Telecom/Electric
Fluor Foundation Grants $1 Million To University of Houston College of Technology
Fluor Foundation, the philanthropic organization of Fluor Corporation, presented $1 million to the University of Houston (UH) College of Technology for the establishment of the Fluor-UH Industrial Construction Management Education Partnership, focusing on research and professional development. An..
Google Fiber Plans Expansion In Several Cities With Pending Deals In Many More
by Robert Carpenter, Editor-In-Chief Google Fiber is a remarkable story and the tale keeps growing. At the recent Power & Communication Contractors Association annual convention, one of the speakers included a senior representative in charge of the Southeast U.S. construction. When I asked what the..
Filter Out Solids From Drilling Fluids With The Vermeer R9x12T Reclaimer
The Vermeer R9x12T Reclaimer utilizes a series of shakers, cones and screens to filter out solids from drilling fluids, and it can hold up to 8,560 gallons (32,403.1 L). Powered by a 3 phase 250 kW (313 kVA) generator, the R9x12T has four shakers that can clean 600 gpm (2271 L/min). Depending on the..
MCT 450 “Mud Man” Drill Fluid Mixing and Cleaning System from Mud Technology
The MCT 450 “Mud Man” Drill Fluid Mixing and Cleaning System from Mud Technology has cutting edge technology. The 2400 gallon, two-section tank includes 450 plus gpm of cleaning capacity. It features high “G” force “AWD” linear shaker, five-inch cone desilter bank, high shear/low pressure mixing hop..
In Minneapolis, Bellying Up for ... Tap Water
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — It’s a bar that serves nothing but tap water. For free. The concept, developed by two Minneapolis artists, started as pop-ups across the country, ranging from an event at a North Carolina artists’ space to a waterfront fundraiser in Chicago to a four-month run at an art museum in..
Global Water Technologies Joins National Call to Action as First White House Water Summit Highlights Need for Sustainable Investment
Global Water Technologies is participating in a national call to action on sustainable water strategies being launched this week at the first White House Water Summit on Tuesday, March 22. Water leaders from across the United States will head to the nation’s capital for the groundbreaking summit an..
Drilling Fluid BORZAN D from Wyo-Ben Particularly Effective in Vapor Extraction
As a stand-alone drilling fluid BORZAN D is a highly concentrated xanthan gum allowing for lower addition rates than most bio-polymers. BORZAN D fluids are particularly effective in vapor extraction and other environmental wells where it can be flushed out of the bore with minimum residual wall-cake..
Mud Recycling Becoming Common For Mid-Sized HDD Rigs
Recycling and reusing drilling fluids is becoming increasingly common on jobs with mid-size horizontal directional drill (HDD) projects where previously that practice was uncommon. Recycling isn’t for every job – it would not be practical on jobs with small machines making short bores – but contrac..
John Deere SmartGrade Crawler Dozer Promotes Productivity with Innovative Technology
New John Deere SmartGrade crawler dozer is built to improve jobsite accuracy and quality of work with its integration of the Topcon 3D-MC2 Grade Control System, which is fully integrated into the machine’s cabin, structure and software to deliver precise grading performance while eliminating vulnera..
Snap-Tite Culvert Lining System from ISCO Industries
Trenchless Technology Rehabilitation at its best. The Snap-Tite Culvert Lining System is unmatched in ease of installation. Its no-dig approach to rehabilitate a failing culvert by using the trenchless technology approach results in minimal training and no specialized equipment to complete the proj..
Innovative System Notifies Pennsylvania American Water Of Water Emergencies
Pennsylvania American Water, the largest water utility in its namesake’s state, has deployed a high-speed notification system – CodeRED – in an effort to rapidly alert customers of water emergencies. The system allows residents to set their personal preferences for contact methods and then facilitat..
Subsite Electronics Introduces New 2550GR Utility Locating System
Perry, Okla. – Subsite Electronics, a Charles Machine Works Company, has introduced the 2550GR Ground Penetrating Radar System featuring a new, user-friendly Window’s-based interface that will provide operators with a number of productivity enhancing benefits. “The 2550GR offers all the same great ..
NASSCO: 40 Years Of Trenchless Rehab Leadership
by Robert Carpenter, Editor-In-Chief In 1976, a fledgling association was born to serve the rehabilitation sewer market. From those humble days, through many ups and downs, the National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) has grown into the leading trenchless rehabilitation organization..
Trenchless Elbow Spot Repair System From Infrastructure Repair Systems
Infrastructure Repair Systems Inc., a manufacturer and supplier of patented trenchless infrastructure repair and rehabilitation products, has introduced the Trenchless 90° Elbow Spot Repair system to seal joints, cracks or missing sections within the 90-degree curve of virtually any 4- to 6- inch pi..
CNX Awarded Fiber Broadband Development Contract In Kentucky
Warren County Fiscal Court awarded Connected Nation Exchange (CNX) a contract for fiber broadband development on behalf of Warren County, KY in the advancement of the county’s goal to provide fiber-based broadband services throughout the county. CNX will develop technical and financial models in an..
