Tunneling or Tunnelling? Back to the basics on international trenchless vocabulary.

Abstract

Trenchless technologies have become an integral part of constructing pipelines and tunnels across the world. As technologies are developed, piloted and become standards of practice they are expanded into new and emerging areas for practical use. In many cases, the applications are lost in translation between regions and understanding the means and methods become increasingly important to understanding what is happening. This presentation will get “back to the basics” in understanding terminology used in different parts of the world, particularly in North America as the nomenclature can differ significantly between the United States and Canada. It will get down to the basic understanding of what constitutes “drilling” vs. “boring” vs. “jacking” vs. “tunneling… or tunnelling” in general. It will cover the basic differences in words with an overall understanding of how the international passion for trenchless technology speak universal language.