Schedule of Events

Tony Thornton, Executive Director, American Fence Association
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There are 50 million+ fence posts in the ground, often installed on property lines and very near buried facilities. Learn how contractors deal with the many challenges fence contractors face and hear examples of some best practices endorsed by American Fence Association members.

Session is part of the following tracks:
Excavator,  Electric,  Locate, One Call, Oil/Gas, Water/Sewer, Telecom, Public Works

Phil Meis, Owner, Utility Mapping Services, Inc.
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Lawrence Arcand, P.Eng, PE, President, 4Sight Utility Engineers
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“All Models are Wrong, Some Models are Useful” is a quote from George E. P. Box, one of the great statistical minds of the 20th century.  While directed at statistical models, it also aptly applies to physical 3D models of utility infrastructure that are now proven, if properly developed, to be highly effective and valuable for facilitating project design, mitigating utility risk, and expediting construction schedules.  Danger looms in the fact that these are not digital twins, but models based on disparate record data and limited geophysical observations.  However, when utilities are systematically investigated, and data is analyzed and assimilated with professional knowledge and judgment, and depictions and 3D models developed in accordance with proven standards and best practices established by the American Society of Civil Engineers, the result is something that is remarkably useful and effective, and provides value far exceeding expectations.  This discussion covers methods and pitfalls associated with developing useful 3D models of utility infrastructure for projects.

Session is part of the following tracks:
Engineering

Session endorsed by UESI

Joe Tantarelli, Senior Safety Consultant, SafeStart®
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In this session Joe recalls the events of June 5, 1983 when he was nearly buried alive as he was installing pipe in a trench that suddenly collapsed on him.
Joe will explore how human error contributed to making serious mistakes that almost led him to die on the job. Buried Alive: A Survivor’s Story will also look at the physical and emotional effects that incidents like this have not only on the person injured, but also on family, friends, co-workers, and a company’s safety culture. And by the end of the session, attendees will learn strategies to help workers avoid these types of incidents in the future.

Session is a part of the following tracks:
Excavator

Andrew Sylvest, SUE Practice Leader, Lamb-Star Engineering
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Jim Anspach, P.G(r), Dist.M.ASCE, Utility Engineering Subject Matter Expert
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Colorado introduced a new Design Ticket Standard in 2018. The new Colorado 18-167 law implements the need for a Subsurface Utility Engineering (S.U.E.) ticket as per ASCE 38 standard for certain projects. This provides the dissemination of much more reliable and accurate information for the engineers during the design phase, which is the first step in damage prevention for the project. The presentation will outline the history behind the formation of the standard as well as the impacts, benefits, and lessons learned that have been realized since its implementation.

Session is part of the following tracks:
Excavator, Electric, Locate, One Call, Oil/Gas, Water/Sewer, Telecom, Engineer, Public Works

Session endorsed by UESI

Brian Yee-Chan, Project Manager, Cross Commodity Work Coordination, Consolidated Edison Company of New York
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Nathalie Ramos, Project Specialist, Cross Commodity Work Coordination, Consolidated Edison Company of New York
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Public streets make up 34% of New York City’s land area.  Con Edison’s electric, gas, and steam infrastructure is buried underneath those same streets.  If utility construction work is not coordinated with local paving, the utility incurs additional paving costs and gives another reason for some of the 10 million New York residents to bemoan its service.

Con Edison started the Work Coordination group in 2019 to improve the customer experience by coordinating local paving schedules with Con Edison’s construction work.  In this short time it has saved nearly $6 million while improving relationships with local agencies and the general public.  The team combines personal accountability with geospatial data to produce successful results.  Nathalie Ramos and Brian Yee-Chan will take you through the challenges and successes of Work Coordination.

Session is part of the following tracks:
Excavator, Electric, One Call, Oil/Gas, Public Works

Dr. Kathy Gruver, Speaker, Author, Coach
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It is imperative that we recognize that stress is not the problem – it’s our reaction to our stress and we can learn to control it. Acquire cutting edge self-care techniques – affirmations, visualization, mindfulness techniques, and mini-meditations – that staff can do on their own for better health. A stress-free staff is a productive, healthy, and happy staff. Dr. Gruver will share her decades of experience and you will walk away inspired to make positive changes in your life and your company.

Session is part of the following tracks:
Board

Daniel Bigman, Bigman Geophysical
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This presentation will review the basics of ground penetrating radar and summarize several case studies highlighting the importance of damage prevention when drilling, coring, or sawing through concrete members. The presenter will consider various contexts for damage prevention such as environmental testing, building construction, and structural deterioration.

Session is a part of the following tracks:
GIS, Locate, Oil/Gas, Regulatory/Emergency Services, Telecom, Engineering

Daniel FitzPatrick, Damage Prevention Field Operations Planner, Orange and Rockland Utilities
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Utility companies utilize several strategies aimed at reducing damages. With a greater focus on pro-active damage prevention, a patroller program is an emerging strategy focused on building a working relationship between the utility and the excavator to prevent damages. This session will focus on the techniques to set up and run an effective patroller program which has been proven to reduced damages.

