August 2022 Vol. 77 No. 8
Features
UCT 23: New Features, Old Favorites, Fresh Opportunities
(UC) — For the first time in its 28-year history, the Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition (UCT) will be held in Orlando, Fla., from Feb. 7-9, 2023. In fact, this is only the second time UCT has been in Florida, where the 2010 event was held in Tampa.
Surveys among recent and potential attendees revealed an ardent desire to hold UCT in Orlando, one of the top five meeting destinations in North America, due to its typically beautiful winter weather and first-rate facilities plus countless after-hours eateries and activities. Because of that popularity, finding the right time has always been difficult but for 2023, the stars aligned and UCT will journey to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
Working closely with convention center personnel, UCT was able to select the perfect area of the massive facilities. Both the meeting rooms and exhibition area are all contained literally side-by-side, complete with break areas and a coffee/snack bar. This particular section of the convention center seems almost tailor-made for the needs of the UCT crowd.
UCT is renowned for its industry-leading educational presentations and panel discussions will return in force. Program tracks include old favorites and several new wrinkles as well. Tentative tracks are horizontal directional drilling, sewer/storm sewer (new construction and rehabilitation), water (new construction and rehabilitation), asset management, Women in Underground Infrastructure, fiber construction, electric (new construction and hardening), damage prevention and safety, and Energy Matters.
Pre-show special events
Due to the popularity of Orlando and UCT, combined with early first quarter 2023 timing, the list of industry and company meetings already scheduled for the show continues to grow. Many groups take advantage of the conference to hold annual sales and planning meetings in conjunction with UCT where many of their customers will be in attendance.
UCT week will kick off on Monday, Feb. 6, with pre-show activities. Traveling with UCT to Orlando will be the 21st Annual Pipeline and Trenchless Technology Training and Certification Schools presented by the Center for Underground Infrastructure Research & Education (CUIRE), at the University of Texas at Arlington. Programs include Pipes, Advanced HDD, Microtunneling/Pilot Tube and Spray Applied Pipe Lining. Underground Construction magazine is a co-sponsor of the schools.
That same evening, the inaugural Underground Construction Awards (UCA) will be held at a special dinner and ceremony. The UCAs mark the next big event for underground industry awards. It will be an event that rewards accomplishments and people of the underground infrastructure industry in a unique, personal and deserving fashion.
This program isn’t just about pomp and circumstance. It’s all about creating a respectful and appropriate venue to honor outstanding deeds and performances for all underground markets. The program will recognize accomplishments, projects and technology advances that have made a significant impact on the market.
Sponsored by Underground Construction magazine, the UCAs represent the best opportunity of the year to truly recognize and honor the best of this grand, underground infrastructure industry which we all relish and participate.
RehabZone
Another attendee favorite phenomenon of UCT is the RehabZone™. It started as a basic concept, was weaved into a simple conversation and quickly evolved into a massive industry non-partisan effort to bring interactive, high quality information and education to the sewer and water rehabilitation market.
The RehabZone has grown from that basic concept into a major element of UCT. Indeed, the base of active industry RehabZone volunteers continues to rapidly expand along with the ’Zone’s many elements and activities. The remarkable RehabZone continues to gain traction and expand its educational influence every year.
Simply put, the ’Zone is a place where selling is placed on hold, and a premium is placed on efforts that provide solutions for specific problems. The purpose of the RehabZone is to educate attendees, in a generic manner, about the growing need for rehabilitating the world’s underground utility infrastructure and provide information about the various innovative technologies available to accomplish that job.
This large section of UCT includes historical and current equipment exhibits, an emphasis on solutions where unbiased personnel attempt to answer questions and direct attendees to specific booths for additional details, networking with peers, opportunities to see live demonstrations of the latest technologies, and it even includes a skills challenge. Attendees completing their tour of the ’Zone will also receive a complimentary T-shirt.
Registration begins
Registration and the hotel block will open on Monday, Aug. 29. Register early and save!
Visit UCTonline.com for details.
