Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) can be an efficient and environmentally friendly way to install underground utilities.However, the process becomes more difficult in varied topography, and as buried pipelines, fiber optics, cable and other types of infrastructure proliferate. To address this issue, HDD equipment manufacturers have developed bore planning software that helps drill operators chart safe courses for their projects.In essence, the software lays the project out on a computer screen, giving the drill operator a visual roadmap to follow from entry to destination. The first programs were introduced about a decade ago, but they have begun to attract strong interest
