TBE's Mark Pitchford Was Featured Speaker at
LA Transportation Conference

Locating Underground Utilities Paramount with Anticipated Shovel-ready Projects to Move Forward with Impending Stimulus Act

02/13/2009

CLEARWATER, FL – R. Mark Pitchford, PSM, Vice President, TBE Group, Inc. served on a distinguished panel of speakers at the 2009 Louisiana Transportation Conference at the River Center in Baton Rouge, LA, on Wednesday, February 11. With the anticipation of the potential for many new shovel-ready transportation projects to move forward quickly when the federal government’s stimulus package is finalized, the conference offered timely tips, discussion and technology to consider.

Pitchford was one of four panel members who spoke on the increasing complications related to the presence of underground utility issues as it relates to the design and construction of roadways, highways and other related transportation projects. Pitchford’s presentation focused on Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) and ASCE 38-02; Standard Guideline for the Collection and depiction of Surface Utility Data, the branch of engineering that utilizes sophisticated methods to identify and locate various types of subsurface utilities and offer options in working around or relocating utilities. Subsurface utility engineering is quickly becoming a preferred technique for transportation departments nationwide. The coalescence of SUE in accordance with ASCE 38-02 and utility conflict analysis, though a young concept, is beginning to reshape the industry due to its proven ability to shorten construction schedules, protect lives and safeguard property.

Other panel speakers included Horace Sharp, DOTD, Darrell K. Jones, AT&T Louisiana, and Billy Moore, Moore Engineering Enterprises, LLC.

The 2009 Louisiana Transportation Conference, hosted by the Louisiana Transportation Research Center, is held on a biennial basis to foster a better relationship and understanding among Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the transportation industry (contractors, consultants, universities, suppliers, parish/local agencies) by providing for interchange of information among the public and private sectors relative to transportation policy, practice, and issues.  The Conference also provides for the educational enhancement of the transportation engineering community by relating the engineering activities, progress, and special projects of the department; as well as presenting information on innovative technologies, and offering professional development opportunities.


TBE Group offers a full range of consulting, design, engineering and construction services, including civil, environmental, transportation planning and design, right-of-way acquisition/relocation, subsurface utility engineering, surveying and mapping, 3-D underground imaging, and utility coordination. TBE currently ranks #6 on Trenchless Technology’s Top 50 Design Firms (2008) and #175 on Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) List of Top 500 Design Firms (2008). TBE has received numerous industry and civic awards, including the 2004 Large Business of the Year Award from the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Institute of Consulting Engineers (FICE) 2005 Grand Award for its Clearwater Northwest Fire Station brownfields redevelopment project. TBE is headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, and has more than 40 offices serving clients in the United States, Canada, China and Puerto Rico. Visit us at www.tbegroup.com. TBE is a Cardno Group company.