environmental
Investigation to Remediation
Former Service Station
Property Owner
We offer turnkey services for brownfield sites, from preliminary investigations, to procurement of drilling and remediation contractors, and obtaining ministry instruments to allow redevelopment.
In-situ Remediation
Remediation Contractor
Our relationship with experienced, and innovative local remediation contractors allows us to adapt quickly to changes in the industry in order to bring projects to completion on time and on budget.
Tank Removal
Property Manager
We provide a wide range of environmental services to commercial and residential property management, as well as realty firms, building owners and developers on southern Vancouver Island.
Hydrogeology
Water Wells and Infiltration Systems
Our team leverages hydrogeologists who specialize in both investigation and development of new water sources, disposal of effluent, and stormwater runoff to ground, as well as migration of contaminants through soil and bedrock.
This ability allows us to provide a full service to our clients who may be developing sites that require a new water, or sewer system, expansion of an existing municipal system, or for those who have a brownfield site (former gas station etc.) with challenging contaminant issues.
In some cases homeowners, or developers will find that it is far more efficient to discharge stormwater to ground in an engineered system rather than connecting to a municipal system.
Hydrology
Flood Control and Channel Rehabilitation
Construction of roads, parking lots, buildings, and other typically impermeable structures creates an unnatural barrier for rainwater that would naturally fall onto the ground surface and be absorbed to a certain extent. Some of the main ramifications associated with instead directing this water through pipes and into streams are as follows:
1) Flows are more concentrated and streams can be inundated causing flooding, erosion, and loss of habitat;
2) The runoff that originates from paved surfaces etc. and enters streams more directly can be warmer than it would have been prior to development; and
3) Contaminants including dirt, brake dust, oils etc. tend to accumulate on paved surfaces and during rains they are flushed into sensitive ecosystems.
Our hydrologists work with biologists and ecologists to develop solutions to mitigate the effects of development of the hydrological cycle. These include stream rehabilitation, systems to remove contaminants, reduce impermeable surfaces, attenuate runoff, and exfiltrate rainwater back into the ground. Additionally our team evaluates flood construction levels and can assist with determining where to safely site a development.
Land Development
Concepts to Completion
Residential Development, Victoria, BC
Many projects currently under construction require extensive retaining wall installation. To provide value added design services to our clients, we coordinate closely with the project Geotechnical Engineer to determine early on how much surplus rock can be realized and what the anticipated quality of the blasted rock will be.
Working with rock blasting companies, we can then alter drill patterns to create boulders for subbase fills and walls, or smaller aggregate for trench backfill and subbase gravels. Further processing by a rock crusher can produce smaller aggregate for road base and bedding. By modelling the site and understanding the earthworks mass balance, the Islander team can significantly reduce overall project costs.
Mixed Use Residential / Commercial Development
On this mixed-use Part 3 building code project, Islander worked with a multi-discipline team of design consultants, including but not limited to: architect, structural Engineer, mechanical engineer, electrical engineer and landscape. Working with the design team early on in the process enabled the client to realize a parking variance, provide green building features like rain gardens and bio-swales, while at the same time maximizing density in a SmartGrowth building concept.
Low Impact Development
Sustainable Solutions
Low impact development opportunities are considered on all projects. There are many considerations, which can including:
1) limiting density in sensitive areas;
2) Designing roads and building sites to reduce the amount of earthworks required;
3) Designing access and building footprints to reduce impacts to trees and sensitive habitat;
4) Incorporating features that maintain the pre-development hydrology on the site;
5) Choosing recycled construction materials, and those that have a reduced carbon footprint;
6) Developing walkable communities; and
7) and limiting disturbance by building up instead of out.
Municipal
Infrastructure Modelling to Master Plans
Triangle Mtn Condition & Capacity Drainage Stormwater Upgrade
City of Langford
The City of Langford retained the our team to review the Triangle Mountain drainage basin and complete a condition and capacity assessment of several segments of the drainage area. Drainage calculations and visual inspections determined that several sections of municipal infrastructure needed remediation and replacement.
Watermain Replacement
Cowichan Valley Regional District
Over a seven-year-period, we completed multiple phases of water main replacement which involved removing Asbestos Cement pipe and installing new PVC and Ductile Iron pipe. Tasks included topographical surveys, communication and coordination with the public and MoTi, cost benefit analysis of multiple alignment options, and complete tender and construction services to project closure.
Rainwater Management
Every Drop Counts
Mixed Use, Multi-phase development, Colwood BC
We worked closely with the project ecologist and biologist on this high profile, environmentally sensitive site. Riparian and subsurface water (natural spring) issues created a challenging set of environmental constraints that required strategic site design and engineering. Subsurface drainage facilities complemented by above ground rain gardens, bioswales and wet ponds enabled a site design that satisfied all stakeholders.
Transportation
Walking, Cycling, and Driving
Highways, roads, sidewalks, and bike lanes all present unique challenges to our designers, and they all share similar constraints:
1) Competition for space;
2) Conflicting user groups;
3) Buried, and ageing infrastructure; and
4) Impact to the environment from the use of non renewable resources, elevation of temperature from a heat island effect, and impermeable surfaces that inundate streams and drainage systems.
Our work with developers and municipalities to tackle these issues and improve the long term sustainability of transportation networks.