An Arizona State University expert in safer underground construction methods designed to reduce road disruptions and improve public safety now leads an organization that shapes national policy, sets standards for resilient pipeline infrastructure and trains the next generation of engineers.
Samuel Ariaratnam’s research has driven the development and application of innovative technologies to install, repair and maintain the underground utilities critical to communities and economies around the world. He was recently elected president and named a fellow of the more than 5,000-member Utility Engineering and Surveying Institute, or UESI, part of the American Society of Civil Engineers, or ASCE.
“I am honored to be president of the youngest of the nine ASCE institutes and to be in the first class of UESI Fellows as it highlights the lifelong achievement of all with such a rank,” says Ariaratnam.
Ariaratnam is the Sunstate Chair of Construction Management and Engineering and a professor of construction engineering in the Del E. Webb School of Construction, which is housed within the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU.
His research focuses on trenchless technology. These underground construction methods, like horizontal directional drilling and trenchless pipe replacement techniques, use underground excavation tools monitored from above to install, repair and replace buried oil, natural gas, water, sewer, electrical and telecommunications utility lines.
These methods have been used in the Phoenix metro area and worldwide for decades and are especially helpful under roadways and bodies of water.
“With increased urban growth around the globe, there is a pressing need to expand our underground utility infrastructure,” Ariaratnam says. “I have been an evangelist for trenchless technology for 30 years and continue to tout the benefits of the technology on a global scale.”
“Less disruptive technologies, such as trenchless methods, are becoming more commonplace as we work to make our aging utility systems more resilient while prioritizing societal and environmental needs,” he says.
Ariaratnam has published more than 350 technical papers and reports, co-created five patents and co-authored or edited eight textbooks, including Horizontal Directional Drilling Good Practices Guidelines, now in its fifth edition, published by the North American Society for Trenchless Technology. He has been appointed to two study committees of the U.S. National Academies and served as past chairman of the International Society for Trenchless Technology as well as ASCE’s Pipelines Division Executive Committee. Ariaratnam was elected as a Distinguished Member of ASCE, its highest honor, in 2022.
Ariaratnam’s honors are well-deserved, says Timothy Becker, eminent scholar and programs chair of the Del E. Webb School of Construction.
“The awards recognize Sam’s global prominence, decades of teaching and research and his outstanding commitment to advancing the utility and pipeline industry,” Becker says. “Under Sam’s leadership, UESI is poised to reach new heights — building stronger relationships spanning academia, industry and public agencies and continuing to drive innovation in underground infrastructure.”
Leading the future of underground infrastructure
In his role as UESI president, Ariaratnam seeks to expand the organization’s impact, foster deeper engagement among members and ensure it remains the premier organization for uniting industry, academia and public agencies.
UESI provides professionals working in utilities, pipelines and surveying with opportunities to participate in technical activities, conferences and networking as well as develop internationally recognized standards.
During the next year, the institute plans to create more opportunities for students, early-career professionals and seasoned experts to connect, mentor and collaborate, Ariaratnam says. Under his leadership, he also saims for UESI to deepen collaborations with peer organizations, advance multidisciplinary initiatives and enhance the value it provides to members, he says.
In addition, the institute will showcase innovation, strengthen industry partnerships and expand scholarship opportunities for students and public sector leaders at its signature event, the 2026 Pipelines Conference in Detroit, where pipeline engineers and practitioners will share their experiences and mentor students from Aug. 1–5.
Ariaratnam says he’s also focused on increasing the number of civil and construction engineers in the workforce as many industry leaders near retirement.
“UESI advocates for students and younger members as we constantly promote building a future workforce,” he says.
One of the ways UESI supports the next generation is by providing scholarships to undergraduate civil and construction engineering students so they can attend the Pipelines Conference.
Mentoring students and strengthening the workforce
Guiding new construction engineers is close to Ariaratnam’s heart.
“My proudest contribution is definitely mentoring many former students at ASU and, previously, at the University of Alberta in Canada who are now leaders in their fields,” he says.
A powerful example of Ariaratnam’s mentorship in action is the inspiring career of Jim Geisbush, a senior civil reliability engineer who is responsible for maintenance of pipelines and tunnels at the Central Arizona Project, or CAP.
After meeting Ariaratnam at the 2012 Pipelines Conference, Geisbush began writing papers, giving presentations, volunteering and getting more involved with UESI. He was later elected to the Pipelines Division Executive Committee, where Ariaratnam was a member.
“Sam became a mentor to me while we were both on the committee,” says Geisbush, an ASCE member for more than 25 years who currently serves on the UESI Board of Governors. “He continued to be a mentor to me as I pursued my doctorate with him.”
Under Ariaratnam’s guidance, Geisbush earned his doctorate in civil engineering at ASU with an emphasis on construction engineering methods for large-diameter water pipeline maintenance.
“He cares about his students,” says Geisbush, who is also an ASCE Fellow and past chair of the UESI Pipelines Division. “He never spoon-fed us. He expected his students to work hard, think our own way and solve our own problems, but he was there to help guide us and give direction.”
Ram Pendyala, director of the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, says, “What has always impressed me about Sam is not only his technical expertise, but his unwavering dedication to serving the profession and mentoring the next generation.”
“His election as UESI president is a testament to the respect he has earned through years of generosity, leadership and stewardship of the field,” says Pendyala, a Fulton Schools professor of civil, environmental and sustainable engineering. “UESI will be in exceptional hands with Sam at the helm, and we couldn’t be prouder of his continued contributions to the field.”
