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CURRICULUM VITAE
Formal Education
1962 Mount Allison University, Engineering Certificate
1964 Technical University of Nova Scotia, Bachelor of Engineering
in Chemical Engineering
1983 Insurance Institute of Canada, Associateship
1987 Arbitrators Institute of Canada, Arbitration Certificate
Military Experience
Awarded Regular Officer Training Plan Scholarship, Canadian
Army (1959).
Served as a regular commissioned officer with the Corps of Royal
Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (1964 - 1967).
Professional Qualifications
Registered professional engineer in Ontario (1966 - 1968);
registered professional engineer in Nova Scotia (1968, #1889);
licensed to practice in New Brunswick (1974, #512), Prince Edward
Island (1976, #260), and Newfoundland (1976 - 1995, #518); registered
professional engineer in Newfoundland (1996, #2970).
Professional Experience
- 1975 - Date: President - A. D. Tupper
& Associates Limited, Consulting Forensic Engineers,
Halifax, Nova Scotia.
- 1973 - 1975: Associate - Provincial Industrial Services Limited,
Consulting Forensic Engineers, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
- 1967 - 1973: Engineer - Gulf Oil Canada Limited, Ontario
and Nova Scotia.
- 1964 - 1967: Commissioned Officer - Royal Canadian Electrical
and Mechanical Engineers, Canada.
Technical Associations
Member - National Association of Fire Investigators (1997
- date).
Affiliate - National Academy of Forensic Engineers (1992 - date).
Member - National Association of Professional Accident Reconstruction
Specialists (1992 - date).
Member - SAE The Engineering Society for Advancing Mobility Land
Sea Air and Space (1989 - date).
Member - National Fire Protection Association (1984 - date).
Member - Canadian Society of Forensic Science (1979 - date).
Member - American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning
Engineers (1978 - date).
Member - Arbitrator's Institute of Canada Inc. (1977 - date).
Member - International Association of Arson Investigators (1975
- date).
Member - The Insurance Institute of Canada (1973 - date).
Member - Photographic Society of America (1970 - date).
Member - Engineering Institute of Canada (1963 - date).
Professional Activities
- Prepared case study and participated in presentation on forensic
animation at National Criminal Law Program, Calgary, Alberta
(2000). (In process)
- Prepared motor vehicle accident case study and acted as expert
witness in evidence demonstration for National Criminal Law Program,
Halifax, Nova Scotia (1997).
- Member of Steering Committee and Lecturer, Motor Vehicle
Accident Reconstruction Seminar, Technical University of Nova
Scotia (1994).
President, Nova Scotia Chapter, International Association of
Arson Investigators (1994 - 1996).
- Member of Steering Committee and Lecturer, Motor Vehicle
Accident Reconstruction Seminar, Technical University of Nova
Scotia (1991).
- Member of Steering Committee and Lecturer, Fire and Arson
Conference, Maritime Claims Managers Association, The Pines,
Digby, Nova Scotia (1990).
- Advisor, Judicial Inquiry concerning fires at Come by Chance
Oil Refinery, St. John's, Newfoundland (1989 - 1990).
Community Activities
Executive Committee, Board of Governors, Atlantic School of
Theology, Halifax, Nova Scotia (1995 - 1997).
Governor, Pine Hill Divinity College, Halifax, Nova Scotia (1990
- 1996), Chairman of Board (1994 - 1996).
Director, Atlantic Zone, Photographic Society of America (1975
- 1990).
Précis of Professional Experience
- 1975 - Date: President - A. D. Tupper & Associates Limited,
Consulting Forensic Engineers, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Conducted detailed engineering investigations as engineer
and as team leader with various classes of casualties including
motor vehicle accident analyses, fires, explosions, construction
problems, furnace and boiler operations, pellet stoves, crane
collapses, heavy equipment failures, underground machinery fires,
ground level aircraft collision, building problems and failures,
refinery storage tank failures, pollution problems, carnival
ride failures, boat collision, et cetera, as well as mechanical
reliability and safety of machinery, equipment, and automotive
components, including tires and seat belts, public installations
and operation of motor boats. Participated in testing and certification
programmes for wood-burning appliances.
Served as cost and control consultant for relocation of large
propane distribution plant, and analyst for construction disputes.
