By JOANNA MCINTYRE

Staff Writer

Civil engineering professor Dr. Ray Sterling spoke at the 10th annual conference of the Associated Research Centers for the Urban Underground Space in Moscow, Russia, Jan. 25.

Sterling serves as the chair of the International Society for Trenchless Technology.

"In his role as ISTT chair, and as a result of his research expertise in underground infrastructure, Dr. Sterling is often called upon to give keynote addresses at major conferences," Dr. Leslie Guice, the vice president for research and development, said. "Dr. Sterling does a great job in representing the university and the trenchless technology centers around the world."

Guice said trenchless technology refers to a wide range of methods for installing, rehabilitating and maintaining underground infrastructure systems without having to dig trenches.

Undergraduate and graduate students at Tech are involved in the research, education and outreach programs regarding trenchless technology, and courses directly related to this technology are also offered.

Guice said Tech began its involvement with trenchless technology 15 years ago and it has grown since Sterling arrived at Tech in August 1995.

"The topic that I addressed in Moscow was broad and focused on underground systems of urban areas and planning for future uses," Sterling said. "I have been working with these systems for most of my career."

Sterling has become a world traveler and regularly speaks at conferences explaining his contributions to the world of engineering.

"Trenchless technology was the focus of my research group while I was at the University of Minnesota," Sterling said.

Guice said Sterling's role at Tech has aided Tech in holding a leadership position in research, development and education in trenchless technology around the world.

"Trenches have a number of safety, environmental, social and economic issues, so being able to do work with minimal disruption to the surface is desirable," Guice said.

After leaving Moscow, Sterling visited another conference, Louisiana Engineering Society Conference, Feb. 3 in New Orleans where he was given the Faculty Professionalism Award.

"It is an award from the Louisiana Engineering Foundation. One is given to a professor from every university in the state," Sterling said.