It should come as no surprise that most people look to the skies when they travel by a field of wind chargers. The tall, tapering poles, the seemingly as long blades that can be adjusted for their speed are a sight to see. What few people realize, however, is that while the vision of what is above the ground is impressive, what may be even more impressive is the what is under the ground. In fact, when the construction of these wind turbines begins, months of preparation involves the placement of shoring systems. From the shoring systems that need to be in place even before the construction cranes arrive, many types of shoring are also necessary as crews prepare to pour yards of concrete beneath the ground as support for these towering turbines.
Trench shoring methods and temporary road mats are among the many items that must be in place before any construction project can begin. From temporary traffic diversion bridges to excavation support methods, these installations are an essential part of the construction process, even though these are not always what most people think of when they encounter a construction site.

Consider some of these facts and figures about the use of shoring systems and other structures that are put in place during the construction of towers, roads, bridges, and other projects:

• 200 hundred million trips are taken daily across deficient bridges in the nation?s 102 largest metropolitan regions, so it should come as no surprise that there are always many of these structures that are under construction.
• Shoring systems are put in place to help repair tension tracks, problems that form at a horizontal distance of 0.5 to 0.75 times the depth of the trench, measured from the top of the vertical face of the trench.
• Timber and aluminum hydraulic are the two basic types of shoring materials.
• To help prevent excavated or other materials, or even equipment, from falling or rolling into excavations, it is necessary to pile all excavated soil and other materials at least two feet away from the trench edges.
• Simple and multiple are the two basic types of benching. In both of these methods, the type of soil determines the horizontal to vertical ratio of the benched side.
• $90 billion is the amount the public sector spent on U.S. highway construction in the year 2015. This number is projected to grow to over $99.4 billion by the year 2020.

The next time that you notice a towering turbine on your drive across the country, consider the amount of work that is buried beneath the ground that supports these and many other kinds of structures.