PATH OPTIMIZATION IN HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING: AN APPROACH BY THE GAUSSIAN AHP METHOD

Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is an engineering technique that integrates the set of non-destructive methods (MND), widely used for installation and replacement of underground pipelines with minimal impact to the surface. However, defining the optimal route for drilling presents significant challenges, as it involves multiple technical, economic and environmental factors. Therefore, this article proposed the application of the Gaussian AHP method to select the most appropriate and optimized route, considering geotechnical data, operational parameters and international technical and regulatory recommendations in the sector. The study was carried out in a project located between the municipalities of Ielmo Marinho/RN and São Gonçalo do Amarante/RN, admitting three route alternatives considering different possible geometries for drilling and establishing 61 evaluation criteria. The Gaussian AHP method indicated alternative A3 as the most appropriate and the consistency of the choice was ratified by the sensitivity test.