Industry News, trenchless projects
The University of Central Florida purchased a Vac-Tron AIR 373 SDT vacuum excavator in 2016 and shared the benefits this unit has created for the facilities.
“We didn’t have an initiative on campus to do soft digging and locating, so we went looking for a solution and Vac-Tron came out to be the best value for our money,” said Anthony Lugo, UCF Utility Supervisor.
Project Descriptions
Some of the initiatives that UCF utility workers handle daily include identifying and mapping the location of utility lines.
“We have a lot of old utility lines in the ground that haven’t been located in many decades. They have never been marked properly, and it is our job to find them, mark them, and put them on the map. Finding those lines can be time consuming and intrusive to the property. But the biggest obstacle, when you are part of the utility crew, is safety, you don’t want to hit electrical lines with a shovel.” said Lugo.
The utility crew is also responsible for emergency water line breaks. “Prepping the area for a water line break repair is a tedious job and time is of the essence.” added Lugo.
Solution
The Vac-Tron AIR 373 SDT vacuum excavation unit. The UCF AIR unit is powered by an 83 HP Yanmar diesel engine and comes standard with a 300-gallon debris tank, air pressure of 150 CFM at 170 PSI, hydraulically operated full-open rear door with auto engage safety latch, and one 100-gallon water tank. This unit also has the Patented Remote Debris Tank, which collects the dry material and then can be positioned back over the hole to put back into place without causing much disruption to the surroundings.
Upgrading from traditional methods of excavation, an excavator or hand shovel, to a Vac-Tron unit has greatly increased efficiency for the UCF utility crew. “It made things faster, it made things safer. It saves us a lot of time, what used to take 4-6 hours, now only takes 1-2 hours. We aren’t spending any unnecessary time doing a job.” said Lugo.
“The biggest thing is safety, safety is the key aspect. The Vac-Tron unit allows us to be safe in an expedited fashion. This is considered soft digging, which is just basically pulling the dirt out of the ground so you’re not striking anything. You could hit a high voltage electrical line, high pressure water or gas line, any number of things, and the Vac-Tron AIR unit helps to eliminate that.” stated Lugo.
Results
- Potholing quickly to locate old utility lines for identification and mapping
- 4-6 hour projects now take 1-2 hours
- Respond quicker to water line breaks
- Quicker repairs to water line breaks with the power of the vacuum excavator removing debris
- Cleaning of storm drains in an efficient way
- Wastewater spills quickly cleaned up
- Less intrusive to the campus’ infrastructure
- Less disruption to the environment
Multiple departments at UCF are also using the Vac-Tron unit. For example, the Landscaping and Recreation crew uses it to clean out storm drains, and the Design and Construction team will request it to locate lines for future construction on the campus. UCF has found multiple uses for the Vac-Tron unit. “This has been a godsend because we can actually find things without being as intrusive to the campus’ infrastructure. For the value we are getting, it has turned out to be priceless!” added Lugo.
Check out the full interview and video footage of the unit in action at UCF https://www.vactron.com/utility-crew-ucf-vacuum-excavation-case-study/.
Industry News, trenchless people
EVANSVILLE, IN – March 19, 2018 – Hydromax USA is pleased to announce that it has acquired Miller Pipetech, an environmental services company specializing in pipeline condition assessment for wastewater and natural gas utilities.
The acquisition of Miller Pipetech’s technical service division will enable Hydromax USA to increase its capacity to deliver on its high-demand, suite of service solutions for both critical gas cross bore identification and sewer condition infrastructure assessment programs. Throughout the country, cross bores continue to be a cause of concern as more and more stakeholders are addressing the problem and associated risks. Cross bores, unintended intersections of utilities, pose a threat to public safety and industry workers alike. All types of cross bores can cause damage, however the intersection of natural gas lines in sewer pipes are considered the highest threats. In addition, aging sewer infrastructure coupled with limited financial resources continues to further the need for utilities to understand the current state of buried sewer infrastructure in order to maximize their use of funds on rehabilitation.
This acquisition will strengthen Hydromax USA’s footprint in the Eastern and Midwestern United States, enabling Hydromax to extend the capabilities of its state-of-the-art Louisville Data Center to current clientele of Miller Pipetech. Louisville’s data center provides end client solutions and support to our clientele nationwide, delivering unmatched project quality assurance through our 100% audit approach; key program and infrastructure insights through our web-based business intelligence platforms; management, analysis, and integration of terabytes of program information into client information systems; and technical support of our field operations nationwide.
“The completion of this acquisition opens new opportunities for our clients, our employees and the communities in which we serve,” said Jeff Griffiths, Director, East Region for Hydromax USA. “We are very excited to begin to introduce our enhanced services to the Miller Pipetech client network and we look forward to a smooth transition as we add Miller Pipetech’s technical service assets and experienced personnel to our team.”
