Pipelines 2015, the annual meeting of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) Pipelines Division, is the premier technical conference for professionals engaged in pipeline planning, design, construction, maintenance and repair. But Pipelines 2015 goes beyond the world-class presentations by offering a slate of networking, educational and fun events.

The event is being held Aug. 23-26 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel in the famous Inner Harbor.

Pipelines 2015 officially kicks off on Monday, Aug. 24 with the Plenary Breakfast that features a welcome address by ASCE President Dr. Robert Stevens and the Keynote Presentation by DC Water General Manager George Hawkins.

The Tuesday luncheon will feature political analyst Charles Cook, who offers an insightful and humorous look at politics and the upcoming election season. Also at the luncheon, the Stephen D. Bechtel Pipeline Engineering Award will be presented to Bob Card of Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, and the Pipeline Division Award of Excellence will be presented to Randy Hill of RCH Engineering. The Closing Keynote on Wednesday will feature Ed Croteau, business excellence specialist for Black & Veatch, who will address Failure Modes & Effects Analysis (FMEA) as it relates to innovation.

There will be plenty of networking opportunities during receptions, dinner, breaks and exhibit hours. Tuesday's special event will be an exciting evening cruise aboard the Spirit of Baltimore, featuring dinner, cocktails and music with spectacular views of the harbor as a backdrop. On Wednesday afternoon — after the conference adjourns — plan to participate in the golf tournament, to be held at the Mountain Branch, or a technical tour to the Structural Technologies facility.

Baltimore's Inner Harbor is within easy walking distance to museums, restaurants, parks and other attractions including the USS Constellation, Fort McHenry (which, during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814, served as the inspiration for Francis Scott Key’s “Star-Spangled Banner”), National Aquarium, Little Italy, Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum, B&O Railroad Museum, Lexington Market and Edgar Allen Poe’s grave at Westminster Hall.

For more information about the conference, visit www.pipelinesconference.org.

Photo credit: "Baltimore Inner Harbor (panoramic)" by Jawed Karim is licensed under CC BY 2.0.