Project description
An automated drilling process for digitisation and energy network expansion
Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is a minimal-impact trenchless method used to lay underground cables under built-up or protected areas. It is therefore an important tool for expanding broadband and energy infrastructure. However, this is hindered by the shortage of skilled workers required to perform HDDs. The EU-funded Terra SmartHDD project aims to negate the need for experienced personnel by completely automating the HDD process using AI-based soil type and wear detection. This can be monitored by less experienced personnel while also reducing the risk of errors from 35 % to 5 %. The process will become faster, safer and more cost-effective, helping civil engineering companies expand their capacities, and accelerating digitisation and energy network expansion.
Objective
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is used whenever trenchless methods are required - to lay cables under built-up or protected areas, or to minimise infrastructure disruption. HDD is thus one of the most important tools for expanding broadband and energy infrastructure. The EU's Digital Agenda should provide all EU citizens access to at least 30Mbit/s Internet by 2020.
However, these targets will not be met by 2020, partly because capacities of civil engineering companies are insufficient. Despite a strong order situation, they are unable to increase capacities due to a shortage of skilled workers. For the execution of HDDs, experienced specialists are required to mix the drilling fluid essential for the drilling according to feeling. If they make mistakes, the equipment is not properly cooled, lubricated, and the drilling channel is not stabilized, causing damages of up to 45.000€.
As award-winning H&E Bohrtechnik GmbH, we are Germany's only full-service provider for HDD, market leader and one of the few in this industry to develop our own innovations for industry-specific problems. To solve the problem of skills shortage, we developed Terra Smart HDD, which was named Craft Project of the Year in 2018. The unit allows to completely automate the process, which was previously dependent on experienced skilled workers, using AI-based soil type and wear detection, so that not only less experienced personnel can be hired for monitoring, but the risk of errors is also reduced from 35% to 5%. This results in a faster, safer and more cost-effective process and will enable civil engineering companies to increase capacities and to boost digitisation and energy network expansion.
With Tracto-Technik and Ricona/Ditch Witch as distributors, we are thus addressing all civil engineering companies offering HDD services and target a market with a CAGR of 13.2%. With Terra Smart HDD, we expect an additional cumulative turnover of € 19.2 million and 27 new employees by 2023.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences internet
- engineering and technology civil engineering
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges
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H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
07646 STADTRODA
Germany
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.