Leaders in Geo-Environmental

& Foundation Engineering

H. (Sam) Salem, P.Eng.

Mr. Sam Salem, P. Eng., is an Associate and Senior Engineer of AATech Scientific Inc. since 1997.  Mr. Salem has extensive experience in geotechnical and environmental engineering and construction projects across North America and overseas. He had major contributions in high profile projects such as the design of the Deglos Municipal Solid Waste Landfill, St. Lucia, the National Solid Waste Landfill in Greenland, Barbados, the foundations at several Oil Sands Projects in Fort McMurray, AB (Long Lake, Albian Sands, Horizon...), the foundations of the new Seawall, US Navy Yard, Washington D.C., the foundations of Berths 324 & 325 of the container wharf, Port of Los Angeles, California, Jetty NB at CFB Halifax, Nova Scotia, Cambalache Power Plant, Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and many others.  He is also active in research and development for engineering innovation and has co-authored several publications.

Mr. Salem has extensive specialized experience in designing and implementing automated instrumentation and datalogging, special testing setups, high capacity reaction frames, and high-precision measurement systems. He is also a leading expert on dynamic testing and analysis of pile foundations as well as low-strain pile integrity testing and cross-hole sonic logging of caissons and other concrete structures, with experience spanning over more than six hundred projects.

In the environmental engineering domain, Mr. Salem conducted many environmental assessment and remediation projects for residential and commercial sites and participated in the design and analyses for several engineered waste landfills including the design of liners, drainage, slopes, gas extraction and flaring, leachate ponds and recirculation systems, embankments, access roads, and other details.

Mr. Fred Agharazi, P. Eng.

Mr. Fred Agharazi is an Associate and Senior Engineer at AATech Scientific Inc. Mr. Agharazi has extensive experience in geotechnical engineering and construction, across North America and overseas. He had major contributions to major projects such as the Seawall Replacement, Washington, DC, JFK Airport Expansion, New York, NY, Don River Bridge/TTC Subway Station, Toronto, Ontario, San Francisco Executive Terminal, San Francisco, California, Cambalache Power Plant, Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Oil Sands projects in Fort McMurray, Alberta, the Brighton Beach co-generation plant in Sarnia, Ontario, and many others.

Mr. Agharazi has extensive experience in foundation and geotechnical projects. He is also an expert on dynamic testing and analysis of pile foundations as well as low-strain pile integrity testing and cross-hole sonic logging of caissons and other concrete structures, with experience spanning over more than six hundred projects. Mr. Agharazi is highly experienced in project management, construction quality control and quality assurance, and construction problem solving.

In the environmental engineering domain, Mr. Agharazi conducted many environmental assessment and remediation projects for residential and commercial sites and participated in the design and analyses for several engineered waste landfills including the design of liners, drainage, slopes, gas extraction and flaring, leachate ponds and recirculation systems, embankments, access roads, and other details.

Mr. Agharazi has been very active in foundation consulting on major oil sands projects including services for several clients at projects such as Long Lake, Albian Sands, Suncor, Horizon... He is also active in research and development for engineering innovation and has co-authored several publications.

Bengt H. Fellenius, Dr.Tech., P.Eng. (www.fellenius.net)

Dr. Bengt H. Fellenius is a professional engineer specializing in foundation design and studies by participation in project teams, special investigations, instrumented field tests, etc. Services are also provided in regard to construction problems, claims, and litigation in collaboration with Consultants and Contractors, as well as Owners.  Dr. Fellenius, Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Ottawa from 1979 through 1996, is an internationally recognized authority in the field of soil mechanics and foundation engineering, and, in particular, in pile foundations. He is the author of more than 250 technical journal and conference papers, articles, books, and book chapters and has gained a wealth of practical experience during more than 40 years of work at home and abroad through a variety of assignments that encompass foundation design for water and sewage treatment plants, industrial plants, bridges and highway projects, marine structures, and urban area development.  Dr. Fellenius is and has been an active participant in many national and international professional societies and research associations and in Canadian and US Codes and Standards Development. For example, Member of the subcommittee for the American Society for Testing and Materials D-4945 Standard for High-Strain Dynamic Testing of Piles; Chairman of the Canadian Geotechnical Society Technical Committee on Foundations writing the 1985 Canadian Foundation Engineering Manual; Member of the Ministry of Transportation Committee for the Development of the 1983 and 1992 Ontario Bridge Design Code; Author of three Public Works Canada publications: Marine Division Master Specifications for Piling, Pile Design Guidelines, and Hammer Selection Guide; Past Overseas Correspondent Member to the Geotechnical Engineering Advisory Panel of the Institution of Civil Engineers, ICE (London); and Past Member of Editorial Board for the ASCE Geotechnical Engineering Journal.  Dr. Fellenius has given lectures and courses at several universities and international conferences throughout Europe, America, and south-east Asia.

Vinod K. Garga, Ph.D., P.Eng.

Dr. Garga is a geotechnical engineer with experience on projects in countries in South America, Asia, and Canada, His expertise includes the design and construction of earth and rockfill hydro dams, water supply dams, tailings dams for mine waste storage, geo-environmental engineering, deep excavations, and stabilization of large landslides. He has worked as a designer and consultant on numerous projects related to hydroelectric development, mining and resource development. He is registered consultant with the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. He is active in research sponsored by Resources Canada, CANMET and IDRC. He is currently Vice-President (Technical) of the Canadian Geotechnical Society