Finally, the consulting competitors were given six hours to come up with a solution to the problem of connecting the major cities of Western Canada, using a high-speed transit system. Competitors had to consider many different facets to the problem, including feasibility and economics. Solutions were presented the next day.
Congratulations to the consulting engineering team, consisting of APEGGA student members Claire Smith, Robbie Hames, Mark Hlady and Andrew Malcolm. These future engineers will be continuing on to the Canadian Engineering Competition, CEC2010, at the University of Toronto. The debate team also advances to CEC2010.
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GREAT TEAMS AT WEC
Smiles are all around as team members relax after a hard-fought Western Engineering Competition.
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They’re Tops In Concrete
Teams from a number of Canadian universities converged on Hamilton’s McMaster University at the end of January for the Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race. And, when the course was all well worn in, it was U of A students and their strong technical skills earning a first place overall.
Designed and raced by student teams, each toboggan in the GNCTR has to meet five main design criteria. Each had to be least 50 per cent Portland cement concrete, carry five people safely, include a functional roll-bar, and have safe brake and steering systems – all while weighing less than 300 lb.
The team worked hard all year preparing to compete in a wide range of categories, including braking systems, technical presentation and report, concrete quality, spirit and, of course, the speed of the toboggan.
With team size restrictions and large student interest in the event, the U of A sent two teams. One primary team of 30 students competed with the toboggan designed for the 2010 competition. A secondary, non-competing team with 15 members, reusing the toboggan from the previous year, was also sent.
With corporate sponsorship and support from the U of A’s Faculty of Engineering, as well as the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, students pay the lowest fees in the country, with a registration fee of $175.
APEGGA student member and team captain Nigel Parker attributed this year’s success to excellent technical work and plenty of team experience.
The team had the best theoretical design and also won the braking/superstructure category. This strong technical work came from members who had been involved for several years, and hence had a lot of design and competition experience.
For more information about GNCTR, contact Nigel Parker at nkparker@ualberta.ca.
Next year, the U of A hopes to host GNCTR.
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IT’S NOT EASY WEARING GREEN
Proving that you can look cool even in a bright green toque and a striped robe, U of A students have some fun in the sun.
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