Pivoting between Different Trenchless Rehabilitation Solutions due to Differing Site Conditions

Trenchless technologies are an innovative, cost-effective method to restore our aging infrastructure. Each trenchless method has a different technical envelope and tolerates differing site constraints to be installed properly. These site constraints include pipe bends, topography, valves, and other connections to the pipeline. Given these features, each trenchless technology will require varying levels of civil support to complete the project. Despite the innovation that trenchless solutions bring to pipeline projects, there is still a level of risk from what can be discovered in the field based on the accuracy of as-built information, current GIS data, and other historical records. Many times, these “differing site conditions” can be mitigated using the chosen trenchless technology’s adaptability for field changes, but sometimes, there is a more drastic change needed. In these cases, pivoting to a different, yet innovative and cost-effective trenchless solution, is a better fit for the project goals.