Lakehead receives over $500,000 for new soil-structure-interaction testing facility
The Government of Ontario announced on Friday that Lakehead University is to receive over half a million dollars to build a new soil-structure-interaction testing facility that will be the largest of its kind in the world.
The funding of $559,910, provided by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), will support the construction and enhancement of the Dynamic Soil-Structure-Interaction Testing Facility, that will use a large shear box for full-scale soil-rock-structure interactions.
The NOHFC is responsible for promoting and stimulating economic development initiatives in Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects that stabilize, diversify and foster economic growth in the region.
The announcement was made by Hon. Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan and Associate Minister for Forestry and Forest Products at Lakehead on Friday, together with Lakehead University President Dr. Gillian Siddall, Dr. Andrew Dean, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Eltayeb Mohamedelhassan.
Dr. Mohamedelhassan was the principal applicant for this grant and was instrumental in achieving this investment from the province. The equipment will make a significant contribution to Dr. Mohamedelhassan’s research in full-scale physical simulation of methods for strengthening soil for major infrastructure projects, including highways and railways, and for optimizing the design of open pit mines, dams and complex foundation systems.
At the announcement, MPP Kevin Holland said,
“It’s going to be instrumental in helping our industries move forward with these new innovative ideas to help larger industries like a railway system, for example… It’s really exciting to see the work that’s being done here at Lakehead University and be able to support that through the NOHFC grant is so important.”
“Lakehead University has really positioned themselves well and they have demonstrated to be a true community partner and leader in helping businesses and government really with the research that we need to make sure that we’re advancing the technologies that’s going to improve life in Northwestern Ontario.”
In the news release, Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges and Universities, added, “This project at Lakehead University will build important capacity in the engineering department to serve the needs of crucial sectors such as mining, transportation and infrastructure development. It’s yet another investment our government is making to build up the economy of Thunder Bay and Northern Ontario.”