URBAN DEVELOPMENT // PARTNER SOLUTIONS
MAKING THE MOST OF HORIZO IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS Australia’s rapidly increasing population is creating a huge demand for new and upgraded underground utilities, such as water and sewage pipelines, power cables and fibre optics, to be installed in sprawling urban environments. However, more obstacles and narrower job sites can pose a number of challenges for contractors. Getting the job done quickly, and with minimal noise and disruption to those living or working nearby is imperative. Equipment, and installation technique, play a key role in this, so contractors who use the right machines and processes place themselves in a winning position to secure contracts.
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raditionally, open cut methods have been used for underground utility installations, however, these are limited in urban environments. Utilities may need to be installed under existing infrastructure such as roads, rail corridors or buildings, or naturally occurring geographical features such as rivers, so open cut methods might prove challenging. While open cut methods are still widely used in many instances, there has been a significant shift toward trenchless methods like horizontal directional drilling when open cut methods cannot be used. Many contractors tend to specialise in a certain installation method based on the equipment in their fleet. While specialisation can be beneficial and allows them to become experts in a particular installation method, adding additional equipment can expand their service offerings, making them more competitive and helping their business grow.
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June 2020 // Issue 15
Selecting the right equipment is critical. To increase the chances of winning contracts, machines need to reduce impact on the community, get the job done quickly and be easy to use. Vermeer’s D10x15 S3 HDD rig – part of its latest S3 range – has been designed to do just this, ensuring contractors can meet the challenges of urban environments and get the most out of their machine.
A REDUCED FOOTPRINT A key challenge presented by urban environments is the amount of space available for personnel and equipment to work. Not only does community disturbance need to be considered, but equipment also needs to be able to fit into smaller job sites and move on different terrain. Having large, cumbersome equipment can therefore reduce the type of contracts that can be worked on. www.infrastructuremagazine.com.au
