Associations
Horizontal Directional Drilling Association to host HDDA Meeting and Training Conference in May 2024
Located at the Baton Rouge Marriot, HDD professionals will have the chance to dive into rig mechanics, learn how to identify utilities, discuss the importance of fluid control, among other important topics relevant to the HDD industry.
Second annual Global Buried Asset Management Congress to be held in Indianapolis
Building on the achievements of the inaugural The Global Buried Asset Management Congress (GBAMC), BAMI-I, in partnership with Purdue Construction Engineering and Management (CEM) and Southwest Environmental Financial Center (SWEFC), announced the second GBAMC, scheduled for Nov.14-16, 2024, in Indianapolis.
Fiber infrastructure has no known expiration date, Fiber Broadband Association research concludes
The Fiber Broadband Association’s Technology Committee has published its “Fiber Broadband Scalability and Longevity” white paper — the latest FBA research that explains optical fiber is the only communications medium that can support both existing and future applications for many decades with no infrastructure changes.
22nd ASCE UESI / BAMI-I UIS School to be held in Austin, Texas, for utilities professionals
The 22nd ASCE UESI / BAMI-I UIS School will be hosted in Austin, Texas, from April 1-5, 2024. This highly-anticipated event is a collaboration between the Buried Asset Management Institute – International (BAMI-I) and ASCE’s UESI - Utility Engineering and Surveying Institute (UESI).
HDD Reunion, Hall of Fame celebration to be held at UIC
The biannual Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) Reunion and HDD Hall of Fame celebration will be held on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at the Oklahoma City Convention Center in conjunction with the Underground Infrastructure Conference (UIC).
PCCA takes workforce development, damage prevention efforts to the States
The PCCA has fought for increased funding for rural broadband and electric power, fewer regulatory roadblocks, faster permitting, damage prevention, workforce development, and more. But in 2023 and now into the new year, PCCA is taking a more active role in the states, especially when it comes to workforce development and damage prevention.
Editor’s Log: Industry honors and celebrations
It’s officially awards season for the underground infrastructure industry with some amazing people, projects and technology being cited for market contributions.
Outgoing DCA President Ray Swerdfeger stresses significance of local inclusion
Swerdfeger, the outgoing president of the Distribution Contractors Association (DCA), had the chance to grow up in the family business, working closely with his father. As a second-generation president following in his father's footsteps, Swerdfeger sat down with Underground Infrastructure for an exclusive interview. The discussion covered the accomplishments and directions of the DCA in 2023.
Dig into your future at UIC
To unlock the secrets of this subterranean realm and revolutionize your approach to utility construction, rehabilitation and asset management, there's no better investment than the 2024 Underground Infrastructure Conference (UIC) to be held in Oklahoma City, Okla.
UI Awards ’24 finalists announced
(UI) — The annual Underground Infrastructure Awards (UIA), the most comprehensive and prestigious program to recognize outstanding performance and technology for the entire underground infrastructure industry, has announced the finalists for the 2024 awards.
BAM-I, UESI to host five-day utility investigation school in Miami in 2024
The Buried Asset Management Institute – International announced that the 21st ASCE UESI / BAMI-I UIS School will be hosted from February 5-9, 2024, in Miami, Florida.
CGA publishes telecom white paper on preventing utility damage trends
(UI) — Based on research among telecommunications stakeholders, CGA’s new research points to the sector’s impact on the U.S. damage prevention system as a whole and recommends key actions telecom organizations can take to drive damages down.
Fiber Broadband Association brings fiber broadband education to rural North Carolina communities
Partnering with broadband internet provider Fybe, the two organizations will leverage the OpTIC Path course to produce a pipeline of expertly-trained fiber broadband technicians that will connect rural communities to high-quality fiber broadband networks.
Plastics Pipe Institute selects 20-year curriculum veteran to lead education committee
The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. appointed Jason McKinnon, Director of Engineering Services, Viega, LLC (Broomfield, CO), as the chair of its education committee.
Business News
Vacuworx celebrates 25th anniversary; Grundfos celebrates the 50th anniversary of its U.S. operations; 120Water selected to manage the data and submittal of Georgia’s lead service line (LSL) inventories; and more!
Elevate your expertise and expand your network – register for the Underground Infrastructure Conference today
Get ready for the most exciting event of the year for underground utility professionals. The 2024 Underground Infrastructure Conference (UIC) is where the industry will come together to address the pressing needs and priorities of our aging infrastructure. Join us for this groundbreaking, two-and-a-half day conference from March 19–21 in Oklahoma City, Okla., and take your knowledge and career to new heights!
