{"id":3092,"date":"2015-01-13T23:29:49","date_gmt":"2015-01-13T23:29:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ericjorden.com\/blog\/?p=3092"},"modified":"2015-01-13T23:29:49","modified_gmt":"2015-01-13T23:29:49","slug":"forensic-engineers-learn-from-sometimes-boring-success-as-well-as-newsworthy-failure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.ericjorden.com\/blog\/2015\/01\/13\/forensic-engineers-learn-from-sometimes-boring-success-as-well-as-newsworthy-failure\/","title":{"rendered":"Forensic engineers learn from sometimes boring success as well as newsworthy failure"},"content":{"rendered":"

We learn when\u00a0things fall down\u00a0<\/strong>or don’t work as they should.\u00a0 We learn from\u00a0mistakes –\u00a0our own as well as those of others.\u00a0\u00a0I see these lessons in the engineering failures and\u00a0personal injury\u00a0accidents that I investigate.<\/p>\n

There is\u00a0an\u00a0element of judgement in the practice of engineering. \u00a0Particularly those engineering disciplines based on the semi-empirical sciences.\u00a0 Disciplines like geotechnical, foundation, earthworks, environmental, and hydraulic engineering. \u00a0Good judgement comes from lessons learned.<\/p>\n

We also learn when things stand up<\/strong>\u00a0– when we get it right, particularly from structures that are still functioning after many years. \u00a0Things that stand up and work for a very long time.<\/p>\n

I thought of this when I learned about the government’s plans to try and sell the Porter’s Lake Canal to developers who would fill it in and build houses on it.\u00a0 Heaven forbid.\u00a0 The Canal is functioning today almost as intended by engineers and builders when planning first began more than 135 years ago.\u00a0 (Fortunately, the Canal has since been taken off the market by Fisheries and Oceans Canada as a result of public feedback)<\/p>\n

The Canal is a hydraulic structure.\u00a0\u00a0It\u00a0connects 18 mile long Porter’s Lake in Nova Scotia to\u00a0Three Fathom Harbour on the eastern\u00a0shore.\u00a0 You cross it when you travel highway 207 between the communities of\u00a0Seaforth\u00a0and Three Fathom Harbour.\u00a0 It forms an unofficial boundary between the communities.<\/p>\n

Porter’s Lake\u00a0Canal is\u00a0a little more than\u00a00.5\u00a0miles\u00a0long and\u00a0was designed to be\u00a0six feet deep at mean low tide.<\/p>\n

It’s also\u00a0pretty enough when you paddle or hike it’s length.\u00a0\u00a0It looks like a hockey stick from the air.\u00a0\u00a0Can you get any more Canadian, more Nova Scotian than that?<\/p>\n

The Canal’s straight alignment stands out as an unusual\u00a0feature in the landscape from several thousand feet aloft – go see, obtain a published aerial photograph of the area taken from 6,000 feet (at the Geomatic’s Centre in Amherst).\u00a0 I’m sure it would stand out on the moon with a\u00a0good telescope.<\/p>\n

It was planned, designed and constructed by the community, engineers and builders in the late 1800s. The Provincial Engineer reported on the feasibility of the Canal in 1878.\u00a0 It was intended to provide better and more reliable access to\u00a0the sea from Porter’s Lake for quite small coastal schooners –\u00a0and markets for the natural products\u00a0along the shores of the lake at the time.\u00a0 Rocky Run, the natural access to the sea from the lake, kept filling up with gravel from the action of the surf and the\u00a0heavy seas of the Atlantic Ocean.\u00a0 It was dredged several\u00a0times.<\/p>\n

The Canal\u00a0hasn’t filled up in all those years, a main\u00a0requirement the engineers had to meet.\u00a0 Engineering judgement would have been important in selecting Three Fathom Harbour as\u00a0the location of the discharge end of the Canal, also in designing the slope of the Canal sides and the depth.\u00a0 Scour and\u00a0erosion, long shore drift, and slope stability\u00a0are quite\u00a0empirical engineering\u00a0studies even today.<\/p>\n

