Technology

Lynchburg, Va., plans $100 million tunnel project to conquer sewer overflow and CSO compliance

(UI) — The $100 million tunnel project is anticipated to be built using a tunnel boring machine. It will boast a completed diameter of approximately 12 feet, extend 4,700 feet in length, and rest 80 feet below ground.

Comtech Telecommunications wins $30 million contract to enhance US Army tactical communications

(UI) — Comtech Telecommunications Corp. has been awarded a $30 million contract from Fairwinds Technologies LLC to provide Comtech’s next-generation Troposcatter Family of Systems (FOS) in support of U.S. Army tactical communications.

New Products

(UI) — Discover the latest innovations in heavy equipment with John Deere's expanded Performance Tiering compact wheel loaders, HCSS's advanced Fleet Dashcams for enhanced driver safety, and Felling Trailers' groundbreaking Air Bi-Fold Ramps System, setting new standards in the construction industry.

Aries Industries’ announces sale of Water Well assets

(UI) — Aries Industries, an industry leader in state-of-the-art equipment for inspection and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure, is accelerating investment in its core business of wastewater/sewer inspection and rehabilitation product lines.

Pressure pipe rehabilitation – what’s on the menu?

(UI) — Trenchless methods have been widely used for the rehabilitation of gravity pipelines for some time. The advent of these technologies and methods has lowered the cost of extending the useful life of gravity pipelines as opposed to outright replacing them.

Achieving more accurate utility infrastructure mapping with the help of an app

(UI) — More than 217,000 utility damage events were reported in 2021, according to the latest Common Ground Alliance DIRT (Damage Information Reporting Tool) Report. The three leading causes of these reported utility strikes were: digging without calling 811, failure to pothole and/or maintain clearance, and locating issues due to incorrect and/or outdated maps.

Breakthrough time of styrene emissions through various CIPP coating materials

(UI) — Recent studies of cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) liners have shown that potentially dangerous concentrations of styrene can be emitted prior to liner installation in the cold storage unit or vehicle.

Rehab Technology: Emergency repair of unexpected leak

(UI) — Created in 1951, by the Texas Legislature, North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) consists of 10 original member cities, including Farmersville, Forney, Garland, McKinney, Mesquite, Plano, Princeton, Rockwall, Royse City and Wylie. By 1956, this new agency was providing water to the region.

Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority modernizes workflow with OpenGov software

With OpenGov’s easy-to-use budgeting software, staff will be able to increase collaboration by centralizing processes, analyses and workflow management to evaluate, budget and track all capital planning activities.

Wellington City Council adopts digital map for underground infrastructure management

(UI) — The Wellington Underground Asset Map, backed by a $4 million investment, aims to revolutionize the installation and maintenance of buried infrastructure, including telecommunications cables, gas pipes, and other vital services.

Critical repairs underway in Idylwood, Va., to avert Shreve Road sewer pipe collapse

(UI) — Prior to the discovery of the hole in the sewage line, plans were already in place for a trenchless cured-in-place pipe rehabilitation of the sewer line, a non-invasive method of repairing pipe lining without the need for excavation.

Gilbert, La., granted $1.4 million in funding for sewer rehabilitation project

(UI) — Federal funding totaling $1.4 million has reportedly been awarded to the Village of Gilbert for a sewage restoration project. The outdated sewer pipes that were put in place more than 40 years ago will be renovated thanks to the federal subsidy.

VINCI Construction and GRDF enhance underground utility mapping with Exodigo

(UI) — Through VINCI's innovation platform, Leonard, the two companies partnered to demonstrate the accuracy and potential of Exodigo's AI-based solution for identifying and mapping underground utilities, Exodigo identified 57% more utility lines than shown on existing records.

Liberty VI continues fiber network construction work in St. Croix, St. Thomas

(UI) — The ongoing work will employ various underground technologies to mitigate roadway disruptions, such as utilizing a micro-trenching technique that minimizes pavement breakage and dust emission by producing a minimal cut and using existing ducts whenever feasible.

Despite challenges, HDD market continues impressive growth

(UI) — The 25th Annual Underground Infrastructure HDD Survey provides insight into the complex, yet generally lucrative, world of directional boring. Indeed, HDD is a technology that continues to expand to even further heights. It has clearly demonstrated how the introduction and development of this disruptive technology forever changed the face of utility and pipeline construction.

