Real-Time As-Built Tunnel Product Modeling and Visualization by Tracking Tunnel Boring Machines

Abstract

Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) are widely used for tunneling in urban areas because of their high advance rate, precise as-built profile and minimal impact to buildings and traffic on the ground. For a tunnel built by a TBM, there are strict requirements on alignment control and safety. To meet these requirements, it is important to monitor the position of the TBM. In the current practice, the TBM position data, including advance distance and line and level deviations, are reported manually to the managers on a daily basis. To interpret and analyze the position data, the managers also need to refer to various construction drawings. This practice is untimely, inefficient, and error prone for decision making. To improve the current practice, an automatic approach for real-time as-built tunnel product modeling and visualization is proposed, based on TBM position and orientation data autonomously sourced from the Virtual Laser Target Board (VLTB) TBM Guidance System developed at University of Alberta. Related information of the tunnel project, such as the as-designed alignment, soil layers, the ground, existing utility lines, is also visualized together with the model of the as-built tunnel. The modeling algorithm is presented step by step. Its application in a real-life drainage tunnel project is discussed and limitations are also identified.

As-built modeling and visual simulation of tunnels using real-time TBM positioning data

“…It is reasonably assumed that the position of the latest installed tunnel section are determined by the position (distance, line deviation, and grade deviation) and orientation angles (yawing and pitching angles) of the TBM, as illustrated in Figure 1. Refer to Wu et al (2013) for more information about the algorithmic details.…”

Integrated Approach to Machine Guidance and OperationsMonitoring in Tunnel Construction

“…A straightforward, user-friendly 3D visualization platform is further developed to present the analytical results of TBM's position state, tunnel alignment and construction progress [10]. The visualization program running on the monitoring laptop aids project managers in making critical decisions on a near real-time basis.…”

Analytical Tunnel-Boring Machine Pose Precision and Sensitivity Evaluation for Underground Tunnelling

“…Or a misaligned railway tunnel may cause steeply curved tracks, and trains need to reduce speed to safely pass by [2]. Moreover, if the guidance instructions or the steering operations are not reliable and consistent, the as-built drainage tunnel can be bumpy, which will cause trouble in channelling storm water flow [3]. Therefore, the error at the breakthrough point should generally be controlled with 10 to 20 per 1 length for traffic tunnel, and drainage tunnel should not be misaligned more than 150 mm horizontally nor 89 mm vertically at any section of the tunnel being built [4,5].…”