Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Canada is a leading energy producer, with the third-largest oil reserves in the world, and oil sands production as a major economic driver for the country. With world crude oil prices gradually rising, oil companies in Alberta are expanding their operations, devoting billions of dollars toward new production, maintenance, repair, and operations. Because oil sands production plants are generally congested areas, new assembly operations need to be carefully planned with regards to equipment location and operation in order to ensure optimal productivity. In the case of cranes, a well-designed operation includes selection, support system design, motion planning, and 3D validation. The objective of the research is thus threefold; it proposes to (i) elaborate a methodology which enables efficient planning of crane operations; (ii) design an appropriate support system and an innovative rigging mechanism; and (iii) analyze the impact of wind speed and direction on crane stability using the principles of fluid dynamics.The multi-disciplinary nature of the research will provide a unique opportunity for students, faculty, and managerial staff from the industrial partner to learn from each other and collaborate to achieve the research goal. This project also provides an opportunity for the industry partner and other players in the oil industry to further their insight into efficient scheduling and management of projects. The ensuing findings of the proposed research will serve as a basis for (i) reducing the risk of crane failure; (ii) improving safety of crane operation; (iii) increasing scheduling accuracy; and (iv) improving the efficiency of crane operations. The outcomes of the proposed research are also expected to make a positive impact on Canadian society. The developed measures to prevent equipment failure will result in significant savings by reducing the likelihood of work stoppage or equipment failure, and by contributing to the optimization of crane utilization on heavy industrial construction sites. This research also seeks to improve the safety and efficiency of crane operations, while reducing emissions.