The Importance of Continuing Education for Trenchless Professionals

By Denise Sullivan
Published: March 12, 2019 | Last updated: July 5, 2023
Key Takeaways

To stay ahead in the trenchless technology industry, you need to keep up with the latest trends. You need to take continuing education classes and attend informational seminars to gain as much information as possible.

Knowledge is power. The more experience you have about a specific topic, the more power you have to control it. In the field of trenchless technology, the process is ever evolving to envelop new techniques and procedures. The best way for you to embrace and fully appreciate these changes is to take part in continuing education programs throughout the year. In these classes, you can learn how to deal with rapid industry growth and understand emerging technology.

The information in these units helps you to be more competitive in the market.

Rapid Trenchless Industrial Growth

FMI Research shows that construction will continue to grow. The group predicts that in 2019, there will be a 4% growth of new trenchless sewage and waste construction and trenchless rehabilitation projects. They also forecast a continued uptrend in new growth to continue through 2022 with an average of $23 billion (USD) spent each year.

In addition to an uptick of new sewage and waste construction projects in which trenchless rehabilitation and construction methods play a part, there is a predicted growth for water supply lines. In 2019, there is a prediction of 6% growth in new jobs with sustained growth of 3-4% over the next three years.

While sewage and water projects are a big part of the trenchless construction business, they are far from the only sources for jobs. Other traditional construction projects also need occasional trenchless tools at their disposal. These project tracks are also on the upward trend and have predicted growth of 6%.

These jobs include laying of new underground utility and communication lines in both residential and commercial areas.

Trenchless Technological Advancements

Technology is an ever-changing industry whose advancements change the nature of almost every other industry around it. Trenchless construction is no different. There are new methods of repairing and constructing underground lines that allow you to do the work with minimal effort and disruption to the surrounding environment. (Read The Science of Getting it Right: Locating Underground Utilities.)

With those advancements often come learning curves that can affect your bottom line. However, those who attend training seminars explaining the new developments can learn how to implement the changes and devices in their own business.

Staying abreast of all the new ideas becoming available to your industry helps you plan how to implement them in your business. You and your crew can also help those developing the technology at these symposiums by asking questions and giving them valuable feedback from your experiences in the field.

Competitive Nature of the Trenchless Construction Business

As the industry continues a steady incline in growth, more construction and rehabilitation companies will offer trenchless services to meet the growing demand. It means there is more competition for your business when it comes time to make bids for projects. (learn more with How To Bid On That Trenchless City Project.)

When you attend conferences geared towards your industry, you gain knowledge some of your competitors don’t have. It allows you to tighten your bid process and more efficiently complete the projects you win, paving the way for you to gain more clients even in an area filled with competing companies.

Completing a continuing education course for credit, you and your workers receive a certificate showing what you achieved. It will help you prove your mastery to different potential customers throughout the year and help set you apart from those who don’t have the certification levels your company attained.

Continuing Trenchless Technology Education Opportunities

There are many continuing education opportunities available. Some groups offer training seminars online and will even come to your company to show you their latest tech. However, for an all-encompassing program, there is little like the North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) No-Dig Show held each March.

The NASTT No-Dig Show features over 200 exhibitors for attendees to interact with and learn more about their products and services in the industry. These vendors are contractors, engineers, industrial facility personnel, utility owners, damage prevention specialists and also public works professionals.

They host networking events such as their opening breakfast and a Gala Awards Dinner. Industry leaders can participate in the NASTT’s Hall of Fame Induction, and everyone can enjoy the closing luncheon on Wednesday afternoon.

NASTT understands the importance of continuing education. They offer seminars featuring over 160 peer-reviewed technical papers. Additionally, many Continuing Education Unit classes are focusing on both trenchless rehabilitation and installation.

This year, after the closing luncheon on Wednesday, those attending the Gas Industry Conference and Exhibition may tour the Gas Technology Institute. Here you will learn more about trenchless and low-dig technologies used in the oil and gas industry. A complimentary shuttle to and from the tour is provided. (Read Why the Oil and Gas Pipeline Industries are Eyeing HDD.)

The NASTT’s No-Dig Show convenes March 17-21, 2019 in Chicago, IL at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Learn more about the conference at NASTT’s No-Dig Show.

Continuing your education in trenchless technology can help you stay abreast of all the latest developments in your industry. Attending seminars such as the NASTT’s No-Dig Show can help you get the educational credits you need.

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Written by Denise Sullivan | Technical Writer @ Trenchlesspedia

Denise Sullivan

Denise Sullivan is an accomplished freelance writer from Louisiana, with a Associate's Degree in Journalism from Eastern Oklahoma State College. She also graduated from East Central University with a Bachelor's in Biology. Denise began her writing career writing operations and maintenance manuals and software utility manuals for flight simulators. Since, she has expanded her writing to a broad spectrum of topics.

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