Planning Under Way for 2018 HDD Academy

Arizona State University, Benjamin Media Partner for Two-Day Program

Come February 22-23 the place for the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) community will be the warmth of Tempe, Arizona, for the fourth annual — and widely popular — HDD Academy.

That’s right, Benjamin Media Inc. and Arizona State University’s Del E. Webb School of Construction are teaming to bring the HDD industry this informative and educational HDD Academy. The 2018 program will again be held at the Sheraton Phoenix Airport Hotel Tempe.

HDD is rapidly emerging as the primary choice for owners when confronted with river, road and railway crossings or situations requiring minimal disruption to surface activities. The technique provides a less-disruptive method and, oftentimes, a lower-cost opportunity for utility pipeline installations. The goal of the HDD Academy is to establish an annual learning platform for owners, regulators, contractors and engineers focusing on the options and opportunities for future utility pipeline projects.

Arizona State University will award 1.8 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) upon successful completion of the course. Registration is limited in order to provide quality networking with HDD industry leaders and maintain a low student-instructor ratio.

“The interest in this annual program continues to grow. Attendees are presented with great, non-commercial information to expand their knowledge of HDD. The HDD Academy is not a sales pitch, which is a testament to those participating in the program,” says BMI president Robert Krzys. “The vitality and growth of the HDD market makes this program a necessary event for contractors, owners, regulators and engineers.”

HDD Academy program instructors are all industry leaders who will cover numerous topics including HDD contracts and specifications; estimating; designing projects for specific pipe materials; drilling fluids; locating; damage prevention; and case studies covering HDD installations for several pipe materials, Direct Pipe installations and installations for specific utilities.

Benjamin Media Inc. is a multi-faceted business-to-business media company in markets ranging from construction to water infrastructure. It is dedicated to meeting the expectations of its readers, advertisers, vendors and all stakeholders in the markets it serves. BMI has found success identifying and promoting emerging markets through quality publications and innovative exhibitions and conference programs. BMI currently publishes eight trade magazines: Compact Equipment, NASTT’s Trenchless Today, North American Oil and Gas Pipelines, Solar Builder, TBM: Tunnel Business Magazine, Trenchless Technology, Water Finance & Management and Utility Contractor.

The Del E. Webb School of Construction (DEWSC) is housed within the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University and is one of the top Construction programs in the country. Established in 1957, the DEWSC is home to Construction Management and Construction Engineering degree programs. Currently, there are 17 full-time faculty members and more than 400 undergraduate and graduate students in the School. This past July, the DEWSC moved into a new $55 Million, 130,000 sq. ft. state-of-the art facility in Tempe, Arizona.

For more information, visit hddacademy.com. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Brittany Cline at bcline@benjaminmedia.com.