What Does
Ground Improvement Mean?
Ground improvement is any method used to stabilize soil during a trenchless construction or rehabilitation project. During the tunneling process, soil can become unstable due to the effect of groundwater or the tunneling process itself, and this soil must be reinforced for safety and engineering reasons.
Shoring, jet-grouting and ground freezing are all viable methods used for ground improvement.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Ground Improvement
Ground settlement is a major challenge in trenchless projects due to the damage it causes to the environment as well as to the project itself. Excessive levels of groundwater during a trenchless tunnelling project may require a process called dewatering. This is the constant pumping out of water from an excavation site to prevent erosion of the soil around the project area and create a better/safer working environment.
Shoring is used to support excavation walls or exposed slopes by means of piles and lagging. Jet-grouting uses a grout mix to harden a column within the ground. Ground freezing is a temporary method to provide stability until the ground thaws.