Underground cabling: Ginger HPC as an advocate for soil and construction companies

The goal of soil science-based construction supervision is the complete reclamation of the land used, so that it appears as if no construction work had taken place. This goes hand in hand with preventing harmful changes to the soil. Losses in crop yield for landowners can be significantly reduced through construction methods that minimize soil disturbance.

Of course, this involves not only the appearance of the mostly agricultural land after construction is complete, but also the proper restoration of soil functions as grassland or cropland, as well as the creation of an optimal environment for the cable route. During construction, strict separation of soil types is therefore ensured. In addition, the paths used by construction machinery are specifically protected against compaction damage.

To lay the underground cables, the topsoil is first carefully removed and deposited in a pile running parallel to the cable trench, to the side of the construction site. The underlying subsoil layers are then excavated separately and also stored to the side, but in separate piles. In the next step, the welded-together conduit pipes are laid along the cable trench, and the trench is backfilled while maintaining the original sequence and thickness of the soil layers. During backfilling, the soil is screened using a screening machine to remove large stones that could have damaged the conduit pipes (Fig. 2).

After the cable trench has been backfilled, the power cables are unrolled from a cable drum and pulled into the conduit. The ends of the custom-cut cables are joined in a joint pit (Fig. 3), creating an uninterrupted power line.

Sometimes, as a soil science construction supervisor, one must stand in the way of the schedule and make decisions to protect the soil that lead to the displeasure of the construction companies. Nevertheless, we remain steadfast and defend the soil, because every construction project carries the risk of harmful soil changes, such as harmful compaction.

During longer construction projects, such as the one in Ganderkesee, a variety of weather conditions—both favorable and unfavorable—are encountered over the course of the project. To preserve natural soil functions despite adverse conditions, the risk of harmful compaction can be significantly reduced through planning measures taken before construction begins and through consultation during the project. The preservation of natural soil functions is the top priority.

The soil must also be protected during construction work. This is achieved by training equipment operators on-site and by selecting the right equipment. People on the construction site are instructed by the soil science construction supervisor and made aware of the importance of treating the soil with care. In this way, much damage can be prevented in advance. If problems do arise, practical solutions are found and implemented on-site. This helps reduce follow-up costs for reclamation measures.

We therefore act, on the one hand, as advocates for farmers and other landowners, and, on the other hand, in an advisory capacity for the construction companies working on-site.