Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link
- Client Name
- Nukik Corporation
- Location
- Kivalliq Region of Nunavut, Canada
Challenge
In the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut, in Artic Canada, both Indigenous communities and mine sites are isolated from the electrical grid that serves the rest of the country. Inuit-owned Nukik Corporation is spearheading the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link (KHFL) project to bring electricity and high-speed Internet to these communities and mines over a distance of more than 1,200 km, reducing reliance on diesel fuel and improving access to information and resources.
SLR's Surficial Geology team was retained by Nukik Corporation to evaluate ground conditions in this region of permafrost and help select a preferred corridor for the project that is resilient to climate change.
Solution
Our multi-disciplinary team of surficial geologists and permafrost scientists completed preliminary mapping of ground conditions along the project corridor based on interpretation of high-resolution LiDAR and imagery data. The mapping was updated and refined based on preliminary geotechnical field investigations involving geophysics (ERT) surveys, shallow test pits, sediment sampling/testing with our lightweight Talon and ShockAuger drills, and thermistor installations and monitoring.
Impact
The results of our desktop and field-based data collection are currently being used by project engineers to refine routing, prepare preliminary cost estimates based on a suite of foundation options, and optimize future geotechnical programs. Following the success of SLR's project contributions, our team was asked to prepare all "physical environment" sections of the KHFL Project Proposal to the Nunavut Impact Review Board.