By Tristan Hooker
People have been spotting Civtec’s distinctive green and white vehicles all around the Waikato, with interesting pieces of machinery in tow.
If you live in Cambridge, you might have recently noticed a Civtec team in your town. They’ve been using their specialised underground directional drills and trained operators, to help with the installation of Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) cables.
Directional drilling is used to get the UFB cable from one point to another without the need to dig a trench, therefore causing minimal disturbance to the surface of the ground.
Jayden Grey is a Civtec team member and a qualified op
erator of Civtec’s directional drills. He’s been working in Cambridge, along with his two Civtec team mates, Siope and Brad, who each have a role to play in the process.
“While I’m drilling, I need a navigator to tell me exactly where to go,” explains Jayden. “It’s very important to avoid hitting any existing utilities or other obstacles that are under the ground.”
As Jayden directs the drill along a pre-determined path, his navigator, Brad, uses an electronic guidance device to pick up signals from a transmitter located at the drill head, to get the co-ordinates of the drill stem. He can then check Jayden is on the right path and indicate to him if he needs to steer around any obstacles.
During the process, drilling fluid is pumped through the drill pipe to the drill bit, to help soften and grind the earth to let the drill glide through. The drilling fluid also helps carry the cuttings back to the entrance of the hole. Finally, the pipe, through which the UFB cable will eventually go, is pulled back through the hole. The drilling fluid lubricates the hole and assists the pipe to be pulled through.
Civtec has four directional drills of varying sizes and trained, experienced operators who have an NZQA accredited qualification to operate them.
Civtec’s directional drilling services can be used for the installation of ducting for telecommunication, gas networks, electricity and water utilities, mains, house connections, drainage, sewerage and storm water.
If you see the Civtec team working around Cambridge, stop and watch the process – but be sure to obey the signs and keep a safe distance. And be excited that Ultra-Fast Broadband has arrived in your area.