Role of Trenchless Technology in Growth of
Automatic Underground Transportation Systems
University of Missouri–Columbia, U.S.A.
An automatic underground transportation
system includes slurry pipelines, pneumatic pipelines and capsule pipelines.
Slurry pipelines and pneumatic pipelines have been used extensively in the past
and now are being increasingly used. Recent advancement in hydraulic capsule
pipeline (HCP) has made it close to commercial use. Trenchless technology
methods include all the methods of pipeline installation and renewal with
minimum or no disruption of surface and subsurface, and therefore, are crucial
for construction and growth of new automated underground transportation systems
in future. The potential trenchless technology methods include, horizontal
directional drilling (HDD), auger boring (AB), pipe ramming (PR), and
microtunneling (MT). These methods have inherent advantages of trenchless
technology which includes minimizing the
need to disturb existing environment, traffic, or congested working areas. They
also reduce the need for new routing and require less exposed working areas,
therefore, are safer for both workers and the general public. These methods can
also be used for obstacle crossing, where regular open-cut methods are not
suitable or cost-effective. The scope of this paper includes an overview of
capabilities and limitations of above trenchless methods, and their potential
and specific applications for construction of automated underground
transportation systems. The objective of this paper is to quantify the benefits
of these methods and describe their importance for the growth of such
transportation systems.