Hydrovac excavation is an excavation process which uses water pressure and a vacuum system. Water is pressurized and injected into the ground to liquefy the soil cover. The resulting slurry is simultaneously vacuumed from the excavation through a large vacuum hose into a debris tank. It is referred to as soft excavation and is a safe non-destructive method of excavating used in any area where there is a risk of underground utilities and pipelines. This method replaces the safety issues associated with using such equipment as backhoes or hand digging.
Directional boring, commonly called horizontal directional drilling or HDD, is a steerable trenchless method of installing underground pipes, conduits and cables in a shallow arc along a prescribed bore path by using a surface-launched drilling rig, with minimal impact on the surrounding area. Directional boring is used when trenching or excavating is not practical. It is suitable for a variety of soil conditions and jobs including road, landscape and river crossings. Directional boring involves boring or drilling laterally or at an angle rather than straight down.