Analysis and comparison of open excavation techniques and no-dig technologies for installation and maintenance of underground pipelines

The expansion of urban and suburban centers as a result of population growth requires continuous adaptation of urban hydraulic systems, ranging from new construction to rehabilitation. Construction sites traditionally adopted for the implementation of these projects seems to have a significant impact on the surrounding community and the environment. Thus, starting from the identification of the consequences of construction sites and their quantification applied to some literature case studies as well as real project scenarios, the comparison between open-cut and trenchless technologies has been made. Regarding the impact produced on society and communities close to the area of intervention computed as a monetary consideration of an inconvenience suffered due to the presence of construction sites, it has emerged the serious error that is committed whenever the choice of implementation methodology is made based on of the convenience determined by the construction costs or " direct costs" since, when added to the indirect costs resulting from the "social impacts", the evidence of a greater competitiveness of No Dig technologies is about 20% higher. This benefit in the application of No Dig technologies comes from less, or in some cases, nonexistent, interference with urban mobility, local economies, from reducing the risk of workplace accidents, reducing noise nuisance and costs related to the reconstruction of demolished portions of road infrastructures. Although the greater benefit is particularly evident in a highly urbanized setting, is also present in suburban areas, through reduced CO2 emissions and thus greater environmental sustainability, with an average reduction of 60% of CO2 produced for the same intervention.