Environmental impact of rock excavation in urban areas: comparison between blasting and hydraulic breaker hammer

Abstract

This paper compares the two most used rock excavation techniques in urban areas: blasting with explosives and using breaker hammers. From the follow-up of several works, data has been obtained that allow us to compare both techniques and their effects over the surrounding environment, mainly the noise production and ground vibrations. Results show that although the use of explosives is not popular due to security reasons, it allows faster excavations, is safer for the surrounding structures and has less environmental impact than the breaker hammers. However, we will also show a particular case where the complementary use of both techniques is successful.

Keywords:

• Urban areas excavation
• Breaker hammer
• Blasting
• Noise
• Ground vibrations
• Metaheuristics

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the financial support given to the project by the Spanish Ministerio de Fomento (Ministry for Development and Publics Works) within the Priority Action Framework ‘New Technologies and Constructive Systems’, of the Sectorial Area ‘Building and Cultural Heritage Conservation’ (National R+D Plan 2000–2003).