HomeMagazine2025November 2025 Vol. 80 No. 11Two days that will change how you approach infrastructure projects

November 2025 Vol. 80 No. 11

Features

Two days that will change how you approach infrastructure projects

Your systems aren't getting any younger. Regulatory frameworks keep shifting. And the technology you installed five years ago? Already outdated. That's why the 2026 Underground Infrastructure Conference exists: to help you stay ahead of what's coming, not just catch up with what's already here.  

UIC 2026 happens Jan. 27-28, 2026, at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. Two days. Zero fluff. Registration is open right now, and spots are filling up fast.   

How it works 

We've stripped UIC down to what actually matters. Mornings run 8 a.m. to noon, tight, comprehensive yet focused education sessions that earn PDHs and CEUs through the University of Texas at Arlington. No sitting through filler. Just information you can apply the second you get back to the job site.  

Afternoons (noon to 5 p.m.) belong to the exhibit hall. That's where Center Stage panels, Technical Theater sessions, and live equipment demonstrations happen. You're not just looking at brochures, you're seeing the gear in action, talking to the people who built it, and making connections that actually pay off.  

Walk away with vendor contacts who get your challenges, continuing education credits in your pocket, and real strategies you can implement immediately. Not someday. Now.  

Extraordinary special events

We've built in experiences that recognize where infrastructure has been and where it's headed.  

The Awards: MVP + UI Honors luncheon will be held Tuesday, Jan. 27, at noon. Two major industry honors come together: UCTA's Most Valuable Professional Award and Underground Infrastructure's UI Awards. One event, one stage, celebrating the people and projects that keep buried systems running. Jeff Haby from San Antonio Water System is your 2026 MVP, plus, the winners of the UI Awards will be announced. Tickets are $85, and you can add this to your register.   
 

HDD Reunion and Hall of Fame takes over Wednesday evening, Jan. 28, starting at 5:15 p.m. right after the exhibit hall closes. Whether you've been drilling since the early days or just bought your first rig, this is your night. The Class of 2026 gets inducted into the HDD Hall of Fame, and there's a Center Stage panel with the honorees from 1 – 2:30 p.m. that same day. This is the HDD community at its best and we’re celebrating the people who built it. Add the HDD Reunion to your registration for only $50. Attention-getting sponsorships are available. Contact Josh@UndergroundInfrastructure.com or Peter.Royall@GulfEnergyInfo.com to secure yours today!  

The Connected Buyer Program runs throughout the exhibit hall. It's free to join when you register. Walk the floor, connect with suppliers, get scanned at five or more booths, and you are entered to win either a Bergara Integrally Suppressed Rifle (valued at $3,400) or round-trip AeroMexico tickets. You must be there for the announcement Wednesday afternoon to claim it, but if you're doing the work anyway – meeting vendors, checking out equipment – why not get something out of it? Learn more here. 

BAMI-I Utility Investigation School runs Jan. 26–29 at the convention center, overlapping with UIC. If subsurface utility engineering is your world, this is where you learn the latest on ASCE standards, geophysics tools, and utility risk management. It's a full course designed for engineers, surveyors and project managers who need to deliver accurate utility data on congested infrastructure projects. Registration and details for this program are here.  

Program highlights
 
The full program is online at UI-Conference.com. Here’s a look at a few practical sessions that are included in your full-conference registration. (program is subject to change.)   

HDD: This track features interesting and informative case studies, along with creative solutions, emphasizing how to effectively conduct horizontal directional drilling operations and maximize profitability utilizing rigs of all sizes. 

  • Texas City Saves Time & Money with HDD: A DYI Approach – A city in the Dallas/Fort Worth area has its own HDD rig and a crew trained to operate it. The benefits of having this capability will be reviewed and the City’s continued support for the program will be discussed. 

Speakers: Craig Fisher, Westlake Pipe & Fittings; Justin Dean and Josh Oler, City of Richland Hills 

  • HDD Pilot Design Basics from a Driller’s Perspective – This presentation is for anyone involved in the planning, design, or execution of HDD projects who wants to bridge the gap between concept and field reality. It will explore real-world examples that illustrate both successful and problematic designs, highlighting lessons learned on projects ranging from small utility crossings to major infrastructure installations.  

Presented by: HardRock Infrastructure 

Exhibit hall — the business floor

UIC attracts more than 1,200 qualified professionals, including engineers, contractors, senior management and utility operators. These are the individuals who control billions in purchasing decisions. Buyer attention is concentrated on two high-impact days, putting solutions in front of people who make purchasing decisions. Options for exhibitors include: 

  • Booth space in high-traffic zones near Technical Theaters 
  • 25-minute Technical Theater presentations (on-floor, eligible for PDH/CEU credit) 
  • Sponsorships for the Innovation Lounge, lunches and reception 
  • Additional high-visibility sponsorships exist outside the hall that will keep all eyes on your brand, like the track sponsorship that features your logo on the head table and your logo on every other seat back.  

Breakdown of attendees: 

  • 22 percent Engineers 
  • 20 percent Senior Management and vice presidents 
  • 25 percent Business Operations 
  • 18 percent Owners, Presidents and Directors 

In just two days, you can achieve what might otherwise take months of meetings and travel. 

All exhibitors receive recognition in Underground Infrastructure magazine, the event app, and email campaigns, plus full-conference passes for your team. Contact Josh@UndergroundInfrastructure.com or Peter.Royall@GulfEnergyInfo.com to secure your space today.  

Invest in your future

UIC remains one of the most focused and cost-effective professional events in the industry. 

  • 2-Day Full Conference: $740  
  • 1-Day Conference: $425  
  • Exhibit Hall Only: $85   

In underground infrastructure, timing and preparation make all the difference. Register early, plan your schedule, and arrive ready to learn and connect. Visit UI-Conference.com for full program details, exhibit space selection, and hotel information.  

Hotel, logistics 

Hotel Contessa is the headquarters property; all-suite, on the River Walk and a short walk to the Henry B. González Convention Center. The convenience matters: arrive at the hotel, walk to sessions, and get more out of your time in San Antonio. Room rates for the UIC block are listed at $229 + $9 amenity fee; availability is limited. To book, phone: (210) 229-9222 ext. 5603.  

A second hotel has been added! The Emily Morgan San Antonio is DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel located at 705 East Houston Street, San Antonio, Texas 78205. 

Rooms & Rates: 

  • 1 King Bed – $159 
  • 2 Queen Beds – $159 
  • 2 Queen Beds – Alamo View – $159 

https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/gulfenergy-uic2026-emilymorganhotel/  

Practical details, contacts

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