Network Of Tunnels Research Articles

Impact of water models on the structure and dynamics of enzyme tunnels

Protein hydration plays a vital role in many biological functions, and molecular dynamics simulations are frequently used to study it. However, the accuracy of these simulations is often sensitive to the water model used, a phenomenon particularly evident in intrinsically disordered proteins. Here, we investigated the extent to which the choice of water model alters the behavior of complex networks of tunnels within proteins. Tunnels are essential because they allow the exchange of substrates and products between buried enzyme active sites and the bulk solvent, directly affecting enzyme efficiency and selectivity, making the study of tunnels crucial for a holistic understanding of enzyme function at the molecular level. By performing simulations of haloalkane dehalogenase LinB and its two variants with engineered tunnels using TIP3P and OPC models, we investigated their effects on the overall tunnel topology. We also analyzed the properties of the primary tunnels, including their conformation, bottleneck dimensions, sampling efficiency, and the duration of tunnel openings. Our data demonstrate that all three proteins exhibited similar conformational behavior in both models but differed in the geometrical characteristics of their auxiliary tunnels, consistent with experimental observations. Interestingly, the results indicate that the stability of the open tunnels might be sensitive to the water model used. Because TIP3P can provide comparable data on the overall tunnel network, it is a valid choice when computational resources are limited or compatibility issues impede the use of OPC. However, OPC seems preferable for calculations requiring an accurate description of transport kinetics.

Using Tillandsia usneoides as Biomonitor for Toxic Metals in the Air of Guanajuato's Tunnel Network

Guanajuato town is an important touristic center of Mexico, and one of its main attractions is its tunnel network (subterranean streets). In this work the air quality inside this tunnel network was evaluated using samples of Tillandsia usneoides as a biomonitor. Twenty-one plastic passive samplers, containing 50 g of plants each, were installed at different points of this tunnel network. In addition, surface layer of the tunnel walls, close to the plant sampling sites, were collected. Estimates for the enrichment factor, using Fe as reference and standard metal crustal data, suggest that the origin of the suspended metals is probably geogenic for Cr, a mix for Cu, and anthropogenic for Zn and Hg. It is important to emphasize that the Guanajuato’s tunnel network is used both by pedestrians and vehicular traffic and, probably, the last one is acting as the main source for toxic elements for the tunnel’s air.

Light sensitivity of the circadian system in the social Highveld mole-rat Cryptomys hottentotus pretoriae.

Highveld mole-rats (Cryptomys hottentotus pretoriae) are social rodents that inhabit networks of subterranean tunnels. In their natural environment, they are rarely exposed to light, and consequently their visual systems have regressed over evolutionary time. However, in the laboratory they display nocturnal activity, suggesting that they are sensitive to changes in ambient illumination. We examined the robustness of the Highveld mole-rat circadian system by assessing its locomotor activity under decreasing light intensities. Mole-rats were subjected to seven consecutive light cycles commencing with a control cycle (overhead fluorescent lighting at 150lx), followed by decreasing LED lighting (500, 300, 100, 10 and 1lx) on a 12h light:12h dark (L:D) photoperiod and finally a constant darkness (DD) cycle. Mole-rats displayed nocturnal activity under the whole range of experimental lighting conditions, with a distinct spike in activity at the end of the dark phase in all cycles. The mole-rats were least active during the control cycle under fluorescent light, locomotor activity increased steadily with decreasing LED light intensities, and the highest activity was exhibited when the light was completely removed. In constant darkness, mole-rats displayed free-running rhythms with periods (τ) ranging from 23.77 to 24.38 h, but was overall very close to 24 h at 24.07 h. Our findings confirm that the Highveld mole-rat has a higher threshold for light compared with aboveground dwelling rodents, which is congruent with previous neurological findings, and has implications for behavioural rhythms.

