Publications

04 Mar 2025
Mining and Metals

Passive treatment of acid mine drainage water: a sustainable solution

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a persistent environmental challenge. It occurs when sulfide minerals, exposed to air and water during mining, break down and produce acidic, metal-laden water. This contaminated water harms ecosystems, pollutes water sources and in general creates challenges for mining operations. Traditional treatment methods (active treatment technologies) can address AMD but are often costly and energy-intensive. On the other hand, passive treatment systems rely on natural biological, chemical and physical processes to treat AMD. These systems provide a more environmentally sustainable and efficient solution under the right conditions. This article explores passive treatment systems, including their types and longevity, highlighting their potential as a long-term environmental remediation approach.
10 Nov 2020
Power and Renewables

Railway tracks: overview of electrical interference
- Éric Breault, P.Eng.
  
  Senior Engineer, Electrical - Power Systems, Protection and Control
29 Oct 2020
Power and Renewables

Do you know how to protect your industrial structures against fire?
- Monika Rybarova, P.Eng., M.A.Sc., P.M.P.
  
  Principal Engineer, Structural
27 Oct 2020
Power and Renewables

Prevent production downtime with hyperconvergence
- Michaël Racine
  
  Telecommunications and Networking Analyst
22 Oct 2020
Power and Renewables

Machine learning: a powerful asset for better use of your data
- Arbi Bouchoucha, Ph.D.
  
  Advanced Data Analyst
21 Oct 2020
Power and Renewables

Working at altitudes and good OHS practices

We don’t often work at high altitudes and in remote mountainous regions. So before taking on such work, it’s important to fully understand associated risks and to take the necessary measures to ensure the health and safety of employees who’ll be carrying out such work. At BBA, occupational health and safety (OHS) values guide our choices and decisions every day. Before every mandate, we perform a risk analysis of the work, in cooperation with the employees involved and client OHS representatives.
Sylvain Boily, P.Eng., M.B.A., P.M.P.

Commissioning Manager, Operational Readiness and Commissioning
13 Oct 2020
Mining and Metals

3D video: an essential tool for mining and industrial projets
- Marie-France Proulx, P.Eng., M.A.Sc., P.M.P.
  
  Senior Engineer, Earth and Infrastructure
09 Oct 2020
Power and Renewables

World Mental Health Day: staying the course with proven strategies to combat stress
01 Oct 2020
Power and Renewables

Good alarm management pays off
- Maxym Lachance, P.Eng.
  
  Senior Engineer, Process Control and Operational Technology
30 Sept 2020
Power and Renewables

Industry 4.0 audit: where to start for successful digital transformation
10 Sept 2020
Power and Renewables

Remote inspections: a flexible and economic solution

Remote inspections are being used more and more often in the engineering and environmental management fields. Cameras and sensors are used to survey sites and collect as much information as possible about a specific work or area. Drones are the perfect tool for remote inspections because of their agility and low cost. They’re particularly useful in elevated sites or confined spaces. However, there are several other ways to visit sites and capture data, including helicopter, car and other means of transportation.
Mathieu Brochu

Visual simulation specialist
01 Sept 2020
Mining and Metals

Designing foundations to support rotating machines on unfavourable soil conditions
14 Aug 2020
Power and Renewables

COVID-19 and masks: Best practices
13 Aug 2020
Mining and Metals

Noises and vibrations in quarries and sandpits: regulatory overview
- Sabine Butler, P.Eng., M.A.Sc.
  
  Engineer, Environmental Engineering
24 Jul 2020
Other industries

FIDOR: a practical tool for assessing odour emission risks
- David Giard, P.Eng., M.Sc.
  
