Instrumentation is vital to tunnelling projects for validation of design assumptions, monitoring of trigger levels during construction and also serving as a feedback loop to understand the deformation mechanisms of the particular problem which could be used to improve future designs. It can also be used for long term monitoring of the tunnel for maintenance purposes. Distributed fibre optic sensing (DFOS) systems based on brillouin optical time domain reflectometry are able to provide continuous and distributed strain measurements to be taken along the entire length of, for example, an existing cast iron tunnel where the fibre optic cable length is fully attached. This enables engineers to understand the stresses and strains that develop within the lining caused by external influences; which in this case, the construction of a new tunnel directly underneath it, rather than relying on discrete point measurements of displacement from conventional methods of monitoring. Nonetheless, proper installation of DFOS is of paramount importance to obtain high quality data. This paper aims to provide some practical guidance on the planning and installation of DFOS and presents a brief case study on the monitoring of London's Royal Mail tunnel during the construction of the large Crossrail platform tunnel, located directly below it at Liverpool Street Station. It demonstrates the potential benefits of using such systems in complex tunnelling scenarios.

Abstract-Fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) technology has demonstrated its suitability for many applications in recent fiber technologies. Sensing application is one of the main applications of FBGs. In this work, we present a comprehensive investigation for using apodized FBGs in sensing applications. Different evaluation parameters such as, reflectivity, sidelobes, and fullwidth-half-maximum (FWHM) are tested in order to determine the most proper apodization profile for sensors. According to our study, the Blackman apodization gives the best profile that can be used in sensing applications. The reflectivity of Blackman apodization is nearly unity with minimum sidelobes level, -60.3 dB, and narrow FWHM. The length of Blackman apodized FBG is 0.33 cm and Δn = 14.4 x 10 -4 and maximum reflectivity is 99.44%.

A series of centrifuge model tests in clay was carried out to investigate the response of an existing tunnel at different clear distances to new tunnelling. A three-dimensional (3D) staged tunnelling model was adopted to simulate a wide range of tail void volume losses for the new tunnel construction while monitoring detailed 3D soil surface settlements and tunnelling-induced strains in the existing tunnel lining. This paper also presents a detailed case study of a similar scenario in the London Underground redevelopment of Bond Street station; various state-of-the-art instrumentation methods, including fibre optic Brillouin optical time domain reflectometry, instrumented tunnel bolts and photogrammetry, were deployed to monitor the response of the existing Royal Mail tunnel due to the new tunnelling works close beneath. The combination of field and centrifuge modelling data provides important new insights into the deformation mechanisms encountered in such complex tunnelling scenarios.

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A series of centrifuge model tests in clay was carried out to investigate the response of an existing tunnel at different clear distances to new tunnelling. A three-dimensional (3D) staged tunnelling model was adopted to simulate a wide range of tail void volume losses for the new tunnel construction while monitoring detailed 3D soil surface settlements and tunnelling-induced strains in the existing tunnel lining. This paper also presents a detailed case study of a similar scenario in the London Underground redevelopment of Bond Street station; various state-of-the-art instrumentation methods, including fibre optic Brillouin optical time domain reflectometry, instrumented tunnel bolts and photogrammetry, were deployed to monitor the response of the existing Royal Mail tunnel due to the new tunnelling works close beneath. The combination of field and centrifuge modelling data provides important new insights into the deformation mechanisms encountered in such complex tunnelling scenarios.