Dr. Wayne Savigny, P.Eng., P.Geo., F.E.I.C.
After completing his Geological Engineering Degree in 1971 from Queen's University, Dr. Savigny spent seven years (1971-78) with the Geological Survey of Canada performing geological mapping of bedrock and surficial geology in the Arctic Islands and along the Mackenzie River Valley from the 60th parallel to the Arctic Ocean. He completed his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering at the University of Alberta during this time. His Ph.D. research focused on the geotechnical engineering challenges associated with ice-rich permafrost soils that are widespread along the Mackenzie Valley.
Dr. Savigny then spent eight years (1978-86) in professional practice with Thurber Engineering Ltd., first in Edmonton, then opening the company’s Calgary office in 1981 with a colleague. He participated in geological mapping of surficial materials at more than fifty sites in the Canadian Arctic, Alberta and British Columbia, and undertook geotechnical investigations and designs of community infrastructure, as well as railway and rapid transit, pipeline, and industrial facilities.
Dr. Savigny joined the Geological Engineering Program, Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 1986 and remained there for nine years, ultimately taking on the role of Program Director. There he undertook geohazard research focused on naturally occurring processes that cause large-scale slope instability. He initiated computer-based methods of spatially analyzing the attributes that contribute to slope geohazards, and attendant risks to engineered development.
In 1990, Dr. Savigny co-founded BGC Engineering Inc. (BGC) and left UBC to consult full-time with the company in 1995. He continued as a Principal of BGC until 2017. During his time at BGC Dr. Savigny’s focus was the interpretation of geology as it influenced engineered development with applications to the mining, pipeline, oil and gas, and transportation industries. He specialized in the recognition and assessment of geohazards such as permafrost, landslides, fault rupture, karst, soil erosion, and river erosion, particularly in high relief terrain. Dr. Savigny developed and implemented methodologies for the systematic identification and risk management of geohazards affecting linear infrastructure facilities. He coordinated multi-disciplinary teams of consultants and industry representatives in developing strategies to investigate and manage complex geohazards involving high risk costs. The work settings were throughout Canada and many countries in Central and South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. He was retained as an expert for review panels, litigation cases, inquests, and public hearings in Canada, United States, Mexico, Argentina and the United Kingdom. In 2017, Dr. Savigny founded Savigny Geoscience Inc.