In modern construction and infrastructure maintenance, non-destructive digging (NDD) plays a crucial role. NDD is a precise approach to excavation that allows you to access underground utilities without exposing the surrounding area. Also known as hydro or vacuum truck excavation, non-destructive digging allows you to access underground water or sewer pipes, gas lines or telecommunications lines for repairs without the risk of damage.
Non-destructive digging works by using pressurised air or water to loosen the soil while a vacuum system extracts the debris. While NDD can also use radio waves, water and air are the most common elements utilised in the process. High-pressure water is an effective option for breaking up soil, after which the water then mixes into a slurry to be promptly removed in a truck-mounted tank. In areas where water use needs to be limited, compressed air makes for an alternative particularly suitable for dry or sensitive soil.
Non-destructive digging is safer for workers, poses less risk to utilities and offers a more sustainable approach.
But what are the practices that make it sustainable, and how do they differ from more traditional digging methods? If you’re interested in reducing your own business’s impact on the environment, here’s how non-destructive digging can help you achieve your goals.
Non-destructive digging is an advantageous approach in many ways. It’s cost-effective, requires only one machine and cuts down on road closures, making it perfect for densely populated areas. Because it cuts down on manual labour, it considerably reduces the risk of worker accidents and injuries. But NDD’s environmentally friendly approach really makes it stand out.
Some specific features of non-destructive digging that give it a greater sense of sustainability include:
NDD is an approach that minimises soil disturbance compared to traditional excavation with heavy-duty equipment like bulldozers. NDD ensures the soil structure and root systems around the worksite are left alone, shortening the work’s operation time and reducing its impact.
The large, noisy equipment involved in traditional digging can have detrimental effects both on human health and on surrounding wildlife habitats and ecosystems. Noise pollution can interfere with the mating, breeding, foraging and rearing of wildlife and has been linked to an increase in health risks like cardiovascular diseases. NDD methods generate significantly less noise, making them significantly more peaceful and safer for both surrounding humans and animals.
By replacing heavy machinery with high-grade vacuum technology, NDD reduces the carbon footprint involved in construction projects. It’s an approach that delivers lower greenhouse gas emissions, greater energy efficiency and reduced fuel consumption.
Vacuum excavation trucks are designed to quickly and efficiently remove all sorts of debris through a tube and store it in a tank. This makes for a cleaner worksite, which helps the land return to its natural state quicker after the work is over. Non-destructive digging is also frequently faster and more efficient than mechanical excavators, which reduces the amount of time that the work can potentially impact a given area.
Because NDD doesn’t damage underground infrastructure, it reduces the likelihood of having to venture back underground once a job is done to make repairs. This means a reduced risk of further disruption by dragging the work on the site out.
The debris collected during the process of NDD is typically a mixture of soil, water and organic matter. The make-up of this slurry can vary depending on the soil type and any contaminants, but much of it can be recycled and put to new use. Specialised facilities exist for recycling NDD waste, which can form new material to be used in future construction and infrastructure projects.
Excavation is the removal of soil, rocks and other debris from the ground. In the construction industry, excavation techniques are typically divided into two types: excavation by material and excavation by purpose. Excavation by material refers to the type of substance being excavated, while the purpose is the goal of the project. Here are some common forms of excavation and how NDD compares to them in terms of sustainability.
This type of excavation involves the removal of the earth’s topmost soil. This method clears away dirt and vegetation so that foundations can be laid and pipelines installed. Compared to topsoil excavation, NDD minimises disturbance to the soil and its surroundings.
Earth excavation is the removal of the soil layer beneath the topsoil in order to create a solid foundation for construction. While responsible practices can reduce the destruction caused by earth excavation, it’s still an inherently disruptive process compared to NDD.
This kind of excavation is regularly used to clear large areas. Also known as stripping excavation, it typically involves the removal of rocks, sand and both wide and shallow layers of topsoil as well as grading the land. Considering the nature of cut and fill excavation, it should come as no surprise that NDD’s approach of minimising soil disturbance is more sustainable.
In trench excavation, the length of the area being excavated exceeds the depth. This kind of excavation is typically used to lay foundations, install pipelines or bury service lines. Trench excavation uses traditional excavation methods and comes with a higher risk of damage than NDD, which is designed for a gentler and more targeted approach.
“Muck” refers to the soil and water that needs to be removed before excavation can take place. Due to the presence of water, muck excavation can be a lengthy process involving the use of equipment like excavators, loaders, dump trucks and muck bins. Muck excavation is effective but has some environmental downsides: high noise pollution, high waste disruption and potential for disrupting the underground infrastructure. These are all risks that can be greatly mitigated by using non-destructive digging.
There are some excavation techniques that NDD can’t fully replace, such as dredging and rock excavation. Yet, it’s a surprisingly versatile approach that can be employed in a large number of situations. As with all forms of excavation, safety is the main priority.
SSTC provides NDD services that are among the safest, most reliable forms of non-destructive digging Sydney has to offer. Part of our industrial services, SSTC’s non-destructive digging is safer not only for the environment and surrounding infrastructure but also for your employees.
Our non-destructive digging trucks were made by leading manufacturer Capellotto and use high-pressure water jets to safely excavate soil without damaging the surrounding infrastructure. A high-pressure hose can reach depths of up to 10 metres, while a high-pressure water pump breaks up the soil and debris to be extracted into a water tank.
The SSTC approach is one that prioritises safety above all, with effectiveness and efficiency not far behind. Our team is trained in the latest non-destructive digging techniques and procedures, go to great lengths to minimise the risks to the surrounding environment and always dispose safely of the vacuumed soil and debris.
On top of our stringent focus on safety, SSTC also has more than 25 years of combined experience and competitive rates. If you’re interested in finding out more, contact the SSTC team at 1300 007 782 or get a free quote.