Abstract
One year on from the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic, EU policies have defined recovery instruments that enhance the transition towards a more circular economy, making European industries more sustainable, resilient, digital and innovative. The underground work industry is no exception and must crystallise the trends in innovation that have been developing in recent years, which will undoubtedly contribute to achieving better safety and efficiency parameters in tunnel construction, with the economic impact that this means. This work shows different innovation strategies along the design and construction of the Arnotegi tunnel, as part of the extension works of the Bilbao South Metropolitan Bypass. These strategies have been the implementation of the BIM methodology in the underground works, the use of environmental sensors and the optimisation of the shotcrete placement and the positioning of machinery inside the tunnel. The implementation of these strategies has allowed improved collaboration between agents and a time saving of 6.60% with respect to the initially planned deadline.
Highlights
Since the end of the 2008 financial crisis, competitiveness, industry and innovation promotion have taken centre stage in the transformation of all socioeconomic activities and, those related to the engineering and public works sector [1,2]
In the 70s, tunnelling technology experienced a qualitative leap, with the introduction of the tunnel boring machines (TBMs), which could install one type of support automatically by means of precast concrete segments as the boring was taking place. Both tunnel boring machines and the machinery that is necessary to bore tunnels under the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) include a large number of sensors and technology that enable carrying out underground work under safe conditions and with performances that were unthinkable just a few years ago [8]
This article shows various innovation initiatives related to those indicated above, within a specific underground work, the construction of the Arnotegi tunnels, as part of the extension of the south bypass of the city of Bilbao, in the north of Spain. These innovation activities have been combined in a single underground work, of which no previous references in road tunnels have been found, and have led to time and economic savings compared to the initial forecast
Summary
Since the end of the 2008 financial crisis, competitiveness, industry and innovation promotion have taken centre stage in the transformation of all socioeconomic activities and, those related to the engineering and public works sector [1,2]. After a devastating pandemic year, in December 2020 the European Union defined a new multiannual financial framework, with a long-term budget of 1.8 billion Euros, including a temporary recovery instrument called Generation EU This agreement aims at reinforcing specific programmes to mitigate the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and make European economies and societies more sustainable, resilient and better prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the green and digital transitions [5]. In the 70s, tunnelling technology experienced a qualitative leap, with the introduction of the tunnel boring machines (TBMs), which could install one type of support automatically by means of precast concrete segments as the boring was taking place Nowadays, both tunnel boring machines and the machinery that is necessary to bore tunnels under the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) include a large number of sensors and technology that enable carrying out underground work under safe conditions and with performances that were unthinkable just a few years ago [8]. These innovation activities have been combined in a single underground work, of which no previous references in road tunnels have been found, and have led to time and economic savings compared to the initial forecast
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