HICCUP: Hardening Infrastructure through Cost-Effective Coastal Undergrounding Projects

Arcbyt is integrating the Jet Boring method into a 6-tool trenchless platform that installs utilities in all geologies. Arcbyt developed an automated, economic trenchless platform that combines 5 trenchless machines that accomplishes pilot boring, auger boring, pilot pullback, pipe bursting, and ADB. The platform allows the machine to adapt to a variety of geologies where in the past if unexpected were encountered, the machine had to be removed and the project was stalled for days or abandoned. The proposed 6th multi-tool integration, Jet Boring, creates the unique ability to underground utilities in previously unboreable heterogenous and hard rock ground types, including soft soils and hard rock due to the 2 novel methods: ADB and Jet Boring. Arcbyt is the first robotics company solely focused on the economical automation of trenchless infrastructure in the most difficult geologies and installation of a variety of utility assets in bay mud, silty clay, hard and/or abrasive rock, tar, sand, and high-water tables. Conventional tunneling struggles in high-strength, high-abrasivity solid rock and waterlogged soils, bay mud, tar, silty clay, high water tables and sand. Where traditional boring methods are slow, costly and ineffective in the above difficult geologies, Arcbytĺs methods are economical, versatile, and automated. The worldĺs coastline can be broadly divided into two groups of challenging geologies for undergrounding: low, soft ground such as the US East Coast and Puerto Rico; and hard, rocky shoreline as that found in the US West Coast and the Hawaiian Islands. Both types of ground present unique challenges to utility tunneling projects. Coastlines such as the Mississippi Embayment, Florida, and Atlantic Seaboard tend to be very low-strength and inundated by groundwater. The challenge for tunneling projects is in ground support and water control. These coastlines are at extreme risk of hurricanes, floods, and storm surge. Hard rock coastline such as in California or Hawaii is expensive and difficult from a geological perspective due to its high strength and high abrasivity. Conventional tunneling projects are extremely costly and tool wear is rapid. These coastlines are at high risk from extreme weather events. The Air Force must ensure Continuity of Operations for essential functions by reinforcing infrastructure on coastal and island AFB bases in order to mitigate extreme weather events. Relocating or constructing assets underground accomplishes this goal. á