Trenchless drilling or horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is a method used in trenchless technology, in which underground utilities like cables, pipes and so on, are installed with a greater accuracy along a predetermined path using a highly specialized trenching machine. This causes a minimal destruction as it is done without unearthing the ground surface. The traditional way of digging to install underground utilities known as an open cut is far more destructive compared with this method. Most civil construction companies now see it as a better alternative for repairing, maintaining and installing underground utilities.
HDD is also utilized by companies that are into any of these: electricity, water supply, petroleum gas, fiber optics coverage, broadcast communications, coal, oil, and so on. It is better because it is not costly, you don’t need a large number of workers and you don’t need to totally close the road while the drilling work is going on. And aside from all the positive sides of trenchless drilling already mentioned, it has some advantages in the natural ecosystem.
Six of These Are:
1. It Minimizes Noise Pollution within the Eco-System
Unlike the traditional way of digging that makes noise as a result of the trenching machine normally used for it, HDD makes little noise as such lousy machine is not used in this case.
2. It does not lead to Landslides
When the open cut method is used, it has the tendency of causing landslides or mudslides, which is the negative effect of loosening the soil around it. With HDD, excavation is done below the ground and the only hole there is the one through which unwanted particles come out.
3. It does not kill Wildlife or Organisms in the Soil
Due to the fact that excavation done in trenchless technology is relatively not much, small animals and other insects present in the soil won’t be killed, thereby maintaining the habitat of the species in that location.
4. It does not cause much Air Pollution
Similar to what is obtainable in noise pollution, the limited use of power tools during trenchless drilling means that less debris and dust is thrown into the atmosphere, unlike the traditional digging that seriously pollutes the atmosphere with dust. Trenchless technology has a way of containing the dust during directional bore drilling below the ground at the tunnel face or within the slurry.
5. It Reduces Carbon Footprint
Trenchless drilling is safer in the environment compared with the open cut always come with a steep climb in carbon emission. And some tools can be used to calculate and quantify this reduction in carbon emission during trenchless pipe laying compared to the traditional method.
6. It Results in Less Soil Contamination
Due to the fact that horizontal directional drilling (HDD) does not push soil to the surface but rather to the side, the probability of the soil above getting contaminated during directional drilling is very low. Also, contaminated soil cannot permeate the pipes because of the way they are arranged and they are usually connected very long to preserve integrity. All these are not possible with the traditional method as the probability of having the soil contaminated is very high.