Hydromax USA’s services include:
GasSafe®
Our GasSafe™ suite of solutions puts critical data at your fingertips for planning, operations and regulatory compliance. These solutions are based on a unique, comprehensive combination of processes, GIS platforms and rigorous QA/QC requirements that provide high-confidence, verifiable results.
Cross Bore Inspection
Gas Leak Survey
GIS Data Integration
IntelliSpan 360™
Hydromax USA provides comprehensive evaluation and assessment of sewer systems using state-of-the art technologies and techniques. Pinpointing problem areas supported with precise, accurate data enables utilities to make cost-effective decisions in the rehabilitation of their infrastructure.
CCTV Inspection
Flow Monitoring
Manhole Inspections
Smoke Testing
Dye Water Flooding
MaxSense™
Our MaxSense multi-sensor inspection solution comprises any combination of inspection technologies, such as camera, sonar and laser. The key is to present the data in an efficient, easy-to-understand format that accurately describes corrosion, sedimentation and structural defects. HUSA has significant experience with several multi-sensor technologies offering advanced capabilities, such as continuous & simultaneous data collection with easily interpreted data in open source formats.
Hydromax also offers advanced solutions for the water industry through its advanced offering of condition assessment services p-Cat, Utilis, and IntelliSpan 360 – providing an unmatched portfolio of services to clients across the country.
“Hydromax USA uses many technologies to provide valid and reliable infrastructure condition assessment data to our clientele. We have capitalized on advancements in technology to develop a suite of unparalleled solutions for our clients in the sewer, gas, and water sectors. Our programs are designed to provide you with essential information that will help to improve capital investment and O&M planning, provide continuity for critical systems, manage risk, and facilitate regulatory compliance. Our portfolio of services, depth of experience, and customer-centric focus is what sets us apart from other firms.
Steve Lacy, CEO, Hydromax USA
The acquisition was completed March 19, 2018. Financial terms of the transaction are undisclosed.
About Hydromax USA
Established in 2003, Hydromax USA is a professional services firm specializing in data collection in support of locating and assessing the condition of the country’s aging water, wastewater and natural gas conveyance systems. Hydromax USA’s vast experience with new technologies and techniques empowers contractors, engineers and utility owners to make the best rehabilitation decisions regarding their buried infrastructure.
Hydromax USA has performed infrastructure condition assessment programs that have evaluated hundreds of thousands of infrastructure assets, helped clients recover millions of gallons in lost water, and provided information management services for improvement of system models and development of GIS integrated solutions for utilities across the United States.
About Miller Pipetech
Miller Pipetech, together with its predecessors, is an environmental services company specializing in pipeline assessment and repair for utilities and service contractors for over 30 years. The company is a fusion of plumbing services and technical services, which are identified respectively as Miller Pipetech Plumbing Service Division and Miller Pipetech Technical Service Division. The Miller Pipetech Plumbing Service Division is not part of the acquisition and will remain in operation doing business as Ron Miller Plumbing, LLC.
Contacts:
Jeff Griffiths Jeff Graham
Director, East Region Director, Central Region
Phone: 757-353-1521 Phone: 502-548-8965
jeffrey.griffiths@hydromaxusa.com jeff.graham@hydromaxusa.com
Source: Hydromax USA, LLC
Industry News, trenchless products
Chicago’s Albany Park Diversion Tunnel to go online this spring
In Chicago, Illinois, USA Kenny Construction is nearing completion on the Albany Park Stormwater Diversion Tunnel. The project, owned by the Chicago Department of Transportation, will divert water from the Albany Park neighborhood, which has long been plagued by flooding. Plans for the tunnel began in 2013, after flood conditions became so severe that residents had to be evacuated from the area by boat. The tunnel is expected to be functional by April 2018.
A Robbins Main Beam Hard Rock TBM bored the tunnel and broke through at the end of August 2017, bringing the project one step closer to completion. The TBM, also known as “Keri,” has been owned by project contractor Kenny Construction since the 1990s and has been used on several projects prior. “The machine holed through into the inlet shaft,” said Clay Spellman, Project Manager for Kenny Construction. “We excavated the shaft as part of the project. The machine has since been disassembled and removed.”
For the Albany Park Project, Keri was rebuilt by Kenny Construction with size modifications designed by Robbins. Robbins took an existing cutterhead, repaired it, and then added segments, taking it from 5.2 m (17.2 ft) to 6.2 m (20.4 ft) in diameter. “Extensive modifications were also made underground to the machine to be able to install rock dowels and stand the ring steel under the roof shield,” added Spellman.