The lesson learned<\/strong> is that engineering judgement and somewhat un-glamorous empirical knowledge are valuable elements in\u00a0designing and building\u00a0structures that can last a long time.\u00a0 A very long time – witness the still functioning Roman, multi-level, bridge-like aqueducts.<\/p>\n

Like the Shubenacadie Canal in Nova Scotia of similar vintage,\u00a0the\u00a0Porter’s Lake Canal\u00a0wasn’t used to the extent intended for similar reasons –\u00a0new technology overtook both of them.\u00a0 A bridge constructed over the Canal\u00a0shortly\u00a0before 1915 to\u00a0carry the railway to Upper Musquodoboit was too low for even small coastal schooners to pass under.\u00a0 Porter’s Lake Canal as a commercial venture was doomed at that time.<\/p>\n

There are photographs of the Canal In Appendix 1<\/strong> and additional, quite interesting historical information in Appendix 2<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The first photograph is of a paddler preparing to canoe the Canal. \u00a0CBC TV did a feature story on the public’s efforts to save the Canal. \u00a0The photographer in the middle distance is likely with CBC TV.<\/p>\n

The second photograph is a view of the Canal from the Canada Trail where it crosses the Canal. \u00a0Hwy 207 is in the distance.<\/p>\n

The third, rare photograph is of the Canal under construction.<\/p>\n

Citations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Much of the information on the\u00a0Porter’s Lake Canal including the photographs has been provided by Dusan Soudek<\/strong>, Halifax, an avid outdoors-man, who, I think, has a day job in medicine.\u00a0 It was Dusan, possibly assisted by others,\u00a0who located the following published items from the The British Colonist<\/em> 1871. \u00a0My initial thoughts on the Canal\u00a0on reading some of Dusan’s material is also included below.\u00a0 It’s all quite informative reading on a very interesting engineering structure\u00a0right under our noses – a short distance outside of Dartmouth.<\/p>\n

Appendix 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUS<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUS<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Figure<\/a><\/p>\n

Appendix 2<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Porter\u2019s Lake Canal<\/strong><\/p>\n

The value of this great improvement is not generally understood. It may be briefly, summed up as follows. Porter\u2019s Lake is about eighteen miles in length, and surrounded by farms and woodland, and there are large quantities of building-stone and sand, all of which would prove valuable sources of wealth, if vessels of moderate tonnage could have free access to the ocean. But, unfortunately, the natural outlet from the lake is directly from the open sea-board, and, from the action of the surf, is being constantly filled up with gravel, although it has been dredged out several times. By cutting a canal from the lower part of the lake to Three Fathom Harbor, an outlet would be obtained which would never be liable to be choked up, as the harbor is sheltered from the heavy seas of the Atlantic.<\/p>\n

The distance from the lake to Three Fathom Harbor is a little over half a mile, and from the nature of the soil could be cut of the depth of seven feet, which is as deep as is necessary, for an estimated sum of two thousand pounds. Were this accomplished, the whole of the great resources of the surrounding district would be developed, and the value of all the properties enhanced. For many years the residents have been hoping to obtain this important boon, but without success. We are happy to know, however, that at length they are in a fair way to secure it.<\/p>\n

The residents of the district signed a petition to the Dominion Government asking for aid towards the work, which the Government have promptly responded to by sending an engineer to make a survey and make a report on its practicability and probable cost. There can be no doubt of the nature of the report on both points. Mr. Fairbanks has already, at the request of the inhabitants, made a preliminary examination, and his report proves not only the entire practicability of the work, but the very moderate amount necessary to effect it \u2013 not probably exceeding 2 000 pounds. Should the Government Engineer\u2019s report corroborate Mr. Fairbanks\u2019s (of which there can be no doubt) the work will be undertaken and completed by the Dominion Government, and a great and lasting boon thus conferred on the people residing in that part of the county.<\/p>\n