Evaluated and appraised fleets of heavy equipment for co-insurance
purposes. Provided litigation support for plaintiff and defense
counsel in both criminal and civil matters. Acted as arbitrator
and witness in alternate dispute resolutions.
Presented expert testimony on aspects of these investigations
in the Federal Court of Canada, all the courts of Nova Scotia,
the County Court of Ontario, the Supreme Court of Prince Edward
Island, the Supreme Court and Provincial Court of Newfoundland,
and the Court of Queen's Bench, New Brunswick.
- 1973 - 1975: Associate - Provincial Industrial Services Limited,
Consulting Forensic Engineers, Halifax Nova Scotia.
Provided specialty engineering failure analysis services in
the assessment and investigation of various losses, including
a major gasoline release in the city core, fires, motor vehicle
accident analyses, construction activities, machinery and heavy
equipment breakdown and malfunctions, plant and product liability
losses, well pollution problems, and oil-fired furnace installations.
Conducted appraisals of buildings and a coal strip mine operation.
Presented expert testimony on aspects of the investigations in
the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.
- 1967 - 1973: Engineer - Gulf Oil Canada Limited
Performed layout and detailed cost estimating for requests
and proposals for various refinery projects, including new units
for the Clarkson Refinery, and the new grass roots refinery at
Point Tupper, Nova Scotia. Provided inspection and liaison services
on construction projects. Provided general oversight of contractor's
operations with respect to construction of infrastructure, utility,
and processing plants, and liaison and expediting service for
a supertanker marine terminal. Provided required mechanical engineering
activities for operation and maintenance of refinery in relation
to a variety of equipment, including furnaces, piping, pumps,
storage tanks, et cetera. Served as engineering representative
on special technical investigation team for rotating equipment
problems.
Conducted fire investigations and prepared insurance claims.
Had training and experience in fire fighting.
- 1964 - 1967: Commissioned Officer - The Corps of Royal Canadian
Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME).
Studied theory and practice of each of the RCEME trades, including
vehicle mechanics, machine shop tools, electrical and electronics,
welding, and vehicle recovery. Commanded a maintenance platoon
of 50 trades people. Served as special project officer for investigation,
analysis, and rectification of hub failure on a military scout
car. Produced detailed plans, managed pilot production run, and
provided start-up advice for the rebuild programme of all Canada's
military scout cars of the day. Conducted unit's motor vehicle
accident investigations, and served on safety and fire committees.
- 1962 Layout Engineer - Ocean Steel Ltd., Saint John, New
Brunswick
Worked on layout and inspection of concrete foundations
and structural steel erection. Assisted and understudied millwright
specialist in installing and setting up ball mills at lead/copper/zinc
surface plant near Bathurst, New Brunswick.
Publications
- Tupper, A. D., "Collection and Preservation of Evidence",
Atlantic Claims Journal, Spring 1995.
- Co-editor, The Expert: A Practitioner's Guide, Carswell,
Toronto, Ontario, 1995, 1460 pages.
- Tupper, A. D., "Use of Forensic Photographs at Trial",
in The Expert: A Practitioner's Guide, Carswell, Toronto, Ontario,
1995, Chapter 15, (47 pages).
- Tupper, A. D., "Use of Photographs and Photographic
Interpretation", in The Expert: A Practitioner's Guide,
Carswell, Toronto, Ontario, 1995, Chapter 15A, (35 pages).
- Tupper, A. D., "Accident Reconstruction Case Study",
in The Expert: A Practitioner's Guide, Carswell, Toronto, Ontario,
1995, Chapter 23A, (26 pages).
- Tupper, A. D., "Forensic Fire Investigation", in
The Expert: A Practitioner's Guide, Carswell, Toronto, Ontario,
1995, Chapter 24, (47 pages).
Experience in Fires and Explosions
Studied fundamentals of fire chemistry and physics,
materials of construction, and relevant electrical engineering
courses at university, and have continued to date with extensive
reading and study of related topics.
Completed an intensive Fire and Explosion Seminar
sponsored by American Society of Chemical Engineers (1979); a
course in Advanced Fire Investigation sponsored by the Canadian
School of Fire Investigation (1982); an NFPA 921 Fire and Explosion
Investigation Seminar sponsored by the National Fire Protection
Association, in Burlington, Ontario (1997); an IAAI Regional
Training Seminar, including vehicle fire investigation, Halifax,
Nova Scotia (1999); and a course on the National Fire Code at
Daltech, Halifax, Nova Scotia (1999).
