Method for Assessing Damage Induced in Utilities Due to Ground Movements from Major Infrastructure Projects-Paper

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The paper presents a semi-automated method for assessing damage to buried utilities caused by ground movements from major infrastructure projects. Because large projects involve many assets, utility owners, and assessment iterations, the method links Oasys Pdisp and Xdisp with GIS databases and FME data-processing tools to reduce manual work and improve consistency.<br /><br />Ground movements are estimated for successive construction stages, including demolition and loading changes, retaining-wall installation and excavation, and tunnelling. Pdisp uses Boussinesq-based calculations for loading and unloading; Xdisp models excavation and tunnel-induced movements. Utility strains, joint rotations, and pullout are assessed using a methodology based on the assumption that pipes follow ground movement, with reduction factors applied where appropriate. Welded pipes are treated as continuous, while jointed-pipe assessments consider strain concentrations and pullout at joints.<br /><br />The assessment proceeds in three phases. Phase 1 screens assets using predicted settlement and ground slope, removing utilities outside the zone of influence or judged flexible. Phase 2 calculates potential impacts on the remaining buried assets. Phase 3 revisits assumptions, applies more realistic parameters, or uses methods such as finite-element analysis to account for soil–structure interaction. Where risks remain high, mitigation is considered, including its potential to cause additional ground movement.<br /><br />GIS asset information—including location, material, dimensions, and function—is used to set assessment criteria and automate data exchange. Results can be returned to GIS as settlement maps, asset-level pass/fail classifications, and plots of displacement and strain along utilities.<br /><br />The authors estimate that this workflow can reduce computing time by up to 60% compared with standard methods, depending on project size. Automation also limits data-entry errors and omissions, and makes it practical to assess alternative construction scenarios across the multiple iterations typical of major projects.

Keywords

buried utilities

ground movements

damage assessment

Pdisp

Xdisp

GIS databases

FME

utility strains

tunnelling

semi-automated workflow