(unsigned editorial, The British Colonist<\/i> (Halifax), May 6, 1871)<\/p>\n

Porter\u2019s Lake Canal<\/strong><\/p>\n

This important public work is now demonstrated to be practicable. It can be constructed, and must be. The persons who sneer at the enterprise and regard it as an electioneering dodge would of course kill it off if they could. The matter is in the hands of the people.<\/p>\n

(unsigned editorial, The British Colonist<\/i> (Halifax), May 6, 1871)<\/p>\n

That Canal<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Government Candidates with \u201cHon. William Garvie\u201d at their lead continue to sneer at the Porter\u2019s Lake Canal. They call it a \u201ccanard,\u201d a \u201cdodge,\u201d an \u201cinvention,\u201d a \u201cpiece of deception,\u201d a \u201cwalking falsehood.\u201d What more names they may have for it we do not know; but we know that the project is a wise one, perfectly practicable, quite within reach as to the means for its construction. We know further that the people most deeply interested in it, the inhabitants of the district, do not regard it as a \u201cwalking falsehood.\u201d What do they or we care for second hand Theodore Hook stories? We are grappling with practical realities. We all know that the Canal will not be encouraged by the Local Government or its nominees. We do not wonder then that the people around Porter\u2019s Lake are determined to support Messrs. Hill, Daly, and Geddes.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b>(unsigned editorial, The British Colonist <\/i>(Halifax), May 9, 1871)<\/p>\n

Eric,<\/p>\n

thanks for your intriguing thoughts about the canal. I am sending you, separately, a rare photo of the canl while it was being excavated and my notes about its history. It is shaped like a hockey stick… Can you get more Canadian than that?<\/p>\n

In late 19th century the Dominion government was plagued by storms silting up Rocky Run, the natural outlet of the lake, trapping schooners in the lake for weeks. At one point the feds were working on three separate outlets for the big tidal lake. The site chosen for the current canal was superb; it hasn\u2019t silted up for a century and likely never will… Regards,<\/p>\n

Dusan 4\/11\/14<\/p>\n

You know, Dusan, the Canal is a quite striking engineering structure.\u00a0 Straight and true, covering a lot of ground, built by men long ago with far less sophisticated earth moving, mechanical equipment than available today.<\/p>\n

Not such a complex structure in engineering terms but still an old structure built by man.\u00a0 Not in the same league as the Shubie Canal but respectable enough, if for no other reason but that it\u2019s about 100 years old, just a little less than Shubie.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s being used today.\u00a0 How many 100 year old engineering structures are being used today in Nova Scotia, other than a very few buildings, a very few wharves, and a few winding, twisting roads?<\/p>\n

We have two main environments that figure in the affairs of man, a natural environment and a built environment.\u00a0 This is a good example of a different structure in the built environment \u2013 something other than buildings, that represents the efforts of men.<\/p>\n

And don\u2019t forget, mankind has the built environment and all the comforts associated with it \u2013 I know, some problems too, because of the engineering profession, and the forebears of engineering centuries ago, builders in general.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s an interesting structure that got built by our forebears.\u00a0 Unlike the planned canal across the Tantramar Marshes that didn\u2019t go anywhere because it didn\u2019t get built.\u00a0 But like the Shubie Canal that did get built.<\/p>\n

But, unlike the Shubie Canal in that, to some extent, it\u2019s being used today to something akin to its intended purpose long ago.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s so striking from the air – in the aerial photograph, like an arrow shot across the landscape.\u00a0 A feature like that draws the attention of those of us aloft.<\/p>\n

You know, a structure like this \u2013 the Porter\u2019s Lake Canal, just might show up on a photograph taken from the moon or Mars.\u00a0 And it would draw the attention of Martians because it is an unnatural feature.\u00a0 Bet your boots, someone is up there looking down on us.<\/p>\n

More seriously, but only a little, this structure does show up from some distance off in space; there\u2019s no question about that.\u00a0 In view of that, I think, rather than abandon the Canal to real estate developers and someone\u2019s bottom line, we should clear the forest growth back a little, just a little, so it is more visible from the air, be more inviting to paddlers, and be another feature that marks Nova Scotia as different from the rest of the east coast.<\/p>\n

