On contract H8 -Tunnel Jenbach on the northern approach route to the Brenner Base Tunnel, a 54 km section of tunnel is currently being equipped with a geothermal system making use of energy lining segments, which enable the laying of absorber pipework in the TBM-driven tunnel. The system will be able to supply energy to the building yard in Jenbach though a connection in the emergency exit shaft. The design of the geothermal energy system covers the design of the energy segments, the sizing of the geothermal system, the installation of the segments in the tunnel and connecting them together in the tunnel and the laying of the connection pipework. Various restrictions resulting from the practicalities of tunnel construction had to be taken into account in the geothermal system. This article describes the experience gained during the design phase and the current state of the works. Then follows a discussion of the conditions for the future application of geothermal systems in tunnels.

In this article, digitally supported processes for project development in tunnelling are described, supported on the one hand by a digital structure model from the design phase and on the other hand by an interactive process platform during the construction phase. Pricing and material quantity data from tendering and construction are part of the process chain. The connectivity of different BIM models and the associated interfaces represent an important but also challenging part of the closed solution. A BIM viewer is used as a bridge solution for data exchange between the IT systems used. Examples and solution approaches for 3D modelling in tunnelling and their networking with the information system IRIS are described. This article describes a multi‐unit process system, which is being continuously developed and contains all relevant building blocks of the BIM process in the field of infrastructure. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden digital gestützte Prozesse zur Projektabwicklung im Tunnelbau erläutert, die sich einerseits auf ein digitales Bauwerksmodell aus der Planung und andererseits auf eine interaktive Prozessplattform im Rahmen der Ausführung abstützen. Kalkulationsdaten aus der Angebotslegung und Bauausführung sind Bestandteil der Prozesskette. Die Vernetzung unterschiedlicher BIM‐Modelle und die damit verbundenen Schnittstellen stellen einen wichtigen aber auch anspruchsvollen Teil einer geschlossenen Lösung dar. Als Brückenlösung zum Datenaustausch der eingesetzten IT‐Systeme kommt ein BIM‐Viewer zum Einsatz. Es werden Beispiele und Lösungsansätze zur 3D‐Modellierung im Tunnelbau und deren Vernetzung mit dem Informationssystem IRIS aufgezeigt. Dieser Beitrag beschreibt ein mehrgliedriges Prozesssystem, das kontinuierlich ausgebaut wird und alle relevanten Bausteine des BIM‐Prozesses im Infrastrukturbereich enthält.

The digitalisation of many areas of the economy is progressing, also in construction, where the intention is to provide information about built facilities for decision‐makers concerning the design, building and operation of construction works in a consistently high quality, easily read and data‐based. Until now, digitalisation in construction has been retarded by the high complexity of construction, which should however now rapidly change. The DAUB recommendation ”Digital Design, Building and Operation of Underground Structures“ is intended to make a contribution in this regard. Recommendations from the German Tunnelling Committee DAUB normally represent ”best practice“ solutions from German tunnelling. For Building Information Modelling (BIM) in tunnelling, there is not however yet sufficient experience. There have indeed been many solutions on projects but there is a lack of the appropriate standards for systematically applicable industry‐wide solutions. The DAUB recommendations show how appropriate standards can be created. The following article discusses selected themes from the DAUB recommendations.

Emergency exits must be available at certain intervals in tunnels for safety reasons. For this purpose, cross passages are excavated to a second tunnel tube, to shafts with staircases or separate exit tunnels. For the excavation of these emergency exits in TBM drives with segmental lining, openings have to be provided in the segmental lining. This article outlines different systems to make openings in segmental linings. The choice of a suitable system depends on various constraints, e.g. the geometric dimensions of the tunnel tube and the cross passages or the prevailing soil conditions. In addition, the loadbearing capacity and serviceability is also very important.

Construction time and project risks in mechanized tunnelling are determined to a great extent by the number and difficulty of the cross passages and emergency exits. This article presents innovative solutions that lead to more flexibility in ground freezing measures, enable a high-quality watertight connection between the cross passage and the running tunnels and permit the simple coupling of segments under high overburden pressures. Either experience from completed projects or results of tests on construction elements is available for the proposed solutions.