West Coast Trenchless Technology Road Show a Success
The desire to learn more about trenchless technologies and the benefits that the technologies offer is evident when looking at the 2019 Trenchless Technology Road Show.
The biennial conference and trade show, which rolled into Richmond, British Columbia May 6-8, is a partnership of the Centre for Advancement of Trenchless Technologies (CATT), Benjamin Media Inc. (publisher of Trenchless Technology Canada) and the North American Society for Trenchless Technology’s British Columbia Chapter (NASTT-BC).
Mark Knight, Ph.D., P.Eng, CATT executive director; Ron Weismiller P.Eng, City of Burnaby; Velimir Stetin P.Eng, City of Maple Ridge; David O’Sullivan, PW Trenchless and Ophir Wainer, B.Sc., T2 Utility Engineers, officially open the exhibit hall at the Trenchless Technology Road Show.
The spring event attracted more than 260 attendees, nearly 50 exhibitors, 11 technical sessions with a total of 51 presentations and a panel discussion on Building Programs vs. Projects to Generate Cost Savings and How to Save on Tender Bid Prices.
RELATED: Keynote Announced for 2020 Trenchless Technology Road Show
Providing the event’s keynote address was Ben Finkelstein, manager of communities and built environment at BC Public Service. Finkelstein discussed British Columbia’s carbon credit program and the province’s goal to reduce carbon emissions. An important component of this discussion was that, at the beginning of 2019, trenchless technology used on construction projects in British Columbia now qualify for green carbon capture credits. This approval was the result of years of work by NASTT-BC members David O’ Sullivan, of PW Trenchless and Preston Creelman, of NAPCO. Receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from NASTT-BC was Marek Pawlowski, of MJ Pawlowski & Associates.
“The trenchless market is a small but growing market. The strength of the show has been, and continues to grow, based on having excellent speakers talking about excellent projects,” says Mark Knight, Ph.D., P.Eng, CATT executive director. “The show had a real excitement and buzz. Another highlight was the number of new young people to the presentations. The next generation of engineers and program managers have arrived.”
The technical sessions, a cornerstone of the conference, were well-attended.
Looking Ahead
Missed the 2019 Trenchless Technology Road Show? No need to worry because CATT and Benjamin Media are already in the planning phase for the 2020 Ontario event.
“In 2020 we are back at the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls, May 20-21, and we look forward to having our best show ever. We want to create that environment where owners can learn the greatest and best state-of-the-art technologies that will help them reduce costs and improve their water infrastructure,” says Knight. “The call for abstracts is out, and the full program will be out in November for everyone to see. We want to create that same buzz that happened in Vancouver, which I am sure we will do.”
For more information on the 2020 Road Show, visit http://catttrenchlessroadshow.ca.