Session is part of the following tracks:
Electric, Oil/Gas,  Water/Sewer, Telecom, 

James Willis, M.Sc, CMAS, CHS-I, President, InDev Specialists, Inc.
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Some handle verbal confrontations with ease, but for most, it’s difficult and unpleasant. Utility workers are no exception, and de-escalation is seldom the go-to response. Utility work tends to attract Type-A personalities, so backing down is rarely the first instinct. The good news is de-escalation is a learned skill, not a natural talent. Personnel who deal with the public need proactive skills that allow them to understand when and how to engage, when to disengage, and when to escape the situation.

Session is part of the following tracks:
Excavator, Electric, GIS, Locate, Trenchless Technology, One Call, Oil/Gas, Regulatory/Emergency Services, Water/Sewer, Telecom, Public Works

Denis Courchesne, President and CEO, Info-Excavation
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With respect to the quality of information related to the location of underground infrastructures, the issues encountered today are closely connected to our prior knowledge. Owners of underground infrastructures have all experienced issues linked to the knowledge of where their infrastructures are precisely located.
In cooperation with one of its partners, Info-Excavation is currently working on a solution to deal with these issues. Using deep learning methods of artificial intelligence, this solution aims to accurately reposition underground infrastructures within the public right-of-way.
For several years, land markings have been made to locate certain sections of underground infrastructures. Unfortunately, owners hardly ever used this knowledge to update their system’s geospatial data referencing.
To improve the response to locate requests made by contractors related to future excavation projects, reduce the processing volume of these requests and diminish their inherent cost to owners of underground infrastructures, the quality of information known on these installations must be improved.
The goal of this initative is to assess the use of automatic learning algorithms to help improve the process of locating underground infrastructures. The results of this multi-phased project as well as its intended use will be presented after each phase.

Session is part of the following tracks:
Excavator, Electric, Locate, One Call, Oil/Gas, Water/Sewer, Telecom, Engineering, Public Works

Lyn McDonell, C. Dir CMC, President, The Accountability Group
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This session will help directors and senior staff go beyond the basics.  Participants will learn how great boards focus on their real purpose in an organization, how meaningful agendas can be constructed, and how honest dialogue with leadership staff supports better thinking, strategy and performance. 

Session is part of the following tracks:
Board

Phil Meis, Owner, Utility Mapping Services, Inc.
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Eric  Berkowitz, Project Director, GEO.works International, Inc.
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How to get utility data needed to properly develop and deliver a project?  A proactive solution implemented for Montana DOT with SHRP2 R01A funding integrates utility permitting with collecting 3D digital data on new and exposed infrastructure in a 3D data repository compliant with ASCE’s new Utility “As-built”.  This solution captures Utility as-built, SUE and Contractor utility data for ongoing construction, damage prevention, O&M, future planning and design, and a myriad of life cycle ROW and asset management practices including systems impact analysis, optimized placement of utility installations, effective inspections, advanced coordination and control of 3rd party activities within the ROW.  Utilities benefit with reduced strikes on their facilities, advanced coordination, as well as ability to access data to safely construct their own facilities faster with less risk and cost.

Session is part of the following tracks:
Excavator, Locate, Engineer, Public Works

Session endorsed by UESI

Matthew Wolf, President, ImpulseRadar
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Clifford Meis, P.E., Project Engineer, Utility Mapping Services, Inc.
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The SUE industry is adopting the use of more high-tech tools as they become refined to acquire as much Quality Level B utility designation data as is possible. In 2020 ASCE 38-02, Standard Guideline for Collection and Depiction of Existing Subsurface Utility Data, is slated for a major update to include guidelines for detection and depiction for 3D representation of utilities. One of the main tools to aid in designation of 3D utility data is GPR arrays. In the past the barriers to entry into this tech platform was the low speed of the systems and time to process the data to get results from field to deliverable. New generation arrays seamlessly integrate into the SUE workflow with complimentary technology such as EM and other advanced tools to produce the most comprehensive underground solution possible prior to Quality Level A test hole programs.

Session is part of the following tracks:
Electric, GIS, Locate, Trenchless Technology, One Call, Oil/Gas, Regulatory, Water/Sewer, Telecom, Engineering, Public Works

Session endorsed by UESI

Darrell Lee, Product Manager, Sensors & Software
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GPR is a powerful tool for locating metallic and non-metallic buried utilities. The data collected can contain a lot of useful information and some not so useful information. This talk will discuss some tips and tricks for interpreting GPR data for making informed decisions.

