Evaluation of Trenchless Technology Methods for Municipal Infrastructure System
Publication: Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Volume 13, Issue 2
Abstract
The deterioration of municipal underground infrastructure systems and a growing demand for utility services have increased the necessity for more efficient installation, inspection, repair, rehabilitation, and replacement of underground utilities. With conventional open-cut construction methods, direct costs are greatly increased by the need to restore ground surfaces such as sidewalks, pavement, landscaping, and brick paving. Furthermore, taking social and environmental factors into account, open-cut methods have adverse impacts on the community, business, and commuters due to undesirable pollution and traffic disruptions. Trenchless technologies that are used to repair, upgrade, replace, or install underground infrastructure systems with minimum surface disruption offer a viable alternative to existing open-cut methods. The objective of this paper is to describe a methodology for quantitatively assessing and comparing direct, social, and environmental costs associated with municipal underground pipeline construction. It is suggested that decision makers consider combining these costs with direct capital costs so that the best alternative is selected, which in certain cases can make trenchless technology the most economical alternative. Moreover, productivity, workers’ safety, and structural issues have shown that trenchless technology is a more efficient method for underground infrastructure systems.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The writers wish to thank Mrs. Amy J. Story, engineer, Borough of State College, Pennsylvania, for providing data for conducting this research. The contents of this paper reflect the views of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the State College municipality.
References
Ariaratnam, S. T., Lueke, J. S., and Allouche, E. N. (1999). “Utilization of trenchless construction methods by Canadian municipalities.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 125(2), 76–86.
ERsys Development Team. (2000). “Median household income.” Synerges Technologies, Inc., Austin, Texas, ⟨http://www.ersys.com/usa/42/4273808/income.htm⟩.
Everett, J. G., and Frank, P. B., Jr. (1996). “Costs of accidents and injuries to the construction industry.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 122(2), 158–164.
Feitelson, E., Hurd, R., and Mudge, R. (1996). “The impact of airport noise on willingness to pay for residences.” Transportation Research Record. Part D, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 1(1), 1–14.
Glacier National Park. (2001). 2001 study of business—Supplement to socioeconomic study, Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research, Missoula, Mont.
Iseley, T., and Ratliff, A. (2001). Digital imaging for charactering pipeline defects, Blackhawk-PAS, Greer, S.C.
Kramer, S. R., McDonald, W. J., and Thomson, J. C. (1992). An introduction to trenchless technology, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1–35.
Lueke, J. S., and Ariaratnam, S. T. (2001). “Rehabilitation of underground infrastructure utilizing trenchless pipe replacement.” Pract. Period. Struct. Des. Constr., 6(1), 25–34.
Maula, H. (2002). “Helsinki starts to use SSET technology as a first city in Europe for sewer inspection.” Technical Research Centre of Finland, Finland.
McGrath, T. J. (1998). “Pipe-soil interactions during backfill placement.” Dept. of Civil and Engineering, Univ. of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Mass.
McKim, R. A. (1997). “Selection method for trenchless technologies.” J. Infrastruct. Syst., 3(3), 119–125.
MK Construction (MK). (2004). “Pipe bursting.” Jacked pipelines, ⟨http://www.jackpipe.co.za/pipebursting.aspx⟩.
Myers, M. B., Stickrod, T. W., Abraham, D. M., and Iseley, T. (1999). “Microtunneling technology for conduit construction.” Pract. Period. Struct. Des. Constr., 4(2), 56–63.
Najafi, M. (1998). “What is new in trenchless pipeline renewal?” Utility Contractor, 22, 20–23.
Najafi, M. (2005). Trenchless technology, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1–21.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). (1995). “Preventing deaths and injuries from excavation cave-ins.” NIOSH Alert Publication No. 85-40, Washington, D.C.
RSMeans. (2001). “Building construction cost data.” Kingston, Mass.
Tighe, S., Lee, T., McKim, R., and Haas, R. (1999). “Traffic delay cost savings associated with trenchless technology.” J. Infrastruct. Syst., 5(2), 45–51.
Ueki, M., Hass, C. T., and Seo, J. (1999). “Decision tool for microtunneling method selection.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 125(2), 123–131.
Young, O. C., and Trott, J. J. (1984). Buried rigid pipes: Structure design of pipelines, Elsevier, New York, 23–28.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Nov 23, 2004
Accepted: Jul 10, 2006
Published online: Jun 1, 2007
Published in print: Jun 2007
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.