tool for successfully implementing your IT projects
- Julie Lessard
  
  Senior Business Analyst, Operational Technology and Infrastructure
25 Feb 2019
Power and Renewables

Strategic asset management planning (SAMP) in major industrial electrical networks
- Pierre Girard, P.Eng.
  
  National Practice Leader, Electrical
22 Feb 2019
Energy and chemical processes

The application of numerical modelling in efficiency-driven designs: ventilation problem
- Lyne Ricard, P.Eng.
  
  Senior Consulting Expert, Advanced Fuels and Chemicals
21 Feb 2019
Power and Renewables

Optimizing the design of penstock manifold with 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation

The penstock manifold is the steel component in the pipeline that diverts flow at the powerhouse into several turbine units for hydropower projects. Due to the flow separation, turbulence is expected at each wye of the manifold, which will result in pressure drops / energy loss. Moreover, if the manifold is very close to the turbine unit, which is typically the case, the turbulent flow from the wye will also affect the turbine performance and thus, energy production. To accurately capture the flow performance at the wye, 3D numerical modeling is recommended, since the traditional manual calculation with the imperial data will not be detailed enough to capture the local turbulence (especially if there is a crotch plate inside the wye to separate the flow), and the physical modeling will be very expensive and time consuming for each design iteration.
21 Feb 2019
Mining and Metals

How to get rid of errors in your drilling database in 25 questions
19 Dec 2018
Mining and Metals

Everything you need to know about atmospheric modelling
- David Giard, P.Eng., M.Sc.
  
  Senior Engineer, Environmental Engineering
18 Dec 2018
Power and Renewables

Wind farms: noise challenges
12 Dec 2018
Power and Renewables

Addressing pressure loss and oil leakage in Kaplan turbines and the impact on efficiency
- François St-Germain, P.Eng.
  
  Principal Engineer, Industrial and Hydro
03 Dec 2018
Power and Renewables

Geomatics and surveying: essential engineering tools

With today’s technology, processing geographic information has been turned on its head since the mapping production process has become entirely automated. Geographic information on a digital map is translated into points, lines or polygons that have related descriptive databases that in turn provide additional information about each element.
Marie-France Proulx, P.Eng., M.A.Sc., P.M.P.

Senior Engineer, Earth and Infrastructure
28 Nov 2018
Mining and Metals

Using speed variation for pumps
- Roman Dorfman, P.Eng.
  
  Principal Engineer, Piping
27 Nov 2018
Power and Renewables

Budgeting tips for engineering project management
- Marie Chiasson, P.Eng.
  
  Practice Leader, Engineering Management
02 Nov 2018
Mining and Metals

The use of 3D models and analysis in support of waste stockpile design and operations
02 Nov 2018
Mining and Metals

Practical nomograms for waste rock piles design on competent foundations
02 Nov 2018
Mining and Metals

Mine waste rock storage facilities design, construction and operation as engineered structures
02 Nov 2018
Mining and Metals

Assessment of design and operating practices on the risks associated with waste rock stockpiles
02 Nov 2018
Mining and Metals

Guidance for the safe and optimized operation of waste rocks facilities
23 Oct 2018
Power and Renewables

Understanding, quantifying and correcting noise sources
06 Jul 2018
Power and Renewables

Control system performance: Which figures should be considered?
- Michel Ruel, P.Eng.
  
  Expert, Process Control
06 Jul 2018
Power and Renewables

Everything you need to know about arc-flash hazard analyses

Arc flashes occur frequently in electrical installations.
Joel Sourceaux, P.Eng.

Principal Engineer, Electrical - Power Systems, Protection and Control
06 Jul 2018
Power and Renewables

Commissioning and maintenance of electrical distribution equipment: which approach to adopt
- Dominic Dubreuil, P.Eng.
  
  Electrical Engineer
05 Jul 2018
Mining and Metals

Implementing an industrial mining project: noise challenges
05 Jul 2018
Power and Renewables

Power grid protection... don't wing it!
- Rémi Hallé, P.Eng.
  
  Senior Engineer, Electrical - Power Systems, Protection and Control
05 Jul 2018
Power and Renewables

Workforce challenges in industrial electrical facilities
- Pierre Girard, P.Eng.
  
  National Practice Leader, Electrical
05 Jul 2018
Power and Renewables

BBA's equipment and systems testing process

Doing things right, the first time The equipment and systems testing process described in this article is based on many examples from the last 40 years where BBA had to intervene following in-production failures because factory acceptance tests (FATs) were not carried out properly or commissioning tests were omitted. In-production equipment failures are a nightmare for plant managers. Though they cannot be entirely eliminated, these failures can be drastically reduced by following simple steps before the equipment is in production. These steps, described below, are interrelated and should all be performed in their entirety for optimal results.
Pierre Girard, P.Eng.

National Practice Leader, Electrical
17 May 2018
Energy and chemical processes

Major incidents: corrective actions for "never again!"
- Lyne Ricard, P.Eng.
  
  Senior Consulting Expert, Advanced Fuels and Chemicals
06 May 2018
Power and Renewables

Industry 4.0 or a new wave in an industrial environment
- Michel Ruel, P.Eng.
  
  Expert, Process Control
04 May 2018
Power and Renewables

Power generating stations: a wealth of opportunity
11 Jan 2018
Power and Renewables

Interconnection: 3 things renewable developers should know
05 Dec 2017
Power and Renewables

The benefits of witnessing electrical factory acceptance tests (FATS)

Today, rigorous witnessing of factory acceptance tests (FATs) performed by an expert who is directly involved in the project engineering process is proving to be key when carrying out detailed engineering projects. On the one hand, it prevents disruptions when completing an engineering project and, on the other hand, minimizes the risk of undue delays during plant commissioning and start-up. It also prevents significant production losses in case critical equipment is unexpectedly damaged in the initial years of operation.
Maurice Brisson, P.Eng., M.A.Sc.

Senior Consulting Expert, Power System Planning