Rapid Set Products for Keyhole Utility Repairs from Buzzi Unicem
Buzzi Unicem USA manufactures Calcium Sulphoaluminate Cement used in their keyhole products. Ulti-Grout is used for core reinstatement, Ulti-Pave3 is for unusable cores and Utility-Fill One Step, a fast setting, self-compacting backfill material. All three materials are used for small-hole technolog..
Bobcat, Doosan and NDSU Dedicate New STEM Classroom, Lab Building
Bobcat Company and Doosan joined North Dakota State University (NDSU) to dedicate its new STEM Classroom and Lab Building, which will support studies in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The cross-functional design of the facility — which officially opened to students in January — b..
Underground Construction Initiatives Highlight 2016 DC Docket
by Stephen Barlas Washington Editor Amendment Would Allow Tax-Exempt Bonds For WIFIA loans There are a couple of major underground construction initiatives circulating in Congress and regulatory agencies this year. But the prospect of an upcoming presidential election means that many bills, which ..
Telematics Comes To HDD
Telematics Technology Aids Crews In Operating More Efficiently, Productively Josh Alkire always understood that, on the typical utility installation, his crew’s horizontal directional drill spent a decent amount of time idling. After all, it’s not nonstop boring on a job. But it wasn’t until he sa..
When Emergency Strikes: Pennsylvania American Water Launches New Rapid Notification System to Reach Customers
HERSHEY, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Pennsylvania American Water announced today the deployment of a new high-speed notification system, called “CodeRED,” to quickly alert customers when water emergencies occur. The system enables residents to be contacted via phone, text and email, depending on their per..
LMK Hydro Hat Withstands Patent Reviews
LMK Technologies prevailed on petitions filed by BLD Services on patent claims surrounding LMK’s commercial embodiments for the Insignia Seal, specifically, claims covering the Hydro Hat remain 100% intact and valid following multiple challenges to LMK’s patent claims by BLD. The Patent Trial and A..
Trenchless Technology Comes To Barbados
Two methods of trenchless construction are being employed in a project to improve the water infrastructure on the island nation of Barbados. Using trenchless methods on this segment of the project allows aging water mains to be replaced while greatly limiting the amount of excavation needed to bury ..
Fiber Optic Networks Experience Huge Growth
The number of homes in the United States directly connected to fiber optic networks continues to grow – 13 percent in 2015, reports the Fiber to the Home Council (FTTH) survey released in November. More than 12.3 million homes in the U.S. are connected to fiber, said Michael Render, president of RV..
January 2016 Newsline
Latest Industry Developments S&N Partners With Bechtel To Build Fiber Optic Networks S&N Communications, a U.S. provider of construction and maintenance services for telecom, cable and utility companies, finalized a partnership with Bechtel, an engineering, construction and project management co..
Ericsson Joins The FTTH Construction Business
Company Has Developed Strategic Partnership With Ditch Witch, Vermeer Last fall, Ericsson announced plans to become a major provider of broadband deployment (fiber-to-the-home (FTTH)) services in the North America which would provide consumers with faster delivery of high-speed broadband services. ..
Aegion Agrees to Acquire Underground Solutions, Inc.
Aegion has executed a definitive agreement to acquire Underground Solutions, Inc. for $85 million in cash and expects to close the transaction during the first quarter of 2016. The Company will separately pay for the discounted value of tax benefits (estimated today to be approximately $5 million) a..
American Samoa Fiber Optic Network
Meticulous Prep, Planning Essential To Success A combination of thorough planning and field-tested experience is critical to achieving a high level of construction success. This was the case in American Samoa when Michels Communications was given about 18 months to build a robust fiber optic networ..
The Thrills! The Chills! Ten Underground Infrastructure Stories From 2015
by Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Art Director As 2015 quickly moves into history, let’s take a look back at the thrilling days of yesteryear and some of the underground infrastructure stories that peppered the pages of UC in 2015. There were awards given and records broken and lumps of rock and the loss o..
TTC Auger Boring School
Inaugural TTC Auger Boring School Impresses Attendees The Trenchless Technology Center’s 2015 Auger Boring School received favorable reviews from participants in the week-long training program completed in mid-October. Sponsors included American Augers, Baroid Industrial Drilling Products, Barbco,..
Ditch Witch founder dies
The utility construction industry lost a giant with the Dec. 11 death of Ed Malzahn, chairman of the Charles Machine Works Inc. (CMW). Malzahn’s invention of a compact trenching machine paved the way for changes in the way essential utility services are delivered to customers. Malzahn, 94, died i..
- Intrepid Fiber breaks ground on fiber optic network in Superior, Colo.
- Excavator collides with I-95 overpass in Henrico, Va., causing multi-vehicle crash
- Shrewsbury, Mass., expands sewer inspections and cleaning efforts
- Construction worker killed in trench collapse near Prosperity, S.C.
- Two workers rescued after hours trapped in Mich. trench collapse
- WES tunnel boring machine retrieved from Oregon river after seven-month project
- Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes
- Ameren Illinois to invest $140 million in natural gas pipeline replacement program
- Charlottesville, Va., to begin work on 24-inch water line for Rivanna River crossing
- Mass. governor slams Trump for ‘dangerous delay’ of $50 million in lead pipe replacement funds