“Rebuilding TBMs has always been a core part of Robbins’ business. Most customers immediately recognize that a rebuilt machine with updated systems can offer exceptional value without increasing risk, and a rebuilt machine can usually be delivered faster,” said Robbins Engineering Manager Steve Smading. “While the financial and schedule advantages are obvious, the flexibility of used equipment may be less obvious. Boring diameters can be increased or decreased and machine configurations can even be changed. For example, a Single Shield can be reconfigured as a Double Shield or vice versa, and a Main Beam TBM can be reconfigured as a shielded machine. Soft ground machines can be configured for different geologies and can be set up as either Slurry or EPB.”
Over 50 percent of all Robbins Main Beams ever manufactured have been used on three or more projects. Incredibly, many Robbins TBMs that have been used on multiple projects are approaching over 50 km (31 mi) of use. Prior to its ownership by Kenny, Keri has successfully bored tunnels in the Dominican Republic, Saudi Arabia, New York, and Chicago—totaling at least 19.5 km (12 mi) of tunnel.
Due to the project location in a residential neighborhood, there were restrictions in place as to when the machine could operate and the frequency at which blasting would be allowed per day. Despite these limitations, the TBM achieved a best day of 39.5 m (129.7 ft) and a best week (5 days) of 146.4 m (480.4 ft). The machine bored through dolomite with an average compressive strength of 64 MPa UCS (9,300 psi). “During boring we encountered approximately 30.4 m (100 ft) of fractured ground that had to be supported with rolled channels, straps, and 19 full circle steel rings,” said Spellman.
The drainage tunnel starts in Eugene Park and extends for approximately one mile under Foster Avenue to the North Shore Channel. When the Chicago River’s water levels reach flood stages—exceeding 2 m (7 ft)—the tunnel will divert a flow of 65 cubic meters (2,300 cubic ft) of water per second, avoiding Albany Park, then deposit it into the Channel. The tunnel will essentially be transferring the water where it would have ended up, without damaging the residential area or adversely affecting the river’s wildlife.
Image 1: The 6.2 m (20.4 ft) diameter Robbins Main Beam TBM broke through in August 2017 on Chicago, USA’s Albany Park Diversion Tunnel, which will go online this April.
Image 2: The resilient machine was rebuilt by Kenny Construction with size modifications designed by Robbins.
Industry News, trenchless people
Mortimer the Sewer Rat and now his protege, Morty Jr., have been busy traveling around the country raising the awareness for trenchless technology! This year Morty traveled with Iowa Trenchless and with Michael Bryne Manufacturing.
Just yesterday, Morty and Jim Weist, CEO and President of Michael Bryne Manufacturing, headed south in the snow with an 84″ diameter auger and cutting head for a project!
Iowa Trenchless and Michael Bryne Manufacturing generously sponsored Morty this past year by winning him during NASTT’s 2017 Educational Fund Auction. Interested in sponsoring Morty for 2018?
Join us at the auction in Palm Springs, Monday, March 26!
Industry News, trenchless products
GSSI, the world’s leading manufacturer of ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment, has launched its dynamic new website. With a completely redesigned look and feel that makes it easier than ever to use, the website’s homepage is designed to help customers explore GSSI’s product range. It features a helpful and easy to use product configurator, quick access to the training class calendar, and all the latest news and updates, including the most recent case studies and videos.
The new Innovation Lab section spotlights GSSI’s most recent engineering initiatives and custom solutions. Learn about GSSI’s approach to developing customer solutions and examples of successful processes used to meet customers’ challenges.
The product pages feature a wealth of pictures showing the equipment in action and clear explanations of applications for which it is most useful. Users will also find data examples for each application and product, detailed product specifications, and a host of support material to help users get the most out of the equipment.
The expanded training section – now called GSSI Academy – includes an enhanced class schedule, trainer bios, training request form, and easy to understand explanations about GPR and electromagnetic induction (EM) technology.
The new website also features a greatly expanded support page, which now includes direct access to user manuals and software updates.
For more information on GSSI and to see the new website in action, visit www.geophysical.com.
About GSSI
Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc. is the world leader in the development, manufacture, and sale of ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment, primarily for the concrete inspection, utility mapping and locating, road and bridge deck evaluation, geophysics, and archaeology markets. Our equipment is used all over the world to explore the subsurface of the earth and to inspect infrastructure systems non-destructively. GSSI created the first commercial GPR system over 45 years ago and continues to provide the widest range and highest quality GPR equipment available today.
The University of Central Florida purchased a Vac-Tron AIR 373 SDT vacuum excavator in 2016 and shared the benefits this unit has created for the facilities.