Opportunities Abound
As always, there are plenty of marketing opportunities at UCT. Don’t miss the best chance of the year to reach the right customers with a booth or key sponsorship at UCT.
From trenchless to open-cut, attendees are involved in every aspect of the underground infrastructure industry such as contractors, engineers, owner/operators and manufacturers and suppliers. Leading industry decision makers and leaders attend UCT to network and learn from their peers, educational program and expansive exhibit hall. JT Miller is once again the lanyard sponsor, but many marketing options remain.
Your booth is waiting! To secure your prime booth location, contact Josh.Allen@UCONonline.com or Jenna.Rutan@GulfEnergyInfo.com. For more information on UCT, contact Karen Francis at kfrancis@UCTonline.com.
UCT exhibitors as of July 10 include:
7 Reasons to Attend UCT in Orlando
- Orlando International Airport (MCO) currently provides nonstop service from approximately 150 cities around the world
- Orlando airfares are among the lowest of major destinations
- 75-plus world-class restaurants and 100-plus unique entertainment experiences within a two-mile radius of the convention center
- Orlando’s year-round average temperature is 78 degrees–perfect for leaving the winter doldrums behind
- Education, Education, Education – Earn valuable PDHs by attending UCT’s benchmark program (CEUs also available)
- Mix, mingle and learn in the expansive UCT exhibit hall
- Network with industry experts and peers
CUIRE Pre-UCT Infrastructure Schools Return Feb. 6
The Center for Underground Infrastructure Research & Education (CUIRE), at the University of Texas at Arlington, will hold its 21st Annual Pipeline and Trenchless Technology Training and Certification Schools in conjunction with UCT on Monday, Feb. 6 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. This year’s program includes Pipes, Advanced HDD, Microtunneling/Pilot Tube and Spray Applied Pipe Lining
CUIRE Schools are organized by the Center for Underground Infrastructure Research & Education (CUIRE), Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Texas at Arlington; and cosponsored by Underground Construction magazine.
Who should attend? Public officials, transportation agencies, design and consulting engineers, utility company personnel, designers, utility owners and operators and contractors who are involved with constructing, renewing, and managing utilities.
Each School (½ Day) qualifies for 0.4 CEU and four PDHs through the University of Texas at Arlington. For more information on these sessions and to register for early bird discounts, contact CUIRE at (817) 272-9177, cuire@uta.edu, or visit uta.engineering/cuireschools.
Pipe Schools
8 a.m.–Noon
Rigid and Steel Pipes: This school will cover applications, capabilities, manufacturing, standards, advantages, and limitations of steel, and rigid pipes such as clay, concrete and new developments in these pipe materials and joining systems.
1–5 p.m.
Flexible Pipes: This School will cover the applications, capabilities, manufacturing, standards, advantages and limitations of flexible pipes such as ductile iron, PVC, HDPE, fiberglass, polypropylene, and new developments in these pipe materials and joining systems.
Advanced Horizontal Directional Drilling Schools
8 a.m.–Noon
Planning and Design: Planning and design of large, mid- and small-size HDD projects from inception to closeout and delivery. The school will include talks on pipe loads, bore planning, drilling fluids and case studies.
1–5 p.m.
Construction Considerations: This school will include construction projects of all sizes, plus tracking, tooling, and locating and case studies.
Pilot Tube and Microtunneling School
8 a.m.–Noon
This school will cover planning, design, and construction of Microtunneling Methods (MT) and Pilot Tube and Other Guided Boring Methods (PTGBM) and will include case studies. A discussion of new ASCE Microtunneling Standards and Manual of Practice on PTGBM will be presented by the authors.
Spray Applied Pipe Lining (SAPL) School
1–5 p.m.
This school will cover the application of Spray Applied Pipe Linings (SAPLs) for water, sewer (sanitary and storm), and oil and gas. Information on polymeric and cementitious/geopolymer SAPLs, such as planning and design, material properties, surface preparation, installation methods, and performance specifications will be provided.
Comments