Studied electrical codes, attended electrical seminars
and courses, and understudied electricians working on industrial,
commercial and residential electrical installations as well as
power distribution lines, to determine practical aspects of electrical
installations.
Worked in the field with a variety of other experienced
investigators, and provided consulting advice to the Office of
the Fire Marshal in each of the four Atlantic Provinces.
Studied training videos and audiovisual courses prepared
by the National Fire Protection Association among others, and
conducted a variety of tests and experiments to gain firsthand
experience in behaviour of materials and fire under particular
conditions.
Presented and published papers, and participated
in various seminars on different aspects of fire behaviour and
investigation. (See Publications, above.)
Awarded the designation of "Certified Fire and
Explosion Investigator" (CFEI) by the National Certification
Board of the National Association of Fire Investigators (1997).
Served as special advisor and investigator for government
teams investigating fatal refinery fires and explosions at oil
refineries in Newfoundland and New Brunswick (1998)
Conducted over 320 detailed investigations concerning
causal aspects of fires and explosions in a wide variety of commercial,
industrial and domestic properties, including automobiles, boats,
churches, factories, heavy equipment houses, industrial kitchens,
machinery, mobile homes, oil refineries, propane systems, recreational
vehicles, restaurants, trucks, and warehouses, et cetera, in
each of the four Atlantic provinces.
Accepted as an expert to give opinion evidence concerning
fire investigations in criminal and civil cases on over 23 occasions,
in the Supreme and County Courts of Nova Scotia, the Court of
Queen's Bench in New Brunswick, and the Provincial Court of Newfoundland.
Experience in Motor Vehicle Collision
Analysis
Acquired a knowledge of physics, dynamics and
mechanics of motion and the theoretical foundation and practical
application of collision analysis and reconstruction at university
and through continuing directed study.
Studied driving theory and techniques; taught truck
driving courses; performed test driving analysis on rebuilt military
vehicles after their rebuild.
Performed tests to obtain first-hand experience on
certain aspects of the behaviour of vehicles and their components.
Worked with and consulted other authors in the reconstruction
field.
Completed seminar on advanced techniques of motor
vehicle accident analyses and reconstruction, and development
and application of computer aided reconstruction techniques,
University of Houston, Houston, Texas (1990).
Completed course in motor vehicle accident reconstruction,
Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., Detroit, Michigan (1992).
Completed course in pedestrian and bicycle accident
investigation, Institute of Police Technology and Management,
University of North Florida, Halifax (1996).
Conducted computer analyses and simulations of collision situations,
and studied video tapes and written reports of staged and controlled
collisions, and analysed the resulting data.
Published and presented papers on aspects of collision
analysis, reconstruction and presentation.
Conducted over 420 engineering investigations and
evaluations of single and multiple vehicle collisions involving
aircraft, bicycles, buses, cars, dump trucks, fire trucks, motorcycles,
pedestrians, pickup trucks, snowmobiles, tractor trailer units,
and trains.
Accepted as an expert to give opinion evidence in
civil and criminal cases concerning various aspects of motor
vehicle collision analyses on over 50 occasions, in Federal Court
of Canada, Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island, the Court of
Queen's Bench of New Brunswick, Supreme Court of Nova Scotia,
County Court of Nova Scotia, Supreme Court of Newfoundland, and
Provincial Court of Newfoundland.
Experience in Automotive Mechanics
Conducted theoretical and practical study of all
aspects of automotive mechanics as part of military training,
and have remained current through continued study of relevant
texts, handbooks, manuals, et cetera, and understudy of close
work with master mechanics and technologists.
Completed course of Modern Electronics for Engineers
and Scientists at Technical University of Nova Scotia. (1990)
Supervised ongoing maintenance and repair of a fleet
of over 100 wheeled and tracked military vehicles.
Conducted a pilot study and developed detailed rebuild
programme for armoured scout cars.
Conducted many mechanical autoptical examinations
to determine mechanical condition of vehicles and their components.
Testified on these investigations in the Supreme
Court of Nova Scotia and the Court of Queen's Bench in New Brunswick.