Some first observations on ant-nest morphology and micromorphology, the effects of wildfires, and their implications for the understanding of archaeological features

Ants are among the soil mesofauna that cause significant bioturbation at the location of their nests. They can have significant impact on the preservation of soil features and on post-depositional artefact distribution. Moreover, there is discussion on the natural or anthropogenic nature of so-called ‘pit-hearth’ features dating to the Mesolithic. Such features are common in parts of the Netherlands, NW Belgium, and NW Germany, and form an important body of evidence in the study of hunter-gatherer landscape use. However, it has been hypothesized that these features represent ant nests burnt due to climate-related wildfires, instead of anthropogenic pit hearths, and are therefore of little archaeological value, other than as a potential proxy for climate conditions. Considering the lack of direct evidence on underground characteristics of ant nests, we investigated the characteristics of two wood ant nests: Oone abandoned and one accidently burnt in a wildfire c. 10 years earlier. We trenched through the ant nest remains and used micromorphology to study the characteristics of the ant-influenced soil profiles. The surface domes of the ant nests had disappeared, leaving behind a bowl-shaped depression. In the burnt ant nest, a thin band of charred litter-like organic material was all that was left over from the burned superstructure. These depressions seem not to reach deeper than the top of cemented podzol Bhs-horizons. Surrounding and underneath the depression, extensive networks of tunnels and chambers were found in the B- and C-horizons. If archaeological artefacts had been present on the site, they would have become buried and moved to the top of the B-horizon. Any soil features would have been destroyed. Moreover, the extensive tunnel and chamber network extending from the depression would potentially affect the botanical record and the OSL signal of the deposits.Comparison of our results with Mesolithic pit-hearth features shows substantial differences between the two types of remains. Ant nest depressions do not extend into (cemented) podzol B horizons, whereas Mesolithic pit hearths typically have their base in the C horizons. The extensive tunnelling in B- and C-horizons of large ant nests has not been observed in Mesolithic pit-hearth features. On the other hand, the large amount of charred humus and charcoal fragments in Mesolithic pit hearths are lacking in the burned ant nest we studied. We therefore conclude that Mesolithic pit-hearth features are not the result of the burning down of ant nests, but should be regarded as anthropogenic features.

A spatiotemporal optimization method for connected and autonomous vehicle operations in long tunnel constructions

With the advancement of technology, connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) can be applied to complex tunnel networks in long tunnel construction to enhance vehicle operation safety and efficiency. This paper proposes an optimization method for CAVs' operation in long tunnel constructions. Firstly, a spatiotemporal coordinated optimization model with decentralized time and hierarchical networks is proposed to minimize the total working time for completing transportation services. The model integrates macro task allocation and micro node control and optimizes the vehicle-space-time relationships of CAVs to prevent conflicts and collisions. Secondly, a heuristic algorithm named Search-Adjustment Genetic Algorithm (SAGA) is developed to solve the problem considering the model's complexity and engineering characteristics. Thirdly, numerical experiments are designed to validate the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed model and algorithm. The results indicate that (1) the proposed model can effectively deconflict CAVs in the road network to ensure safety and obtain a low total working time to fulfill the transportation demand. (2) Compared to the commercial solver Gurobi, the proposed algorithm demonstrates significantly superior solution accuracy and efficiency within an acceptable time limit. (3) The solution ensures the safety and efficiency of CAVs and increases their utilization compared with engineering-oriented methods, resulting in a 50 % reduction in CAV acquisition costs, a 29 % and 85 % reduction in running time and delay respectively, and a reduction in fuel consumption. (4) As the number of transportation services and the complexity of the road network increases, the efficiency gains become more prominent and better adapted to the needs of the actual long tunnel construction project. To sum up, the proposed model and algorithm can ensure the safety and efficiency of providing transportation services in future long tunnel construction. Moreover, it can be adapted for controlling CAVs in road networks such as other construction scenarios and urban road networks.

Reinforcing Tunnel Network Exploration in Proteins Using Gaussian Accelerated Molecular Dynamics.

Tunnels are structural conduits in biomolecules responsible for transporting chemical compounds and solvent molecules from the active site. They have been shown to be present in a wide variety of enzymes across all functional and structural classes. However, the study of such pathways is experimentally challenging, because they are typically transient. Computational methods, such as molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, have been successfully proposed to explore tunnels. Conventional MD (cMD) provides structural details to characterize tunnels but suffers from sampling limitations to capture rare tunnel openings on longer time scales. Therefore, in this study, we explored the potential of Gaussian accelerated MD (GaMD) simulations to improve the exploration of complex tunnel networks in enzymes. We used the haloalkane dehalogenase LinB and its two variants with engineered transport pathways, which are not only well-known for their application potential but have also been extensively studied experimentally and computationally regarding their tunnel networks and their importance in multistep catalytic reactions. Our study demonstrates that GaMD efficiently improves tunnel sampling and allows the identification of all known tunnels for LinB and its two mutants. Furthermore, the improved sampling provided insight into a previously unknown transient side tunnel (ST). The extensive conformational landscape explored by GaMD simulations allowed us to investigate in detail the mechanism of ST opening. We determined variant-specific dynamic properties of ST opening, which were previously inaccessible due to limited sampling of cMD. Our comprehensive analysis supports multiple indicators of the functional relevance of the ST, emphasizing its potential significance beyond structural considerations. In conclusion, our research proves that the GaMD method can overcome the sampling limitations of cMD for the effective study of tunnels in enzymes, providing further means for identifying rare tunnels in enzymes with the potential for drug development, precision medicine, and rational protein engineering.

