Permafrost highways specialist works with the Yukon Research Centre

The Yukon Research Centre (YRC) is supporting research that may improve Yukon highways. Dr. Guy Dore (Door-eh) is a leading Canadian permafrost researcher and he is now working with the Yukon Cold Climate Innovation Centre (YCCIC) within YRC. Dr. Dore will work to develop strategies that prevent and manage highway permafrost damage in the Yukon, while he is on sabbatical from Laval University.

Dore currently holds a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) industrial research chair on the interaction between trucks, climate and pavements. Half of his research is focused on developing strategies to deal with highway permafrost damage, while the other half is focused on seasonal frost heave and thaw weakening of roads.

Dr. Dore will monitor test sites that he helped establish with Yukon Highways and Public Works in 2008. One test site involves a series of air ducts placed under the Alaska Highway near Beaver Creek. These air ducts circulate cold air under the highway to cool permafrost and prevent melt. He will also continue to monitor Front Street in Dawson City which was paved a lighter colour to repel the sun and prevent permafrost thaw.

“Dr. Guy Dore fits with the YCCIC vision of developing and exporting sustainable cold climate technologies and related solutions for subarctic regions around the world”, says Dr. Chris Hawkins, Vice President of Research, YRCE.

In addition to research, Dr. Dore will teach an advanced course for graduate students and practicing engineers across Canada. This course is meant for those who would like to improve their knowledge on permafrost and highways. Dr. Dore also plans to encourage other graduate and PHD students studying permafrost to visit the Yukon.