Romaine 4 Snowpack Support Structures
Hydro-Quebec
Near Havre St. Pierre, QC, Canada
Project Requirements
- Avalanche risk assessment and mitigation recommendations for a large cut slope above the powerhouse and tailrace.
- Providing technical specifications for snowpack supporting structures that meet internationally recognized standards.
- Assist client with selecting snowpack supporting system that meets specific project constraints.
- Determine optimal layout for Maccaferri Erdox Neve® snowpack support structures.
- Worker safety prior to support structure installation.
- First installation of umbrella-type snowpack supporting systems in Canada.
Project Description
The Romaine 4 Hydroelectric Project is approximately 150 km north of Havre St. Pierre in eastern Quebec. It is one of four major hydroelectric dams along the Romaine River. A large cut slope was created as part of the excavation for the powerhouse and tailrace.
Alpine Solutions was originally tasked with providing an avalanche risk assessment for the Romaine-4 power house and tailrace sites, currently under construction. Alpine Solutions then teamed up with Englobe to assist Hydro-Quebec with selecting the optimal structure type, and design and install the system. Alpine Solutions completed detailed GIS-based desktop design and field layout of the system using the Maccaferri Erdox Neve® structures.
Challenges
- Demine optimal layout for very convoluted terrain.
- Working within the project constraints that included limited time on-site.
- Working with a new snow net system that had yet to be used in Canada.
- Worker safety prior to installation that relied on remote avalanche forecasting.
Solutions
- Relied on extensive previous experience with snowpack supporting system design.
- Design based on umbrella-type snowpack support system in close collaboration with manufacturer.
- Detailed GIS-based design using high-resolution LiDAR data.
- Built relationships with Hydro-Quebec personnel who provided Alpine Solutions Forecasters with daily weather observations and photographs of the site.
- Clear communications with client.
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