Experience in Construction
Have done extensive self-study, and taken seminars
and courses with respect to critical path planning techniques,
contracts, dispute resolution, building codes, fire protection
systems, structural failure analysis, and mechanical failure
analysis, among others, to augment my practical experience in
these and related matters.
Worked and consulted with architects, engineers,
trades people, government officials, manufacturers, and lawyers
for information and advice concerning various aspects of disputes
and failures, and construction techniques and safety standards,
et cetera.
Worked with crews in the layout, installation, and
inspection of concrete foundations, structural steel, and ball
mills at surface workings for a mine near Bathurst (1962).
Completed course on theory and practice of construction
of all phases of a process plant, with a senior construction
manager, Clarkson, Ontario (1968).
Served as construction engineer performing inspection
and cost analysis activities for the construction of mechanical,
electrical, civil, and architectural components of a new $100,000,000
grass roots oil refinery. This included tree clearing, road building,
and construction and commissioning of the utility and process
plants (Gulf Oil Canada Limited 1968-1973).
Worked with the tools on several domestic and institutional
construction projects.
Served as expert in numerous cases relating to construction disputes,
and failure and other problems in structures including apartment
buildings, cold storage warehouses, hospitals, hotels, houses,
office buildings, and university residences. The work involved
the analyses of contract and construction problems and disputes,
as well as the design, installation, and operation of various
components and assemblies, including acoustic properties, building
envelopes, and HVAC systems (1973 to date).
Served as consultant to Department of Transportation
and Public Works with respect to design, fabrication, cost control,
and betterment of a new large propane distribution plant, and
the dismantling and decommissioning of the old plant (1996?1998).
Provided consultations to government concerning scope
and cost of extra claims by design team on a $90,000,000 building
construction project (1997-1999).
Experience in Cranes
Studied and operated small hydraulic cranes.
Studied the theory and observed the practice of setup,
rigging, and operation of winches and small and large mobile
hydraulic cranes at Clarkson Refinery construction project.
Studied, observed and later supervised hundreds of
lifts of all types and sizes up to hundreds of tons during construction
of the Point Tupper Refinery (1968 - 1973).
Studied theory and practise of rigging, design, fabrication,
and safe operation of wheeled and tracked mobile cranes, and
tower cranes.
Conducted detailed investigations and failure analyses
on winches, tower cranes, and various types of tracked and wheeled
cranes with box and lattice booms (1974 - date).
Presented expert testimony concerning crane failures
in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia and the Provincial Court
of Ontario.
Experience in Welding
Studied theory and practice of welding, and have
performed both oxy-acetylene and electric welding.
Had direct responsibility for supervision and control
of welders at two army units in London, Ontario.
As construction engineer with Gulf (1967 - 1970)
had indirect responsibility for testing and certification of
high pressure welders, conducted periodic inspection of welds
and welders, and conducted inspection of safety procedures, including
welding and cutting operations.
As project engineer at Gulf, had direct responsibility
for quality of welding on my projects.
Testified in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in
relation to welding matters.
Experience in Appraising
Studied economics, accounting, and cost analysis
techniques at university.
Worked as cost engineer performing detailed cost
estimates for refinery projects and provided detailed assessment
and costing of various projects and fire losses at Point Tupper
Refinery.
Completed building evaluation course by Boeckh, in
Saint John, New Brunswick (1975).
Have kept current on construction and heavy equipment
values through study, subscription services, and consultations.
Conducted independent appraisal for tax evaluation
purposes of non-mineral aspects of operating coal strip mine.
Conducted appraisal of fleet of construction equipment
for co-insurance consideration after partial fire loss.
Performed and received numerous quantum assessments
for insurance losses.
Experience in Photography
Studied and practised the science and art of photography
for over 35 years, and on a semi-professional basis since 1973
as proprietor of "Al Tupper Photography®".
Studied photo interpretation at Royal Canadian School
of Military Engineering, and have expanded that base knowledge
through study and practice.
Taught photography at night school and on an individual
basis.
Published papers on photography and photographic
interpretation. (See Publications.)
Had photographs published in most of the Canadian
daily newspapers and in several Canadian and American technical
magazines.
Used forensic still photographs and video footage
as a tool and aid in investigations and courtroom presentations.
Presented expert evidence concerning still and video
photography, and photographic interpretation in the Supreme Courts
of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. |