Research on the optimization methods of common points layout for survey and alignment of particle accelerators

As a fourth-generation synchrotron light source based on a diffraction-limited storage ring, Hefei Advanced Light Facility (HALF) puts forward higher requirements for the alignment accuracy of the main components. Aggregated common points result in a loss of accuracy during the coordinate transformation required by accelerator alignment. To address this challenge, we proposed two methods: “aggregated points centralization (APC)" and “uniformity-weighted algorithm (UWA)" according to different usage scenarios. APC combines uniformity with the K-means algorithm to enhance the accuracy of coordinate transformation while reducing the number of common points. UWA calculates the uniformity in different directions and assigns weights to common points, reducing the accuracy loss. Simulations demonstrate that these two methods have strong superiority and stability with significantly improved accuracy. Applications of these 2 methods in the magnet unit pre-alignment experiment and tunnel network measurement show promising results. APC in pre-alignment can reduce the cost of building common points by 26% while maintaining the coordinate conversion accuracy. In tunnel network measurement, accuracy can be increased by 28% using UWA. The methods proposed offer broad applicability in the field of particle accelerator alignment and guiding alignment solutions for HALF.

Incorporating Prior Knowledge in the Seeds of Adaptive Sampling Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Ligand Transport in Enzymes with Buried Active Sites.

Because most proteins have buried active sites, protein tunnels or channels play a crucial role in the transport of small molecules into buried cavities for enzymatic catalysis. Tunnels can critically modulate the biological process of protein-ligand recognition. Various molecular dynamics methods have been developed for exploring and exploiting the protein-ligand conformational space to extract high-resolution details of the binding processes, a recent example being energetically unbiased high-throughput adaptive sampling simulations. The current study systematically contrasted the role of integrating prior knowledge while generating useful initial protein-ligand configurations, called seeds, for these simulations. Using a nontrivial system of a haloalkane dehalogenase mutant with multiple transport tunnels leading to a deeply buried active site, simulations were employed to derive kinetic models describing the process of association and dissociation of the substrate molecule. The most knowledge-based seed generation enabled high-throughput simulations that could more consistently capture the entire transport process, explore the complex network of transport tunnels, and predict equilibrium dissociation constants, koff/kon, on the same order of magnitude as experimental measurements. Overall, the infusion of more knowledge into the initial seeds of adaptive sampling simulations could render analyses of transport mechanisms in enzymes more consistent even for very complex biomolecular systems, thereby promoting drug development efforts and the rational design of enzymes with buried active sites.

Optimizing Mining Ventilation Using 3D Technologies

Abstract. Ventilation systems constitute an important piece of the industrial facility ecosystems. Creating proper working environmental conditions for humans is crucial, especially in hazardous sites with presence of various gases, such as underground mines. Combined with the vast amount of space to be ventilated in large mines, designing and maintaining such a system is challenging and costly. To alleviate these issues, the EIT-RM project VOT3D (Ventilation Optimizing Technology based on 3D scanning) proposes conducting advanced airflow modeling in the underground tunnel networks, utilizing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, modern surveying and 3D modeling approaches to reverse engineer a reliable geometric model of the mine and estimate the 3D airflow field inside it. In this paper, we present the challenges to be solved in this task and the proposed workflow to address them. An example related to an active industrial mine in Poland is reported as a basis for performing experimental data processing using the full, highly automatized procedure. Developments and results of underground mobile mapping (with a drone and a handheld system), point cloud processing and filtering, surface reconstruction and CFD modeling are presented. The detailed results of airflow field estimation show the advantages of the proposed solution and promise its high practical usefulness.

