Modeling of an obstacle detection sensor for horizontal directional drilling (HDD) operations

Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is a commonly used construction method for the installation of underground pipelines, conduits and cables in urban areas and across obstacles such as rivers, railways and highways. A key concern in using the HDD method is the risk of hitting existing buried utilities during the pilot boring operation, which could potentially result in significant economic losses, disruption of services and injuries and/or loss of life. The Differential Impedance Obstacle Detection (DIOD) is a “look-ahead” sensory system, developed for the purpose of detecting metallic and thermoplastic pipes in the path of the boring head. The DIOD sensor was numerically simulated, and the model was validated by comparing its predictions with experimental measurements performed on a physical prototype in a controlled environment. Following validation of the model, a parametric study was undertaken to predict the performance of the DIOD under various scenarios that could be encountered in practice.