The International Society for Trenchless Technology

Why Trenchless? ('No-Dig')

Trenchless Technology involves the installation, replacement or renewal of underground utilities with minimum excavation and surface disruption. Several construction techniques and methods qualify as trenchless. See Trenchless Guidelines for details. Trenchless technologies are and have been used successfully for all underground utilities from, water, sewer, gas, and industrial pipelines to electrical conduit and fiber optics. Trenchless Technologies are a particularly attractive construction options in urbanized area with heavy vehicular and pedestrian traffic and numerous existing underground utilities. Trenchless is an attractive option for crossing roadways, and other transportation corridors, and rivers and waterways. Trenchless also can be used to install, rehab or replace utilities located in environmentally sensitive areas and locations where surface access may be restricted due to the existence of structures or vegetation.   Often, trenchless techniques are the only viable construction option. Trenchless techniques are also often the least costly option as well as the least disruptive. Here is a typical city junction. Note how the traffic is flowing normally. But look at the unseen 'traffic', water, waste water, gas, electricity and telecommunication which are also using the junction. Now dig it up to work on this other traffic! Every day thousands of kilometres of roads are blocked by road works, millions of litres of fuel are wasted, air is polluted, accidents occur, buildings are damaged and people suffer. But wait just a second. Look again. Did you notice those covers in the road? If there are access points to the underground networks why not use them? Here is same repair being undertaken using Trenchless Technology. No problem for the road traffic! No problem for the city people! So why 'dig' when there is No-Dig?