Session is part of the following tracks:
Locate, One Call, Regulatory/EmergencyServices, Engineering, Public Works

Linsay Sander, Founder and Principal, Sander Resources, LLC
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No one likes trying to read documents from a phone, especially 25 page state laws in 8 point font. Join us for a session on using the FREE Safe Excavator app, dedicated to providing important information related to excavation and safety at your finger-tips.  Participants can test their knowledge and learn about features of the app including how it can be utilized in your daily operations, collect information, and even submit information to DIRT.

Session is part of the following tracks:
Excavator, Oil/Gas

John Wilburn, Partner, McGuireWoods
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Richard Holzheimer, Partner, McGuireWoods
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In recent years, operation and pipeline professionals have faced increased scrutiny to identify encroachment issues and develop strategies to prevent them. This presentation will discuss potential legal solutions and business strategies to prevent and addresses encroachments.

Session is part of the following tracks: 
Oil/Gas

Raz Ezra, Director of Business Development, 4M Analytics
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Harel Dan, GIS & Remote Sensing Specialist, 4M Analytics
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Major projects in rural areas costs tens of millions of dollars n surveying costs. Typically, surveying activities are done manually and inefficiently. During the pre-construction phase incorrect and incomplete data are initially used resulting in budget overruns, delays, claims, and utility strikes.
Over two years of R&D, 4M Analytics has developed a distinctive solution that is able to pinpoint underground utilities through collecting massive amounts of data, utilizing remote sensing capabilities artificial intelligence, and computer vision in a data fusion engine delivering meaningful insights from the data captured. Join Raz Ezra has he reviews case studies compiled over the past two years.

Session is part of the following tracks:
Excavator, GIS, Locate, Trenchless Technology, Engineering

A. Kevin Troutman, Partner, Fisher Phillips
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Pamela Williams, Partner, Fisher Phillips
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Increasing availability of the COVID-19 vaccine presents numerous questions for employers, well beyond whether they can legally require employees to take the shot. Is a vaccine mandate the right decision for my workplace? If employers do require vaccines, what are the current limitations on the requirement? What are employers’ legal rights and obligations in implementing these decisions? And perhaps the hottest current issue of all, incentives. Specifically, how can I increase the vaccination rate in my workplace without mandating it? Attorneys Pamela Williams and Kevin Troutman will discuss legal and practical issues that employers face in this continually evolving environment.

Session is part of the following tracks:
Board, Excavator, Electric, GIS, Locate, Trenchless Technology, One Call, Oil/Gas, Regulatory/Emergency Services, Water/Sewer, Telecom, Engineering, Public Works

Dr. Kathy Gruver, Speaker, Author, Coach
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Communication is key. But what happens when the people communicating are speaking different languages? Learn what type of communicator you are and how to reach across that divide to reach people who communicate in a different way. A combination of communication skills, NLP, improvisation and psychology will imbue the audience with new skills and understanding to make sure their message is heard, effective, and productive. Whether between coworkers, team members, bosses, or in front of an audience.

Session is part of the following tracks:
Board

Ricky Rollins, Motivational Safety Speaker
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Our family, friends and co-workers care what happens to you and you care what happens to them.  What happens to you affects them and what happens to them affects you.  We should learn from what happens to them and listen to them when they tell us something for our own good.  They only tell us things for our own good because they care about us.

Session is part of the following tracks:
Board, Excavator, Electric, GIS, Locate, Trenchless Technology, One Call, Oil/Gas, Regulatory, Water/Sewer, Telecom, Engineer, Public Works

John Brix, Motivational Safety Speaker
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The mind is the most magnificent mechanism ever created and how you program it can affect you in a powerful way– whether that means achieving more in business, reigniting your relationship or discovering what remarkable achievements you can truly accomplish. The Power of Don’t will not only educate you on how the inner workings of the subconscious minds affects our personal performance but tools and philosophies will also be shared to improve personal success and mental capability.

Session is part of the following tracks:
Board, Professional Speaker

Cesar Quiroga, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE, Senior Research Engineer and Manager, Texas Transportation Institute of Texas A&M University
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The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has adopted Utility Engineering as an engineering specialty defined as a branch of engineering that focuses on the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and asset management of utility systems, as well as the interaction between utility infrastructure and other civil infrastructure.  The second part of the definition recognizes that utility facilities do not exist in a vacuum.  Utility facilities exist in a complex environment that includes underground and aboveground elements that constantly interact with other infrastructure within the right of way.  It is in this environment that public agencies design and build projects.

The foundation of utility engineering is six integrated pillars: Utility Coordination, Utility Investigations, Utility Conflict Management, Utility Design, Utility Construction, and Utility Asset Management.  The presentation will discuss the risks of not conducting utility engineering, define and describe the pillars of utility engineering, describe utility engineering stages within the project delivery process, and provide ideas and thoughts for implementation.

Session is part of the following tracks:
Engineering

Session endorsed by UESI