We are proud to spotlight NASTT Student Chapter member, Kate Wieczorek, from who is one of NASTT’s Argent Memorial Scholarship winners.
“Growing up in rural New Jersey, each house in my neighborhood had its own septic tank. While I enjoyed growing up in the country, I remember seeing yards torn up to replace these systems. I later found out this was due to improper installation and high levels of clay in the soil, impacting water flow. Another project close to home was the completion of water Tunnel No. 3 in New York City, a project spanning over 40 years and considered the largest capital construction project ever undertaken in NYC. These instances originated my interest in underground systems, specifically constructing and rehabilitating utilizing innovative methods. During my time at Clemson University pursuing Civil Engineering – Construction Engineering & Management, I have gained knowledge on innovative alternatives through my studies. I aim to utilize this in my career as a construction manager in the dense NYC environment.
I realized the true value of trenchless technologies when I took an Underground Construction course at Clemson. I not only learned about the deteriorated state of our underground infrastructure, but also the necessity for educating practitioners in trenchless technologies. In contrast to traditional trenching methods, approaches such as Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) and Microtunneling provide solutions with little disruption to everyday life. Trenchless technologies not only enable our infrastructure to be addressed with minimal disruption, but also enables projects where traditional methods are too costly or infeasible. More importantly, these technologies will play a crucial role in the future, given the investment required with an increasing deterioration of buried infrastructure.”
The North American Society for Trenchless Technology’s Student Chapters, working to build the future of trenchless!