  Senior Engineer, Environmental Engineering
21 Jul 2020
Power and Renewables

National drowning prevention week: be especially cautious when working from home

The current pandemic is forcing a lot of people to work from home, and many have their kids with them. Summer’s hot weather is here, and what’s better than cooling off and having fun in the water? Swimming in a pool or another body of water can certainly be great, but safety precautions must be taken to prevent any sad endings. Unfortunately, drowning accidents have increased this year, and to mark National Drowning Prevention Week (July 19 to 25, 2020), we’ve provided some helpful tips for a happy summer. According to the Canadian Red Cross, drowning is one of the leading causes of unintentional death in children aged four or younger. Because they can disappear in seconds and drown in only a few centimetres of water, children are especially vulnerable.
16 Jul 2020
Power and Renewables

Patch management for industrial systems
- Gilles Léonard
  
  System Architecture Analyst
07 Jul 2020
Power and Renewables

Problems with power quality at electrical installations
30 Jun 2020
Mining and Metals

Succesfully completing your artificial intelligence project in the mining sector
- Arbi Bouchoucha, Ph.D.
  
  Advanced Data Analyst
25 May 2020
Power and Renewables

Get more from the grid
21 May 2020
Power and Renewables

Motion amplification: a new tool for vibration diagnosis

Vibration analysis using accelerometers is a powerful tool for preventive maintenance, breakage detection or troubleshooting. For complex issues, however, traditional methods require a large number of measurement points and the manipulation of high volumes of data. In addition, the results must be rendered into non-technical language before being communicated. A new technology developed by RDI Technologies, motion amplification, now facilitates vibration analysis.
20 May 2020
Other industries

Electrical classification of hazardous locations: wastewater treatment plants
14 May 2020
Power and Renewables

Operating remotely: using cameras as sensors (CAMAAS)
- Serge Benoit, P.Eng.
  
  Principal Advisor, Automation
12 May 2020
Power and Renewables

Are your lifting devices safe?
- Jonathan Hamel, P.Eng.
  
  Senior Engineer, Structural
12 May 2020
Other industries

Ventilation of isolation rooms
- Hugues Châteauneuf, P.Eng.
  
  Senior Consulting Expert, Ventilation, Hazardous Locations, Explosion Hazards
06 May 2020
Power and Renewables

Secure remote access to production networks: the advantages of VDI technology

Production networks are very complex infrastructures. Since maintaining these networks requires expertise from multiple groups of specialists, external resources are often required. In addition, due to various constraints, in-house specialists aren’t always available on site. So, remote access to the business and production networks is a must. However, remote access to sensitive networks like supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems or production networks should not be taken lightly. Any misuse of this access could affect production, cause major financial loss, or even put employees at risk. Therefore, securing these networks must be a priority, and remote access must be simple to control and easy to use. The virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution meets these criteria. There are many ways to deploy a VDI solution to give employees access to business and production/SCADA networks. Remote access needs are different for every company and the VDI solution can be customized to any network environment. This blog post presents some of the advantages of the VDI solution.
Michaël Racine

Telecommunications and Networking Analyst
04 May 2020
Power and Renewables

Operating remotely: intelligent distributed optimization (IdO) to get the most from your technological tools
04 May 2020
Mining and Metals

Slurry pump design: what you need to know
- Roman Dorfman, P.Eng.
  
  Principal Engineer, Piping
30 Apr 2020
Power and Renewables

Civil or structural engineering?
27 Apr 2020
Power and Renewables

Hazardous locations: the game rules – Part 2
- Hugues Châteauneuf, P.Eng.
  
  Senior Consulting Expert, Ventilation, Hazardous Locations, Explosion Hazards
21 Apr 2020
Power and Renewables

COVID-19: 3D virtual visits, as if you were there

The current COVID-19 crisis could profoundly transform our relationships with clients, suppliers and colleagues. Since the pandemic hit Canada, virtually every aspect of our lives has been turned upside down, including, of course, the way we work. When COVID-19 is behind us, Canada will have changed, as will some of our business practices. Many industrial sites have completely or partially closed following measures to contain the spread of the virus. As a consulting engineering firm whose vision extends beyond engineering, BBA must do everything possible to meet client and personnel requirements while minimizing employee travel. Progress in immersive technologies over the past few years sheds a new light on our practices and allows us to solve problems related to accessing projects and sites. These immersive tools serve as a way of responding to this new reality.
Mathieu Brochu

Visual simulation specialist