Infrastructure System Recommendations for Narrow and Steep Streets in Istanbul

Abstract

In Istanbul, with the establishment of clamshell concrete channels, refurbishment of water, electricity, natural gas and telephone infrastructure is expected to be much easier. Therefore, to combine the infrastructure services and managing from a single center, precast clamshell concrete channels (utility tunnels) shall be considered in priority. However, considering geographic and land use structure of the Istanbul, narrow and steep hilly streets come to mind immediately. These channels, also known as Utility Tunnel, should be designed as one or several people can work inside comfortably. Moreover this scale reinforced concrete tunnel is not possible to be fitted under a narrow and steep street or the pavement. Instead, this type of alternative infrastructure systems such as trenchless technology in the streets, can serve as a connection to the host system. In summary, Utility Tunnels have to be supported by the alternative infrastructure systems. While doing this, monitoring of alternative infrastructure systems have to be taken into account. Fiber optic sensors help on the health monitoring of infrastructure systems, mainly pipelines. Before deciding on what could be the alternative infrastructure systems, some cities that show the same characteristics with Istanbul have to be examined. For this aim, Trenchless pipe and cable laying technologies used in world cities with narrow streets and dense population were investigated.