Comprehensive Evaluation of Resilience for Qinling Tunnel Group Operation Safety System Based on Combined Weighting and Cloud Model

An extensive network of tunnels has recently been constructed in the Qinling Mountains. Characterized by high and steep terrain, this network has led to frequent traffic accidents. To address this issue, this paper introduces the theory of resilience into the evaluation system of safety systems during the operation period of highway tunnel groups. Based on this, this paper establishes a resilience evaluation index system for the operation safety system of highway tunnel groups, including a human system, vehicle system, and road system. To address both qualitative and quantitative issues concerning the indicators, this paper employs the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and entropy weight method to combine and assign weights to the resilience evaluation indicators. Subsequently, the cloud model method is utilized to quantify the level of resilience of the highway tunnel group safety system during the operation period. The study results unveiled the patterns of traffic accidents within the Qinling Tunnel Group from the perspectives of vehicle, road, and human factors. The final weight allocation reveals that the road system has the highest proportion, exerting the greatest influence as a primary level index. Moreover, by taking the Qinling Tunnel Group on the Xihan Expressway as an engineering example, the resilience level of the case project was analyzed and obtained. Proposals for enhancing resilience were put forth, taking into account the project’s unique attributes, encompassing adaptability, resistance, and recovery. Overall, this study validates the feasibility and reliability of the proposed method for assessing the resilience of highway networks, offering empirical support for transportation administrators in the implementation of resilience-enhancing strategies.

Water will Find Its Way: Transport through Narrow Tunnels in Hydrolases.

An aqueous environment is vital for life as we know it, and water is essential for nearly all biochemical processes at the molecular level. Proteins utilize water molecules in various ways. Consequently, proteins must transport water molecules across their internal network of tunnels to reach the desired action sites, either within them or by functioning as molecular pipes to control cellular osmotic pressure. Despite water playing a crucial role in enzymatic activity and stability, its transport has been largely overlooked, with studies primarily focusing on water transport across membrane proteins. The transport of molecules through a protein's tunnel network is challenging to study experimentally, making molecular dynamics simulations the most popular approach for investigating such events. In this study, we focused on the transport of water molecules across three different α/β-hydrolases: haloalkane dehalogenase, epoxide hydrolase, and lipase. Using a 5 μs adaptive simulation per system, we observed that only a few tunnels were responsible for the majority of water transport in dehalogenase, in contrast to a higher diversity of tunnels in other enzymes. Interestingly, water molecules could traverse narrow tunnels with subangstrom bottlenecks, which is surprising given the commonly accepted water molecule radius of 1.4 Å. Our analysis of the transport events in such narrow tunnels revealed a markedly increased number of hydrogen bonds formed between the water molecules and protein, likely compensating for the steric penalty of the process. Overall, these commonly disregarded narrow tunnels accounted for ∼20% of the total water transport observed, emphasizing the need to surpass the standard geometrical limits on the functional tunnels to properly account for the relevant transport processes. Finally, we demonstrated how the obtained insights could be applied to explain the differences in a mutant of the human soluble epoxide hydrolase associated with a higher incidence of ischemic stroke.

Moving through Toronto's PATH: Assembling private urban governance.

This paper explores Toronto's urban PATH, a 30 km network of underground pedestrian tunnels and elevated walkways that connect shopping areas, residential towers, mass transit and downtown destinations. Both as a case and heuristic, this paper situates Toronto's PATH as an assemblage of private urban governance forms, exploring emergent and evolving constellations of power and responsibility for governing city space that defy easy distinctions of 'public' or 'private'. As an urban assemblage, the PATH comprises potential and actual entities and associations, and is an accumulation of encounters. Never a stable or static entity, the PATH and its governance, we argue, is provisional, revealing constantly evolving connections, alignments and political-economic potentialities. We contend the PATH serves as a palimpsest of mutating governing relations; a multiplicity of meanings, visions and encounters etched into the built environment. By focusing on public and private vestiges, wayfinding, and visibility, and private verticalising ventures, we highlight how practices, logics, processes, urban actors and their histories collide to form fragile, provisional urban alignments and visions.

