Seventeen years ago saw the introduction of the New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA) that affected all utility work in the highway. Since then, legislation and procedures have continued to evolve, develop and increase in complexity to reflect political and customer expectation and demands. More recently the Traffic Management Act (TMA) has arrived with the associated latest code of practice changes washing over the whole industry in waves. The code demands ever increasing levels of accurate planning and site feedback, aimed at improving co-ordination and reducing the congestion effects of all works in the highway.

Two decades ago Trenchless Technology was virtually unknown in Europe and yet is now a well-established technology and virtually all utility clients and contractors are familiar with the techniques. While it has increased in sophistication, it is the improvements in control and accuracy, combined with spatial reference mapping of existing apparatus, that have given greater confidence in deployment.

Rehabilitation and innovation

The largest part of the market is probably the rehabilitation industry. The declining state of the utility infrastructure in much of the developed world has required large investment in infrastructure rehabilitation and upgrade. Due to the increasing density of urban life and, in particular the increasing density of urban traffic, it is conceivable that without Trenchless Technology much of this infrastructure improvement would not have been possible.

At the same time, a large portion of the future business growth of Trenchless Technology lies in the developing world where it is needed for the installation of new infrastructure due to the rapid urbanisation of the developing world’s cities.

This demand for technical solutions that can reduce works disruption for highway users and local residents encourages us to look forward. There has already been tremendous competition in the field of pipeline rehabilitation. As a result, there are numerous systems and materials that are employed for relining and replacing existing utility pipelines and ducts.

The new roller blade, which the TT Group exhibited in Moscow at the international No-Dig 2008 in June, is not exactly an everyday contractor’s tool. It is designed to be used for the renewal of potable water pipes and other gas and oil pipelines to be replaced using the pipe-bursting method. But it illustrates where systems are developing based on client need and expectation.

In the UK, TMA and NRSWA drive clients and contractors to explore ever greater use of faster techniques. Customer disruption and environmental impact are now everyday industry considerations when planning works.

In review

A recent water main relining scheme south of Birmingham illustrates what can be done with the right technique, careful planning, and co-ordination. Over three weeks were shaved off the programmed project, with nearly 1,800 metres of 300 mm diameter pipeline relined in just eight days. It was a straight run with no connections, but speed was critical in reducing traffic disruption.

Using conventional techniques, the disruption to traffic and local residents would have been too great. The chosen solution allowed an effective and environmental solution to a difficult project resulting in happy customers and travelling public, with satisfied clients and contractors, as well as significant direct savings.

Along with the political, environmental and cost drivers, there appears to be increasing expectation from the clients’ customers. They expect all utilities, as well as highway authorities, to avoid or reduce road space activity at all times.

The essential importance of accurate buried asset information in planning the use of trenchless systems, particularly in urban environments, combined with increased demand and usage of trenchless systems, has increased political and commercial pressures for this identified improvement in data capture and display/dissemination.

The increased political awareness of the need to reduce the congestion effects of road and street works has undoubtedly contributed to the government’s focus on any inhibitors to trenchless system usage. While we might all agree that the biggest cause of congestion is too much traffic on too few roads, this vital safety information requirement sharpens and strengthens the political drive, to getting government action, however slow. At the same time this links in with the research work being carried out to improve ground penetrating radar (GPR) and other techniques for avoiding unexpected obstacles in the carriageway. The National Underground Asset Group has initiated phase two of its long term project to improve underground asset information and its effective, timely dissemination.

As underground asset data moves forward an important change on the immediate horizon affects the sewerage industry, with the transfer of sewers from private to public ownership and responsibility. It is anticipated that this may double the length of publicly maintained sewerage assets. Critical within that change, in whatever final form, will be the importance of operative training and ability, and the recent EUS announcement of a national scheme to recognise a competent workforce.

Individuals will be assessed against a national occupational standard, which will allow companies to align their own in-house training schemes against the standard. The resulting register would allow customers such as water companies and commercial organisations such as facilities management companies, to readily identify a company with a competent workforce.

The development of trenchless installation techniques systems and training has only come part of the way along its life path. The future looks very interesting and very challenging.

Meanwhile, the UKSTT continues to meet these political and environmental challenges with active lobbying and participation on working parties, workshops, articles and seminars. At the bi-annual No-Dig Live exhibition this year, we hosted a breakfast seminar on the privatisation of sewerage to raise the profile of this change and increasing understanding of all party’s concerns and needs. The UKSTT also completed a successful No-Dig Road Show tour after exhibiting in Livingston, Belfast and Dublin.

All the events were well attended by local industry and the program collectively attracted more than 300 industry personnel.

The launch event, sponsored by Scottish Water, was held in Livingston and attended by a number of its own personnel, as well as local contractors and consulting engineers. Chris Toop provided an overview of Scottish Water’s infrastructure program and highlighted the importance of adopting Trenchless Technology to enhance the quality of engineering works, as well as improving customer satisfaction.

A range of technical papers were featured at each of the venues on topics including; electronic trial holes; keyhole technology and vacuum excavation; innovative jacking pipe products for oil refinery pipeline rehabilitation solutions; intelligent pipe bursting and close-fit PE lining technologies.

In addition, two presentations of local interest were included in the Belfast and Dublin programs. A presentation jointly by Dublin City Council and RPS Consulting Engineers on the Dublin Water Mains Rehabilitation Project highlighted how this major refurbishment project has achieved a significant reduction in water leakage. The second presentation covered the Belfast Sewer Tunnel Project, a major project to rehabilitate Belfast’s ageing sewer system as well as installing storm water management systems.

The exhibitions featured a total of 20 companies across the program and company representatives were kept busy during the breaks, discussing their wide range of products with delegates and visitors.

The future of Trenchless in the UK

Earlier in 2008 the UKSTT had organised undergraduate presentations at universities to ensure that undergraduate delegates were at least aware of some of the capabilities, options and systems to avoid open cut working for a wide range of works. The overriding theme was, use the website and think trenchless first.

The UKSTT continues to promote the dissemination of Trenchless Technology, the development of the industry and in particular the development of young engineers. To encourage excellence the UKSTT holds its annual awards dinner in April, where prizes are awarded for different types of Trenchless Technology projects, including renovation, new installation, small schemes and innovation. In addition there is a Young Engineer award that attracts a bursary of £2,000.