PND’s roots in the remote reaches and arctic regions of Alaska have taught us how to succeed with a proactive approach and set the highest standards for our work.
Despite severe conditions and demanding logistics, we maintain quality and schedules for our arctic and subarctic projects. Accounting for surrounding tundra habitat and coordinating complex permits with governing bodies that require winter construction, PND understands the acute need for minimizing field labor to reduce cost and increase safety for construction crews. We’re constantly investigating ways to improve efficiency, including pioneering new methods to make working in the arctic less expensive and less dangerous.
Arctic Experts
Theoretical and practical experts in the Arctic and experienced project partners.
Awarded Technologies
Many of PND’s arctic engineering projects have won prestigious awards for innovative design and successful construction.
Tailored Services
Clients’ needs and schedules differ; our services provide technical solutions tailored to you.
Civil Engineering
The design, construction, and maintenance of vital infrastructure in the Arctic is complex given the associated extreme conditions. Our teams handle site civil infrastructure such as roads and pads engineered with insulated grades to prevent permafrost thaw while supporting heavy industrial use. Airstrips are designed to meet strict aviation standards in challenging environments. Our hydraulic and hydrologic engineers have specialized experience and training to address permafrost region conditions, as well. With comprehensive survey services using various tools and techniques, we ensure precise topographic and bathymetric data collection to coordinate remote Arctic projects.
- Site Civil
- Roads & Pads
- Airstrips
- H&H
- Survey
Structural Engineering
Structural engineering is key to developing a resilient community, especially in challenging and changing Arctic conditions. PND’s structural engineers design building structures able to withstand severe weather and arctic freeze-thaw, while remaining safe and warm for those inside. Our tough-structured bridges withstand seasonal ice breakup and—in some cases—full submersion, while our bulkheads, docks, and other waterfront infrastructure are ice-resistant, even in the Arctic Ocean. Beneath every structure, we design foundations to support structures in permafrost and cold-weather environments.
- Buildings
- Bridges
- Waterfront Ice-Resistant Structures
- Foundation Design
Geotechnical Engineering
Frozen ground and permafrost require unique engineering solutions, especially in an increasingly warming arctic environment. Engineering design begins with collecting deep soil samples and subsurface temperature monitoring. PND performs large-scale winter geotechnical explorations to collect soil samples and install thermal monitoring instrumentation. We perform advanced thermal modeling to understand the behavior of warming frozen ground and its effects on foundations. We design deep adfreeze foundations, thermosiphon passive freezing installations, as well as shallow foundations. PND has modeled predictive ground temperature increases based on the newest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change models. To support our geotechnical projects, the frozen-ground samples are transported to our AASHTO-accredited laboratory and cold room facility in Anchorage for testing at in-situ temperatures. Soil type, temperature, and salinity affect the end design for successful structures lasting 50 years and beyond under some of the harshest conditions in the world.
- Permafrost Characterization & Subsurface Analyses
- Pile Adfreeze Design, including Saline
- Ice/Structure Interaction
- Large-Scale Remote Arctic Geotechnical Explorations
- Frozen Ground Lab Testing
- Ice Road Design & Development
Environmental Consulting
The balance of coastal development and ecological preservation is safeguarded by environmental permitting. With experience in NEPA and wetland or shoreline assessments, as well as compliance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act, PND’s team helps clients achieve objectives while working within regulatory frameworks. Our environmental scientists perform extensive assessments to determine the presence of and impacts on protected species, spearhead federal and state consultations, and provide guidance on land and water use rights. Additionally, our expertise in water resources and coastal design ensures erosion protection, stream restoration, and aquatic habitat creation. Through data collection, fieldwork, site inspections, and climate change analysis, we can predict future hydrology changes and develop informed designs.
- NEPA Assessments
- Wetland Assessments
- Land & Water Use Rights
- Climate Change Analyses
- Water Resources & Coastal Design
Construction Engineering
Construction sites in the Arctic are often remote, located far away from roads, ports, and local populations. PND organizes mobilization and demobilization of personnel, equipment, and materials for access to and staging at remote project sites. Our experience includes the logistics involved in arctic construction, from managing schedules to estimating costs to coordinating projects for large-scale, multidisciplinary projects.
