Top Geotechnical Engineer Joins Our Team
April 29, 2009, Fort Saskatchewan, AB - Helical Pier Systems Ltd. (HPS), North America's largest engineering, manufacturer, and installer of helical piles, since 1977, is pleased to announce that Thomas D. Bradka, M.Eng., P.Eng., has joined HPS as Principal Geotechnical Engineer / Engineering Manager.
Mr. Bradka is an Engineering graduate from the University of Alberta, attaining a Master of Engineering degree in Geotechnical Engineering in 1997. Mr. Bradka authored a technical paper, titled the 'Vertical Capacity of Helical Screw Anchor Piles', as part of his Master's of Engineering requirements.
Before joining HPS, he was the Lead Engineer for the Civil Engineering Department at ATCO Electric, a Canadian based utility that is part of the ATCO Group of Companies with approximately $9.8 billion in assets and more than 7,700 employees. While employed by ATCO Mr. Bradka pioneered the use of helical pile foundations for all power line and substation structures. Prior to that, he worked as geotechnical consultant with Thurber Engineering, an established, reputable consulting firm of more than 250 employees Canada wide, where he was involved in a variety of infrastructure development, large oil and gas industrial expansion, and commercial and residential projects.
The most significant project of Mr.Bradka's career was the 'Dover to Whitefish' power transmission line project which was constructed in winter of 2003/2004. The project budget was one hundred million dollars, and consisted of 354 kilometers of 240kV transmission line and three substations which were built in a mere 10 months, on time and on budget. With 1,273 steel poles, towers and H-frames, founded on approximately 6000 pilings, it was the largest all-steel power line project constructed in Alberta. Most notably, the project received the 2005 Edison International award form Edison Electrical Institute (EEI) for most outstanding project. Mr. Bradka received special acknowledgment for his contribution in the foundation design, particularly for his use of helical pilings. Recently, Mr. Bradka completed two other major transmission projects with a combined value of three hundred million dollars, spanning over 350 km, in Northern Alberta. The foundations on both projects were in the order of 6000 pilings, with the majority consisting of helical piles.
Helical pilings are now utilized as the main foundation type for all ATCO Electric substation and transmission line structures. Typically, ATCO will routinely install anywhere from 2000 to 5000 pilings annually. Furthermore, Mr. Bradka has written detailed specifications, which are being utilized effectively in their tendering and procurement process, and he had been involved in carrying out of several load tests involving large diameter helical foundations. While employed with ATCO, Mr.Bradka had engineered of over 20,000 helical pile foundations, utilizing more than 10 different contractors, in a multitude of varying subsoil conditions, as the primary support for transmission line and substation structures.
Currently Mr.Bradka is a member of Deep Foundation Institute Helical and Tieback Committee and is pursuing his post doctorate in geotechnical engineering at the University of Alberta. Moreover, he is involved in several research and development projects, with one in particular titled 'Static and Dynamic Performance Analysis on Helical Piled Foundations Under Machine loading', in conjunction with the University of Western Ontario.