GPR: From glaciers to conduits, digs deeper so you don’t have to

(UI) — The ability to accurately map underground or encased infrastructure allows construction and excavation professionals to plan groundbreaking and other destructive activities more efficiently. By knowing where not to dig, cut or core, these professionals eliminate the risks associated with striking buried utilities or severing structural components, such as rebar or post-tension cables.

Water utilities embracing digital technology to optimize operations, study shows

Utilities that participated in the paper implemented digital technology to save billions of gallons of water, prevent millions of gallons of sewer overflow pollution, and save millions of dollars in energy costs.

HCSS introduces AI-equipped dash camera for heavy construction companies

“In 2022, four million harsh driving events were captured in HCSS Telematics,” says Phillip Robinson, Telematics Product Manager at HCSS. “The new dashcam can protect drivers from potential litigation and help clear their names from any wrongdoing.

Springfield's aging sewer system in Doling Park-Pea Ridge Creek set for major replacement work

(UI) — In order to accommodate anticipated expansion and development in the region, the major objectives of the work are to decrease the frequency of sewer overflows that result in pollution and enhance the size and capacity of underground sewer pipes to the 1,200 miles of pipe and over 28,000 manholes across the city.

Innovative underground lab paves the way for human survival trials on Moon and Mars

(UI) — In order to study how scientific and medical procedures will go in difficult extraterrestrial circumstances, scientists converted deep tunnels 1.1 km beneath the countryside into an underground lab.

McCarthy tackles underground obstacles to deliver innovative structures for Houston hospital

(UI) — McCarthy took on a significant logistical task as part of the project to extend a water main 2,500 feet across the property while managing existing underground utilities. McCarthy employed a completely BIM-coordinated MEP system on the technical front and used McCarthy Mapping to locate underground utilities.

Hitachi Vantara to supply Arizona Department of Water Resources with asset management solution

The solution is part of the State of Arizona’s efforts to bolster sustainability and resource management and secure the future of water for the Grand Canyon State’s 7 million residents amid the broader water supply challenges facing the Southwest.

Fact.MR: Manhole camera market to reach over $641 million by 2033

Rising commercial and industrial development, rapid urbanization, and increasing government investments in infrastructure development projects are market growth drivers for manhole cameras.

City of Duluth wins $700,000 federal grant for wastewater heating project

Known as a “geothermal heating district,” the initiative will use heat generated from waste at the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District to warm over 2 million square feet worth of buildings.

Rehab technology: 10 expert tips to ensure safe sewer cleaning

(UI) — Municipalities must safely clean and maintain many miles of sewer line annually to eliminate blockages and prevent sanitary sewer overflows, which are regulated by the EPA. However, the use of high-pressure equipment in underground sewers can be dangerous, unless operators are well-trained and fully understand the hazards.

Trenchless methods: Trenchers remain valuable for utility construction

(UI) — In the 1970s, new residential developments were being built with all utilities underground. Of course, water, sewer, and gas lines always had been buried, but now telephone and electric dissertation wires were, too, as would cable television services that would come later.

Berkeley County Public Service Water District utilizes cloud-based asset management software

The District will be able to extend the life of its assets with a preventative maintenance schedule that includes recurring maintenance tasks, asset performance, and a plan for replacements and repairs.

Ice pigging offers low-risk, high-performance option for water system cleaning

(UI) — Park City, Utah, site of the 2002 Winter Olympics, is a 7,000-foot-high scenic wonder known for its sweeping mountain vistas, luxury homes and ski resorts, but its origins are literally more down to earth.

HammerHead opens CIPP order fulfillment center in Fresno, California

(UI) — A new HammerHead Trenchless Order Fulfillment Center (OFC) located in Fresno, Calif., is now fully operational. Cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) installers throughout the Western United States receive their consumables orders faster.

Louisville Water advances digital transformation with KloudGin asset management platform

As part of Louisville Water’s digital transformation initiative, KloudGin’s platform helped Louisville Water automate cross-control processes from legacy systems to a cloud-native, mobile application.