- Access & Staging
- Logistics
Hydraulics & Hydrology
PND’s understanding of the region’s unique hydrology and spring breakup helps our team create designs suited for infrastructure on Alaska’s North Slope. Addressing design conditions such as permafrost coverage, extreme spring breakup floods with potential ice jam impacts, Arctic Ocean tides and storm surges, and preservation of the rich ecology of the region requires specialized knowledge and extensive experience. PND provides both, along with innovative solutions to the Arctic’s challenges. Our engineers have conducted hydraulic and hydrologic studies across hundreds of locations on the North Slope, supporting multiple industrial developments by collecting, modeling, and analyzing data to help design erosion protection and flood control systems, roads, bridges, culverts, river-training structures, and pads, among other features.
Decades-Long Client Relationships Start With A Solution
Nigliq Bridge | North Slope, AK
“This bridge is an engineering feat. Launching a girder system is hard enough in ideal conditions but to do so under extreme conditions is an accomplishment to be lauded. The use of steel bents in this harsh environment is a testament to the versatility of steel.”
FAQs
To learn more about PND’s arctic engineering work in Alaska, Canada, and Russia, read the answers to our frequently asked questions.
What challenges are specific to arctic engineering projects?
Extreme cold, icy conditions, permafrost treatment/stabilization, and managing logistics for remote locations all factor into the challenges of engineering in the Arctic.
What environmental considerations are made while engineering in the Arctic?
Arctic engineering requires consideration of unique ecosystems and impact assessments for fragile environments. Our knowledge of local, state, and federal regulations/compliance is vital to keeping projects on schedule.
What is your most common type of project in the Arctic?
PND has provided civil infrastructure for all of the major oil companies on the North Slope of Alaska, as well as full support of Alaska Native villages in Arctic and cold regions. These projects include but are not limited to buildings, bridges, docks, roads, pads, communications towers, as well as permafrost foundation designs for heavy industrial modules, personnel camps, schools, and other structures.
What innovations has PND come up with for engineering in the Arctic?
PND’s proprietary and patented OPEN CELL SHEET PILE™ system and SPIN FIN™ piles were created specifically to address arctic challenges. PND has spent over 40 years developing state-of-the-practice foundation designs that resist the highly unstable conditions permafrost presents to foundation design, road design, and pad design. This expertise has allowed us to fine-tune analysis and design of infrastructure to maximize stability over the long term while minimizing cost and complexity of construction. A few of our other innovations include offshore island construction in ice environments, icebreaking bridge piers for providing protection at major river crossings, and developing cost-effective/proven techniques for predicting and accommodating the enormously complex environment that affects performance of arctic structures and drives the cost of construction. We recently developed an innovative bridge design specifically for the North Slope that consists of steel tub girders with integral concrete deck, facilitating rapid construction while capable of supporting modules and drill rigs in excess of 1,000 tons.
How does PND ensure structural integrity in Arctic conditions?
Our structural engineering team designs buildings, bridges, and waterfront structures capable of withstanding severe Arctic weather, freeze-thaw cycles, and ice conditions. We employ innovative foundation designs tailored for permafrost and cold-weather environments.
What geotechnical services does PND offer for Arctic projects?
PND conducts large-scale remote geotechnical explorations in the Arctic using advanced techniques to assess optimal road layouts, pad locations, and mine sites. Our expertise includes ice road design and development, as well as frozen-ground lab testing in Anchorage for permafrost soils analysis.
What hydrological challenges does PND address in the Arctic?
PND specializes in Arctic hydrology, designing infrastructure to withstand severe flooding and ice movement during spring breakup. We conduct hydraulic and hydrologic studies to support erosion protection, flood control systems, and other critical infrastructure needs on the North Slope.
How does PND handle complex permits and regulatory requirements in Arctic projects?
Our team is experienced in navigating NEPA assessments for compliance with development regulations in the Arctic. We conduct thorough wetland assessments to determine regulatory, environmental, and design requirements, ensuring projects meet all necessary standards.
What factors into the timelines and costs of an arctic engineering project?
For every arctic engineering project, PND must consider logistics, permitting, and the time and cost of mobilization and demobilization for the site. Nearly all construction on permafrost is performed during winter months on ice roads and pads, presenting negligible impact on its environment. The major drawback to this approach is the increased cost of mobilizing and operating equipment in these conditions and the reduced efficiency of peoplepower in the extreme cold. PND places a premium on minimizing field labor and maximizing pre-fabrication to create a safer and more cost-efficient project.
Are you hiring arctic engineers?
We are often seeking qualified engineers to join our workforce, including our Alaska locations. If you’re interested in a career that involves practical and innovative engineering solutions in the Arctic, please contact us.
Engineering in the Arctic?
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