Trenchless and minimum excavation techniques - literature review. Annex to Special Publication 147

Trenchless and minimum excavation (TME) technology covers a range of techniques for installing, replacing or renovating underground service conduits while minimising or eliminating excavation from the surface. The government has encouraged the development of TME techniques in response to growing concern at the damage caused by trenching to the road structure, including reduced design life. The social costs of trenching – traffic delays, diversions, loss of trade to shops and the environmental impact on residents and visitors – are increasingly considered unacceptable. Most urban areas in the UK were supplied with water sewerage and gas services during the Victorian era, and many of these services now urgently require reinforcement and rehabilitation. Similarly, the electricity and telecommunications networks need reinforcement and modernisation to meet increased demand. With this potential increase in workload, particularly in urban areas, it is important that alternative construction methods to trenching are considered and adopted where economical and feasible. The original version of this literature review was issued in February 1993. Part A has been updated to include conferences held up to the end of 1996 (No-dig conference papers and proceedings), Part B includes details from Underground magazine articles, Part C for No-dig International magazine and Part D includes details of other papers, articles and reports.