Tracking and steering systems in trenchless construction

Trenchless technology is a rapidly growing sector of the construction market in the United States. Trenchless technology includes all methods of installing, rehabilitating, and repairing underground utilities without utilizing an open-cut trench. Trenchless applications require proper equipment, materials, and experience to achieve the desired results. The desired results mean a usable hole, on target, with a minimum of effort. This necessitates the use of effective instrumentation to monitor the progress of the installation at various stages. This paper describes in brief the most common methods to track and steer a pipe as it is being installed in the ground using trenchless methods. It also identifies the applicability of the methods to be used in conjunction with the different trenchless techniques.