August 2010 Vol. 65 No. 8
Editor's Log
A ‘Real World’ Process
When discussing the Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition with past attendees of varied backgrounds, many different reasons and perspectives are brought up as to what everyone likes best about UCT:
• The industry’s largest event dedicated to the underground construction and rehabilitation markets;
• The now famous, interactive RehabZone;
• The very timely WaterWorks Conference;
• The underground industry’s largest exhibit dedicate to both trenchless and open-cut construction;
• The diverse audience of contractors, owners, engineers and vendors;
• The renewed emphasis, especially from the utility contractors perspectives, on damage prevention and safety;
• The fact that UCT encompasses all aspects of the underground piping market – both open-cut and trenchless;
• And much more, depending upon on the broad perspectives of attendees.
Among the most consistent responses are overwhelmingly positive comments regarding the benchmark UCT educational program. It’s good to know that the UCT Educational Program is “still famous after all these years.”
Indeed, when the first UCT Show became an instant hit and market leader in January 1995, the educational program was praised for its unique, “real world” approach to providing critical information and education to contractors, owners and engineers.
The UCT educational program is much more than just technical presentations. It also includes case studies, important industry issues, how to do accomplish a project in a more cost efficient manner, how to maximize preparation and enhance profitability. That approach has continued to be an overwhelming success and the benchmark by which all other educational efforts have subsequently been compared.
“Real world” means just what the name implies — our daily industry lives dealing with a broad range of needs and issue: difficult soil conditions; wrestling with equipment performance; searching for a better, more economical and efficient methods to execute a project; putting the pieces together and developing the best path forward for clients; and weighing critical needs against limited budgets. In short, real world means life in our industry and how can we do a better job in challenging times.
By providing topics of significance and relevance, diverse industry partners at UCT will flock to the same room, hearing different perspectives and initiating interactive discussions which, in turn, permit learning to occur not only from presenters, but from each other as well. Vendors also play a significant role by imparting expert advice and unveiling technological solutions to pressing needs.
Different – in a good way (subhed)
Consequently, UCT’s program planning process is different from other industry events. UCT incorporates a series of committees with experts from various backgrounds to contribute their judgments and suggestions into the topical planning. These people are respected industry peers and colleagues.
Here’s how the process works: for example, a sewer committee includes contractors, municipal personnel, consulting engineers and manufacturers. Throughout the course of program development, this committee meets several times (plus much e-mail and telephone work) to brainstorm on everything from case studies to cutting edge technology to critical industry issues. The committee also reviews and accepts/rejects a large number of submissions from interested industry parties.
Finally, a program is developed and then begins the work of paring down the material to the most pressing topics for this year. It is a long and sometimes tedious process, repeated several times by different committees and industry advisors for a dozen market niches, but when the work is completed, it represents the most relevant and potentially rewarding informational and educational program available on an annual basis.
The UCT committees don’t wait for the program abstracts to be sent to them; rather, they aggressively seek the most relevant topics, most critical issues, newest technologies, best speakers and then package into a program of the highest interest and benefits.
With that said, I’m proud to announce the completion of the 2011 UCT Educational Program which will be posted on our website, www.uctonline.com by early September with a printed program to follow. UCT registration is also now available on the website as well.
To be sure, it’s an ambitious and complex program but one that all our experts and committees are very proud of. In these difficult times, the UCT Educational Program will provide the most “real world” information and benefits available across the industry.
UCT endeavors to produce an educational program that provides tangible information immediately applicable to your planning or project as we go about our daily lives in the underground construction and rehabilitation market. It’s our mission statement, our pledge to attendees, and we take it very seriously.
Comments