The 2017 “Summer Winter Integrated Field Technologies (SWIFT) Conference and Trade Show” was held September 18-21 following “The Canadian Airfield Pavement Technical Group (CAPTG) Meeting and Workshop” in Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada.
The theme of the CAPTG full-day workshop was “How to Design Sustainability Into Airfield Pavements”. As more and more emphasis is placed on environmental protection and preservation, there is greater responsibility on airports to implement sustainable design and construction practices into new projects. The workshop focused on ways in which sustainable approaches can be integrated into the design and construction of airfield pavements in Canada. Attendees of the workshop learned about what approaches are available to make paving projects more sustainable including pavement recycling, optimized mix designs, and life-cycle costing. Speakers included Chris Stewart, Toronto International Airport (Chair); Peter Taylor, CP-Tech Center and ISCP Member; and Gary Mitchell, VP-Airports and Pavement Technology-American Concrete Pavement Association and ISCP Corporate Member, who presented on Recycled Concrete as Pavement Base. A Welcome Reception for SWIFT attendees was held in the evening of the 18th.
SWIFT is for the airport community to gather and learn about new pavement design, construction, evaluation and maintenance techniques, materials, chemicals, systems and equipment available to keep airports safe and operational while addressing any challenges, at minimal cost, during all seasons. It provides a forum for:
- Networking with international and government technical experts associated with airfield maintenance activities to join together and exchange ideas
- Discussion of issues and potential technical solutions to problems
- Sharing results of research and development projects and activities
- Identifying issues of national and international concern for showcasing and/or identifying changes to existing regulations, policies, standards and guidelines, technical training, maintenance management and practices
This year’s 2017 SWIFT drew an excellent crowd of about 525 attendees from around the world: 71% Canada, 21% US, 8% international—Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden & UK. Sixty-one (61) different airports were represented from all across Canada and the northern tier states of the United States. There were over 30 technical and operational sessions, with an Equipment Expo Show (flow and tarmac) that offered up-front access to the latest airfield technologies.
SWIFT’s general session was on “Leadership during emergency events” with a host of topics along three separate concurrent tracks in the afternoon. The day ended with a “Team Eagle”-sponsored customer hospitality night at Alexander Keith’s Nova Scotia Brewery. The technical track on pavements with various topics was led by:
—Ken Fyvie, Airfield Pavement Specialist-SNC-Lavalin Inc., Vancouver, Canada Area: Moisture Damage at Vancouver International Airport
—Gary Mitchell, P.E., VP of Airports and Pavement Technology-American Concrete Pavement Association and ISCP Corporate Member: Stringless Paving
—John Roberts, Executive Director-International Grooving & Grinding Association and ISCP Member
—John Depman, Senior Estimator-Penhall Company: Runway Grooving
—Robert Rodden, Lead Engineer-PNA/ITW-PNA Construction Technologies, Inc. and ISCP Member: Optimized Concrete Pavement Design
Thursday’s sessions were along 3 separate concurrent tracks on a wide variety of topics. The conference drew to a close with a reception, dinner, Keynote Address, closing remarks, and networking.
For the SWIFT 2017 Conference website—presentations, presenters, and speakers, please go to: https://www.swiftconference.org/ehome/index.php?eventid=214737&
The SWIFT 2018 Conference will be held September 10-13, 2018 in Niagara Falls, Canada. For upcoming information, please view the “SWIFT Conference 2018” Facebook page (PLEASE NOTE: the 2017 photos are the most current ones September 18-22—BUT THE NAME of the FB PAGE has ALREADY been CHANGED to 2018): https://www.facebook.com/SWIFTConference/.
