Assessing the carbon cost of utility installation via multi-utility tunnels (MUTs)

A. Hojjati*, D. V.L. Hunt, C. D.F. Rogers

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

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Abstract

Progressive urbanization and the concomitant requirement to develop new cities fuels the need for more sub-surface utility infrastructure. Conventional methods of utility placement, i.e. open-cut trenching techniques, are expensive in terms of their many social, environmental, and indirect economic costs. This necessitates consideration of alternative construction methods such as Multi-Utility Tunnels (MUTs). However, a lack of quantification of their short-term and long-term costs and impacts (i.e. a comprehensive understanding of all the consequences of moving to MUTs) inhibits uptake. Carbon accounting, a globally important consideration, is increasingly adopted within the construction industry and could be used as a convincing argument for why alternatives such as MUTs might be a preferred method of utility placement in cities that are advancing global sustainability agendas. This paper compares carbon cost estimations of open-cut excavations with flush-fitting MUTs. The results show that although flush-fitting MUTs have much greater carbon footprints in the short-term compared to open-cut installation methods, they would save a considerable amount of carbon in the long-term (over their lifetime) by eliminating the need for numerous excavation and reinstatement (E&R) procedures, which are inevitable for repair and maintenance of buried utility services. The research reveals the tipping points in favour of flush-fitting MUTs, in terms of carbon saved, when repetitive E&R works are eradicated, to support their adoption.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering Annual Conference 2021
Subtitle of host publicationCSCE21 Construction Track Volume 1
EditorsScott Walbridge, Mazdak Nik-Bakht, Kelvin Tsun Ng, Manas Shome, M. Shahria Alam, Ashraf el Damatty, Gordon Lovegrove
PublisherSpringer
Pages149-162
Number of pages14
Volume1
Edition1
ISBN (Electronic)9789811910296
ISBN (Print)9789811910289
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 May 2022
EventAnnual Conference of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering, CSCE 2021 - Virtual, Online
Duration: 26 May 202129 May 2021

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Civil Engineering
Volume251
ISSN (Print)2366-2557
ISSN (Electronic)2366-2565

Conference

ConferenceAnnual Conference of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering, CSCE 2021
CityVirtual, Online
Period26/05/2129/05/21

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council under grant numbers EP/F065965 (Mapping The Underworld), EP/K021699 (Assessing The Underworld), and EP/P013635 (UKCRIC National Buried Infrastructure Facility).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, Canadian Society for Civil Engineering.

Keywords

  • Sustainability
  • Carbon costs
  • Underground infrastructure
  • MUTs

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering

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