Steve MacInnis, P. Eng. (Vehicle, Mechanical, Civil)
Steve has 35+ years of mechanical and civil engineering experience. A Civil Engineering graduate from Carleton University In Ottawa, he worked for 2 years as a civil design and construction engineer in Calgary. Subsequently he spent 5 years as an offshore regulatory engineer with Energy Mines and Resources in Ottawa routinely travelling to Labrador, the Grand Banks, Sable Island, and the Arctic. After 10 years with Shell Canada as a drilling engineer and coordinator of offshore development, Steve founded SAMAC in 1992.
For the last 18 years, his focus had been two-fold; vehicle accident reconstruction (speeds, computer simulations and animations, occupant dynamics, seat belts, etc) and failure analysis (oilfield, industrial, commercial, fires, civil, mining equipment). Steve has been personally responsible for 2000+ failure analyses and vehicle accident reconstructions and has specialized expertise and training in tires failures, occupant dynamics, computer simulations, and mine truck fires (>$5M losses). He has testified over 40 times at all levels in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.
Gilles Amirault, P. Eng. (Mechanical, Vehicle)
Gilles graduated from Dalhousie University's co-op mechanical engineering program in 2004. With SAMAC since graduation, he is now our lead accident reconstruction engineer, having oversite responsibility for both high speed and low speed collision investigations (i.e. speeds, potential to avoid, event data recorder analysis occupant dynamics, seatbelt effectiveness), and is our primary metallurgical contact regarding failed mechanical components. Gilles is currently taking his M.Eng. in Materials Engineering part-time at the University of Calgary. He is also responsible for our instrumented mechanical tests (vehicle idle speeds, seatbelt compliance, mechanical fittings, etc.) Gilles has been court qualified.
Dave Hines, B. Eng (Electrical Engineer)
Dave joined SAMAC in 2010 as an electrical engineer specializing in failure analysis and product liability investigations of electrical equipment and components; electrically related fire investigations; vehicle fires; residential, commercial & industrial equipment failures; and code reviews. A native of Cape Breton, he graduated as an electrical technologist in 2004 and then as an electrical engineer in 2006. His experience includes 5+ years working with industrial, commercial and residential electrical systems, an excellent knowledge of electrical codes, and extensive experience in fire suppression and control systems. Prior to taking his degree, Dave worked in many different areas, including stints as a project manager, electrical apprentice, commercial truck driver, and carpenter.
Vladimir Panlilio, M.Eng, M.Sc.P. Eng. (Mechanical, Vehicle)
Vladimir has over 25 years of mechanical engineering and forensic experience in accident reconstruction, injury causation, and defect investigations (he analyzed his first car crash in 1983!). He has a M. Eng. from the University of the Phillipines (1979) and a M.Sc. from the University of Calgary (1981). With his wide variety of experience, he analyzes vehicle accidents as well as mechanical failures in many areas. Vlad is also an Adjunct Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the UofC.
Prior to joining SAMAC, he headed up the University of Calgary's Injury Research Unit for for 15 years (1992 to 2006), a road safety research project funded by Transport Canada. Vladimir also has extensive experience with event data recorders and teaches the RCMP and other police agencies on how to analyze the data for use in accident reconstruction. He has been court qualified.
T. M. (Ted) Semeniuk (Mechanical and Safety Specialist)
Ted is a highly qualified vehicle defects investigator, OH&S specialist, and a heavy duty mechanic certified Canada wide. A native Calgarian, he has over 35 years of related experience, including 11 years as Transport Canada's defect investigator in Western Canada, 13 years with the Calgary Police Service Traffic Unit as their mechanical investigator, and 3 years as the OH&S coordinator for geophysical firms. Having been court qualified over 200 times, Ted offers our clients expertise in the following areas:
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Vehicle defect and SIU investigations on all vehicle systems
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Low speed investigations and collision reconstruction
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Event Data Recorder (black boxes) downloads and interpretation
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Occupant restraint system training and investigations
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OH&S related investigations
Tyler Dyck, B.Sc. (Mechanical Engineering)
Tyler Dyck joined SAMAC in 2009 and focuses on both high and low speed collision investigations (speeds, vehicle motions, event data recorder analysis, occupant dynamics, seatbelts, etc.). After 5 years in the WHL (Western Hockey League), Tyler took engineering at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, graduating 1st in his engineering class (GPA 4.2/4.3) A scholar athlete, he has received numerous academic and hockey awards over the years.
Chris deRosenroll, C.F.I. (Fire Cause and Origin Consultant)
Chris has over 40 years experience as a fire department professional and consultant. This includes 17 years as a Fire Chief and Fire Marshal, the investigation of hundreds of fires, and testifying over 25 times as a technical authority. He also reviews fire department management issues, building safety standards, and fire safety programs.
Chris works closely with our metallurgical and industrial engineering experts to approach problems with the wide range of training and experience needed to provide our clients with the right answers. He has investigated hundreds of fires and explosions including structural, industrial, aircraft, marine vessel, motor vehicle, heavy equipment, electronic installations, and natural cover.
Ron Harder (Civil Engineering Consultant)
Ron graduated as a civil engineer from the University of Calgary in 1975. His experience includes the design, construction and project management of residential, commercial, institutional and industrial buildings. Ron has assisted with numerous failure analyses for SAMAC.
Taras Semeniuk, M.Sc., P.Eng. (Metallurgical Consultant)
With a unique blend of academic qualifications and hands-on field experience, Taras is an industry recognized expert in metallurgical and materials failure analysis. With over 20 years of experience, he provides the definitive "fingerprint" of a failure. Taras was with SAMAC for 6 years until recently branching out on his own. Taras is usually an integral part of any multidisciplinary SAMAC team that perform failure analyses and forensic engineering on industrial components, e.g. compressors, pipelines, and mining equipment, as well as on plastic and ceramic commercial failures.
We also utlize other engineering and technical consultants with failure analysis experience
