An Implementation Framework for On-Site Shield Spoil Utilization—A Case Study of a Metro Project

Abstract

A majority of metro projects have been constructed to reduce urban traffic congestion and to improve the convenience of public transportation, but these projects also produced a significant amount of engineering slag and mud. The shield construction method could improve the efficiency and safety; this technique has been frequently used in tunnel excavation projects. However, the spoil produced during the shield construction is challenging to deal with. In literature, though there has been an increasing number of studies on the technologies of utilizing shield spoil, the on-site utilization of shield spoil is still a subject of little research. This study introduced an implementation framework for the on-site utilization of shield spoil based on successful case experiences. It aims to assist project managers in efficiently implementing on-site resource utilization projects and to address the gaps in the relevant field. A case study was conducted in the Shenzhen Metro Line 13 North Extension Project; this study collected data through six semi-structured interviews and field research, analyzed the data, and constructed a framework using thematic analysis and focus group discussions. The three components of the implementation framework are project planning, project construction, and project closing, and each section describes what must be accomplished during that phase. Additionally, three recommendations—(1) combining intelligent technology to optimize the existing equipment, (2) utilizing lean technology in project execution, (3) establishing strategic partnerships with construction waste recycling enterprises—are also made for the development of the shield spoil utilization project. This study uses the Shenzhen Metro Line 13 North Extension Project as a model to theoretically underpin future research on shielding spoil on-site during resource utilization projects and to achieve the repeatable promotion of shield spoil utilization technology in Shenzhen.

Safety risk assessment of subway shield construction under-crossing a river using CFA and FER

“…The researchers selected the final relevant studies by reading titles, abstracts, and texts. Two selection criteria were used to determine the relevance to the research, including: (a) removing the studies which are unrelated to shield construction, for example, the term "shield construction" and "safety" are all in the abstract of Yang et al's study (37), but this research is focused on the on-site shield spoil utilization; (b) removing the studies which are unrelated to shield construction safety or shield construction risks, for instance, Dai et al's (38) paper mentioned "shield construction" and "safety, " but the research is about the attitude and position prediction of shield machine in tunneling. After the exclusion process, 54 articles were retained, including 31 English articles and 23 Chinese articles.…”