Front matter for Direct Steerable Pipe Thrusting

Pipeline Design for Installation by Horizontal Directional Drilling, Second Edition, edited by Eric R. Skonberg and Tennyson M. Muindi (ASCE/Pipelines Division 2014). MOP 108 addresses the design of major pipeline or duct segments to be installed by horizontal directional drilling (HDD) (ISBN 978-0-7844-1350-0).

Pipe Ramming, Second Edition, by the Pipe Ramming Task Force of the Trenchless Installation of Pipelines (TIP) Committee; edited by Glenn M. Boyce (ASCE/UESI 2020). MOP 115 presents the latest and best practices for the design and construction of road and railroad crossings using pipe ramming technologies (ISBN 978-0-7844-1560-3).

Pilot Tube and Other Guided Boring Methods, by the Task Committee on Pilot Tube and Other Guided Boring Methods (ASCE/UESI 2017). MOP 133 provides a detailed description of the pilot tube and guided boring methods with chapters on project planning, site and geotechnical assessment, shaft design, pipe characteristics and design, contract documents, and construction aspects (ISBN 978-0-7844-1474-3).

Standard Design and Construction Guidelines for Microtunneling, Standard ASCE/CI 36-15. This standard covers the planning, design, materials, and construction for this trenchless method of installing pipelines (ISBN 978-0-7844-1363-0).

Horizontal Auger Boring Projects, by the Horizontal Auger Boring Task Force (ASCE/UESI 2017). MOP 106 covers the horizontal auger boring method, providing the instructions for a safe, productive, and efficient installation of pipelines for road crossings (ISBN 978-0-7844-1458-3).

(As developed by the ASCE Technical Procedures Committee, July 1930, and revised March 1935, February 1962, and April 1982)

A manual or report in this series consists of an orderly presentation of facts on a particular subject, supplemented by an analysis of limitations and applications of these facts. It contains information useful to the average engineer in his or her everyday work, rather than findings that may be useful only occasionally or rarely. It is not in any sense a “standard,” however, nor is it so elementary or so conclusive as to provide a “rule of thumb” for nonengineers.

Furthermore, material in this series, in distinction from a paper (which expresses only one person's observations or opinions), is the work of a committee or group selected to assemble and express information on a specific topic. As often as practicable, the committee is under the direction of one or more of the Technical Divisions and Councils, and the product evolved has been subjected to review by the Executive Committee of the Division or Council. As a step in the process of this review, proposed manuscripts are often brought before the members of the Technical Divisions and Councils for comment, which may serve as the basis for improvement. When published, each manual shows the names of the committees by which it was compiled and indicates clearly the several processes through which it has passed in review, so that its merit may be definitely understood.

In February 1962 (and revised in April 1982), the Board of Direction voted to establish a series titled, “Manuals and Reports on Engineering Practice” to include the manuals published and authorized to date, future Manuals of Professional Practice, and Reports on Engineering Practice. All such manual or report material of the Society would have been refereed in a manner approved by the Board Committee on Publications and would be bound, with applicable discussion, in books similar to past manuals. Numbering would be consecutive and would be a continuation of present manual numbers. In some cases of joint committee reports, bypassing of journal publications may be authorized.

This manual of practice was prepared by the Task Committee on Direct Steerable Pipe Thrusting (DSPT) of the ASCE Committee on Trenchless Installation of Pipelines (TIPS), as part of the Utility Engineering & Surveying Institute (UESI). The manual describes the current Direct Steerable Pipe Thrusting method used by engineers and construction professionals in designing and installing pipelines using the DSPT method.

This manual of practice has been created by a group of engineers, contractors, equipment manufacturers, pipeline owners, and academics fully knowledgeable of the method and its use. This manual considers many of the advances that have occurred since the initial development of the technology. However, the task committee acknowledges that DSPT continues to evolve and contractor and equipment capabilities continue to develop.

Sections of this manual of practice have been written assuming that the reader may be unfamiliar with DSPT methodology. No document can encompass all issues on a particular DSPT project. Improvements in best practices and technology continue to advance so that future use of this manual on any project must consider not only the specific characteristics of the particular project but also further improvements in best practices and technology.

The stakeholders of a pipeline trenchless project are encouraged to consider all trenchless methods before concluding that the DSPT method is the most suitable construction method available. Manuals and reports on engineering practice have been written by ASCE and are available for different construction methods. If the engineer responsible for the pipeline project does not have a strong background in trenchless design, an engineering firm that specializes in trenchless designs should be consulted.

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Utility Engineering & Surveying Institute (UESI) acknowledge the work of the Task Committee on Direct Steerable Pipe Thrusting. This group comprises individuals from many backgrounds, including design and consulting engineering, the construction industry, equipment manufacturing, pipeline owners, and academia.