Dusan, feel free to share my e-mail thoughts with others with the view that it might stimulate additional thoughts of theirs, sorta like in a brain storming session.<\/p>\n

Okay, take care\u2026Eric 4\/11\/14<\/p>\n

Eric,<\/p>\n

think much smaller coastal schooners, not the Bluenose. it may have been meant for logs, too. There is a mention in the old documents that it was to be 6 feet deep at mean low tide.<\/p>\n

I forgot to mention the name of the trail on the former rail right-of-way: The Atlantic View Trail, now a portion of the Trans Canada Trail. Regards,<\/p>\n

Dusan 17\/11\/14<\/p>\n

Hi Eric,<\/p>\n

the road that crosses the canal is Highway 207, and the canal forms the unofficial boundary between the communities of Seaforth and Three Fathom Harbour.<\/p>\n

In my initial appeal I made a slight error. The concrete railway bridge that spans the canal has the date 1928 imprinted in it, so I assumed that the Musquodoboit Railway reached the canal in this year. In fact the line, between Dartmouth and Uppper Musquodoboit, was officially opened on July 1, 1915. The original railway bridge over the canal was a wooden trestle, to be replaced\u00a0 by the current concrete bridge later.<\/p>\n

So no schooners could pass under the low railway bridge as early as 1915, and the canal was doomed as a commercial venture then.\u00a0 An 1878 report by the Provincial Engineer on the feasibility of a canal mentions the need for a \u201cpair of small lock gates.\u201d Regards,<\/p>\n

Dusan 16\/11\/14<\/p>\n

I have some great news to report. In response to public feedback, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has taken the canal property off the market, giving interested parties some breathing room to make plans for the canal\u2019s future. It was discussed at this week\u2019s HRM\u2019s Harbour East \u2013 Marine Drive ( i.e., \u201cDartmouth\u201d) Community Council meeting and is on the agenda for Tuesday night\u2019s (November 18) HRM Regional Council meeting. (Agenda Item 11.3.5).<\/p>\n

If you haven\u2019t sent a note to the HRM Councillors re your support for keeping the Porters Lake Canal in public ownership and if you are inclined to do so, please consider sending a brief note to District 2 Councillor David Hendsbee at hendsbd@halifax.ca<\/a> and to the entire Council at clerks@halifax.ca<\/a> before noon on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Dusan Soudek 16\/11\/14<\/p>\n

N.B. The sign on the former railway bridge that crosses the canal \u2013 see attached photo– disappeared sometime after Hurricane Juan..<\/p>\n

Hi Lyse,<\/p>\n

excellent! Kevin Murphy, the local Liberal MLA is also the Speaker of the House. He is\u00a0getting forwarded\u00a0messages of support for the canal from Councillor Hendsbee, who is also forwarding them to all the other HRM councillors and various provincial politicians. I am getting some of them, too. And, boy, there have been lots of them. The word is spreading…\u00a0It never hurts to cc as many politicians as possible. There are plans to set up a “Save Porters Lake Canal” Facebook group in order to keep people abreast of developments and to have a place to post historical press clippings, photos, videos, etc.. Regards,\u00a0\u00a0 Dusan Soudek 5\/11\/14<\/p>\n

<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We learn when\u00a0things fall down\u00a0or don’t work as they should.\u00a0 We learn from\u00a0mistakes –\u00a0our own as well as those of others.\u00a0\u00a0I see these lessons in the engineering failures and\u00a0personal injury\u00a0accidents that I investigate. There is\u00a0an\u00a0element of judgement in the practice … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15,16,17],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ericjorden.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3092"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ericjorden.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ericjorden.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ericjorden.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ericjorden.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3092"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"http:\/\/www.ericjorden.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3092\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3151,"href":"http:\/\/www.ericjorden.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3092\/revisions\/3151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ericjorden.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3092"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ericjorden.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3092"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ericjorden.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3092"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}