Comparison of Pneumatic Piercing in Relation to Radio-Guided Drilling on a Practical Example

The construction and modernisation of infrastructure represent a critical condition for the smooth running of social processes and comprehensive social development. Continuous modernisation of contemporary construction methods is therefore an important priority, driven by demand in the highly competitive construction industry market. The results illustrated the advantages of radio-guided drilling in cases of more complex projects. They found that the choice of the most optimal technology is highly dependent on the specific case of drilling and that universal and generally applicable guidelines cannot be followed when planning projects.

Problem

The construction and modernisation of infrastructure represent a critical condition for the smooth running of social processes and comprehensive social development.

Solution and Method

Continuous modernisation of contemporary construction methods is therefore an important priority, driven by demand in the highly competitive construction industry market. More complex modern methods often appear less economical at first glance, but in certain cases in practice they prove to be the only possible method of implementation or, despite initially higher costs, a more economical alternative. The purpose of the diploma thesis was to compare pneumatic piercing in relation to radio-guided drilling on a practical example from various perspectives.

Both methods are technologies that enable the construction of infrastructure without major interventions in the environment, as the installation of infrastructure is carried out underground using drilling tools and the pulling in of infrastructure elements. Radio-guided drilling enables primarily horizontal and vertically curved drilling, which reduces the need for excavation of construction pits and allows the drilling path to be directed around potential natural or artificial obstacles. With radio-guided drilling, infrastructure elements can thus be placed in soil with natural obstacles that intersect the straight path of the drill hole, and also within already existing other infrastructure elements.

For the purpose of comparing both methods, a comparative analysis of the alternative technologies was carried out from the perspective of procedures and equipment, as well as advantages and disadvantages in the selected case. A case study of drilling for the purpose of constructing a water supply system under a river was conducted, in which the costs and implementation times for both alternative methods were calculated for the specific case of drilling.

Results

The results illustrated the advantages of radio-guided drilling in cases of more complex projects. They found that the choice of the most optimal technology is highly dependent on the specific case of drilling and that universal and generally applicable guidelines cannot be followed when planning projects. Although pneumatic piercing is more affordable in itself, the use of this technology in larger and complex projects may not be economically justified.

For projects that require greater drilling capacities, it is more economical to use the more expensive technology, as it does not require the implementation of additional extensive construction works and requires less time. The review of technologies also shows that radio guidance can be used to guide various tools and that drilling capacity depends on the drilling technology used, not on the radio guidance technology.