Underground Construction - December 2019 - 16

New for UCT 2020

Hands-On Assessment Zone Highlights
Modern Methods, Technologies
Another unique, interactive education and demonstration zone
has been added to the Underground Construction Technology
International Conference & Exhibition scheduled Jan. 28-30,
2020, at the Fort Worth Convention Center, Fort Worth, Texas.
The Assessment Zone will be a large area within the UCT
exhibit hall where attendees can see and learn about equipment
and technologies available to assess the structural integrity of
utility pipes and avoid catastrophic failure. The Assessment Zone
is co-sponsored and organized by the North Texas Chapter of the
Underground Construction Technology Association (NT-UCTA).
The Assessment Zone is the brainchild of NT-UCTA board
of director members Adam McKnight., Upper Trinity Regional
Water District; Justin Reeves, Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam
Inc.; and Matt Penk, City of Dallas Water Utilities.
McKnight said the rapid changes in how technology is evolving
combined with the drastic needs for managing critical assets led
to the idea for the Assessment Zone.
"In the past two decades, technology has evolved quickly,"
McKnight observed. "Technological innovations are evolving
into solutions that identify defects in pipelines and other
underground infrastructure.
"These high-tech solutions are difficult to keep up with.
The Assessment Zone is a hands-on area designed to showcase
these solutions in an interactive display. People will be able
to see, touch and feel the equipment that is used to assess
critical infrastructure."

Education goals
The learning objective of the Assessment Zone will be to aid
utilities in managing risks, avoiding emergencies and planning
for the future. "Assessment Zone exhibitors have committed
to bringing the equipment and technologies to the conference
so attendees can see how it is used and to learn about its
applications," McKnight pointed out.
Equipment and technologies featured within the Assessment
Zone will include:
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Data collection
Leak detection
Laser profiling
CCTV
Sonar
Smart ball
Cameras
And much more
McKnight stressed the value of asset management. "We
have entered into the 'era of infrastructure replacement and
rehabilitation.' AWWA's Buried No Longer publication identifies
aging infrastructure as a trillion-dollar problem. Millions of
miles of underground infrastructure has reached the end of its
useful life and will need to be rehabilitated or replaced.
"Asset management uses techniques and tools to manage this
massive replacement/rehabilitation cost," he continued. "The
traditional approach of completely replacing assets at the end
of their useful life isn't practical or cost-efficient. Assessments
help utilities identify problem areas of damaged infrastructure
for rehabilitation or replacement while maintaining the areas
that are in good condition.
"The Assessment Zone is designed to educate people and
demonstrate how technology is being used to identify issues
and solve problems facing the underground infrastructure
industry. With a better understanding of the tools and
technologies available, utility owners, engineers and contractors
can apply them to their own operations They should understand
what tools and technologies are available to help identify
problems in underground infrastructure and develop cost
effective solutions," McKnight said. *
For more information or to participate in the Assessment Zone, contact:
Adam McKnight, amcknight@utrwd.com; Justin Reeves, JReeves@lan-inc.com;
or Matt Penk, matthew.penk@dallascityhall.com.
To learn more and register for UCT, go to uctonline.com or contact
Karen.Francis@gulfenergyinfo.com or Jenna.Rutan@gulfenergyinfo.com.
http://www.uctonline.com http://www.UConOnline.com
Underground Construction - December 2019

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