Fourth annual NAXSA Colorado Trench Safety Summit breaks record attendance for second year
(UI) — More than 500 construction and safety professionals converged on the Adams County Fairgrounds near Denver on Oct. 4 with one common goal in mind: learn more about trench safety and help prevent tragedy in the workplace.
American Society of Civil Engineers releases first-of-its-kind sustainable infrastructure standard
ASCE/COS 73-23 calls for infrastructure owners to develop infrastructure that achieves environmental benefits and resilience measures while ensuring equity, mobility, inclusion and the preservation of cultural heritages and resources.
NUCA opens state-of-the-art trench rescue training facility in Urbandale, Iowa
(UI) — This state-of-the-art facility is set to play a crucial role in enhancing the safety of industry employees who work in subsurface excavations and help prepare those in the state who are leading the rescue at any accident scene.
Plastics Pipe Institute launches online course for underground infrastructure professionals
The course is based on requirements of the updated industry standard AWWA C904-22 Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Pressure Tube, 1/2 Inch Through 3 Inch for Water Service, the ANSI-approved standard for PEX tubing intended to deliver potable water into homes and buildings.
Trenchless Technology Center continues to prosper, provide industry research
(UI) — The Trenchless Technology Center (TTC) at Louisiana Tech University had another busy year and its Industry Advisory Board (IAB) again hit an all-time high in 2023. Research activities were in full swing and in-person training even came back, with forums in Boston and Houston.
PPI presents Donna Stoughton with lifetime achievement award
(UI) — The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) presented Donna Stoughton with its Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her many years and vast contributions to the industry.
Plastic Pipes Conference Association celebrates 50th anniversary in September 2023
PPCA reports that it has one of the world’s largest databases of technical papers, starting with those presented during its first conference in the 1970s. This library includes nearly 2,000 documents, plus video recordings of recent conferences, all of which are available on its website for free.
NUCA upgrades utility job-site recording solution
NUCA-WINS is a software application allows authorized users to quickly report a variety of job-site events, such as injuries, utility strikes, employee illnesses, near misses, property damage, and safety observations in real-time, utilizing both iOS and Android devices.
Fiber Broadband Association honors industry leaders at Fiber Connect 2023
This year, Brendan O’Boyle from Preformed Line Products (PLP) won the 2023 Photon Award, and Northern Colorado Community Fiber won the 2023 Star Award. S&N Communications won the Gene Scott Education Award, and Stephen Hardy won the Fiber Lifetime Achievement Award.
Fiber Broadband Association President wins 2023 Chairman’s Award for advancing fiber deployments across U.S.
Among many FBA successes to date, Gary Bolton’s leadership has expanded fiber broadband’s public policy influence, workforce development initiatives, FBA’s research library, and FBA membership—more than doubling it in less than three years.
Common Ground Alliance opens Call for Proposals for underground utilities conference
The 2024 CGA Conference & Expo, set to take place April 14-18, 2024, in Colorado Springs, Colo., is the damage prevention industry’s premier event, bringing together distinguished experts and decision-makers for a week of focused collaboration and innovation designed to address the industry’s most pressing challenges.
SUE Association to hold national subsurface utility engineering conference in September
Formed in 2018, the SUE Association has worked to educate and inform the user community about subsurface utility engineering, grow the SUE market, and promote best practices in the delivery of professional SUE services through ASCE 38-22.
Nominate now for the UI Awards
(UI) — Nominations for the second-annual Underground Infrastructure Awards (UIAs) are open. The Awards are a fantastic way to celebrate innovations and individuals that made a significant contribution to the market within the past year.
Registration open for 19th ASCE UESI/BAMI-I Utility Investigation School
(UI) — The Buried Asset Management Institute – International (BAMI-I) & the ASCE’S Utility Engineering and Surveying Institute (UESI) have teamed to conduct the 19th ASCE UESI / BAMI-I UIS School in 2023.
- DeLa Express seeks FERC approval for Permian-to-Louisiana gas pipeline project
- OSHA penalizes Houston contractor over safety violations resulting in worker's death
- Fiber infrastructure has no known expiration date, Fiber Broadband Association research concludes
- Nevada OSHA fines Elon Musk's Boring Company over safety violations in Vegas tunnel project
- Damage prevention and safety: Turning awareness into action
- Ditch Witch 1030
- Michigan lawmakers introduce bills to create septic codes throughout the state
- Indiana American Water to gain 8,000 water customers with Silver Creek Water acquisition
- Arkansas governor allocates $42 million for water infrastructure projects
- Federal judge finds Flint, Mich, in contempt over lead water pipe crisis