Integrated Tracking and Guidance (I-TAG) System for Trenchless Utility Relocation

Trenchless excavation methods, such as horizontal directional drilling (HDD) operations, offer the potential for significant cost savings on many utility relocation projects; however, these methods require extremely accurate drill head navigation in addition to precise knowledge of existing utility location in order to ensure boring operations do not interfere with existing pipelines or conduits. Our approach creates virtual 3D as-builts of subsurface utilities in the proposed boring area from subsurface utility imaging models derived from geophysical and non-destructive testing (NDT) sensor data. The virtual as-builts combined with a high resolution, low frequency electromagnetic drill head tracking system will produce an integrated tracking and utility avoidance solution for HDD operations. This approach will provide automated guidance for such operations to enable accurate and safe navigation of the drill head through subsurface regions containing existing utilities.