Project Description
This book is the brainchild of the lead author (Dr. Ong), who subsequently invited his peers, ex-PhD students and current PhD students to collaborate and contribute to writing a geotechnically-advanced book that encompasses the authors’ and contributors’ research and practical experiences gained principally on sustainable & innovative construction of green infrastructure via microtunneling or tunneling using the innovative pipe jacking method in challenging and problematic ground conditions.
The book is written in such a way that it does not flow like a conventional beginners’ textbook, nor is it a collection of jargon-heavy journal papers but somewhat in between. Concepts are lightly laid out at first before leading the readers to deep-dive into unconventional complexity in performing pipe jacking works in perhaps some of the region’s most challenging geology involving very soft clays, organic soils, karst, and highly weathered soft rocks with practical case studies compiled from Europe, East & Southeast Asia and Down Under (Australia).
As such, this book briefly covers the conventional norms of pipe jacking but focuses in detail the recent innovations and great challenges faced in executing pipe jacking works as THE sustainable trenchless solution to the urbanisation process experienced worldwide.
Project Personnel and Beneficiaries
Living in the 21st century means designing, constructing, operating, and decommissioning infrastructure in ways that are good for planet and people. Over the last decade, research and discussion of this imperative has evolved from calls to ‘green the built environment’, through to calls for ‘sustainable design and construction’, and more recently ‘low carbon design and construction’ for sustainable built environment.
Therefore, this book is expected to transfer that very knowledge gained by the authors via their international experiences to construction industry professionals, government stakeholders and community members who are motivated to achieve green, resilient infrastructure of tomorrow, today.
Outcomes to Date
Outcomes:
1) Since March 2022 until the time of writing (20 Oct 2022) , this book has registered at least 820 copies sold online.
2) Testimony; Pioneer in Trenchless Technology, Professor Emeritus Raymond Sterling, Louisiana Tech University: “This book consolidates and explains various recent research findings and practice improvements in the field. The compilation of knowledge can assist in the faster spread of innovations and improved performance and reliability in pipe jacking and underground infrastructure”.
3) Testimony; Vice Chairman, International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT) & Vice President, International Society of Soil Mechanics & Geotechnical Engineering, Prof. Keh-Jian Shou: “As the demands of sustainability, including environment friendliness and reduction in CO2 emission increase, trenchless technologies now provide a better option for the installation of underground infrastructure. This book is timely”.
Project Significance
As world leaders gather more frequently to determine strategies for urgent and substantial greenhouse gas emission reductions, the clear imperative is to ‘decarbonise the built environment’ which includes associated infrastructure, from its creation to its operation and decommissioning. The decarbonising agenda of achieving ‘low carbon’ through to ‘zero carbon’ outcomes is central to the call for decoupling (i.e., disconnecting) environmental and social impacts from economic growth as we continue to build for increasing populations around the planet. Closely connected with this imperative is the call for ‘circular economy’ practices that enable economic growth (jobs) through the transition to a decarbonised way of life.
In particular Goals 9 and 11 directly appeals to the built environment sector and the broader communities to, ‘build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation’. The target for achieving this is ‘carbon dioxide (CO2) emission per unit of value added’. For tunneling, in plain-speak these SDG directives are calling for reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions it takes to construct and operate infrastructure – in this case tunnels.
Related Link
External link to https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-16-9372-4