Enhancing Urban Tunnelling Efficiency Through Real-Time Geotechnical Parameter Analysis, A Case Study at Kolkata East West Metro Project, KMRCL-1674

The exponential increase in urbanization has heightened the demand for a systematic and rapid mass transportation system in developing countries. One efficient solution has been the construction of underground networks of tunnels using Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs). Urban tunnels, however, require careful attention to minimizing ground disturbances to avoid adverse impacts on existing infrastructure. The current study focuses on a parametric investigation based on observed trends from the Kolkata East West Metro UG1 project. It undertakes numerical regression to establish correlations, aiming to investigate geotechnical parameters derived from observed operational parameters during tunnel advancement. This correlation allows for the determination and validation of considered geotechnical parameters in real-time, thereby facilitating the optimization of operational parameters. By establishing correlations, the study examines and validates the effect of geotechnical parameters on observed settlement. In conclusion, the consideration of tunnel operational parameters and subsequent establishment of geotechnical parameters can potentially automate the functioning of mechanized tunnelling, leading to more efficient and effective tunnel construction processes.

Exploring the role of loop tunnels in enhancing termite food transport efficiency: A simulation approach

Subterranean termites construct a network of tunnels beneath the ground, comprising a main tunnel and branch tunnels. While termites do not construct tunnels that turn back in a “U” shape, the intersection of main and branch tunnels often forms closed curved structures (a loop). The loop structure can have either a positive or negative effect on the transport efficiency of termites in food transportation. However, little research has been conducted on the impact of loop tunnels on transport efficiency (E) due to the technical difficulties associated with direct observation. In this study, we used an individual-based model to simulate termite behavior during food transportation within a tunnel composed of a main tunnel and a loop tunnel. The model incorporates four control variables: the number of introduced simulated termites (k1), the probability of a simulated termite using a loop tunnel when walking towards a food or nest site (k2 or k3), and the length of the loop tunnel (k4). The simulation results reveal that the E value is high for (k2, k3) = (high, high), (low, low), (high, low), and (low, high) when the length of the loop tunnel is relatively short. However, when the length of the loop tunnel is relatively long, E is high only for (k2, k3) = (high, low) and (low, high). We found that these results are primarily influenced by the frequency of traffic jams. Therefore, termites would benefit from adopting strategies that reduce the occurrence of traffic jams during food transportation. In the Discussion section, we briefly touch on the strategy from an ecological perspective.

NEOICHNOLOGY OF TROPICAL AND ARID SCORPIONS: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON BURROW CONSTRUCTION AND FORM

ABSTRACT Scorpions are intermediate predators in numerous terrestrial environments, and many are temporarily to permanently fossorial. As a result, they play key roles in terrestrial food webs, in soil development, and as ecosystem engineers. However, scorpions have a poorly described ichnofossil record likely due to an inadequate understanding of their trace morphology. Critical to correcting this is assessing the variability of burrows constructed by phylogenetically, geographically, and environmentally distinct scorpions. Five extant scorpions, Heterometrus spinifer, Pandinus imperator, Pandipalpus viatoris, Hadrurus arizonensis, and Paravaejovis spinigerus were studied through neoichnological experiments under varying substrate conditions. Burrow casts produced were described and compared across species and different substrate conditions. Tropical scorpions excavated sediment and carried it away from the burrow to produce open, straight-to-sinuous, subvertical tunnels to branching tunnel systems with single to multiple entrances and often chambers. Arid scorpions excavated with rapid leg movements to throw sediment behind the body to produce single to linked networks of U-shaped burrows as well as subvertical tunnels to tunnel networks with single to multiple entrances and rarely chambers. Changes in sediment composition and moisture tended to reduce burrow production but did not significantly alter burrow morphology. All scorpion burrows, regardless of species, bore a moderate-to-high similarity despite differences in excavation styles and architecture suggesting that scorpions produce burrows of consistent form regardless of phylogenetic or environmental distance. The result of these studies provides key ichnotaxobases of scorpion burrows which can be used to identify them in the fossil record and improve interpretations of ancient terrestrial ecosystems.

A Multidisciplinary Approach for the Characterization of Artificial Cavities of Historical and Cultural Interest: The Case Study of the Cloister of Sant’Agostino—Caserta, Italy

In northern Campania (Southern Italy), the historic center of many towns is characterized by the widespread presence of cavities in the subsoil, excavated over the centuries for quarrying tuff blocks for buildings, along with cathedrals, churches and chapels. A singular feature of these places of worship is, in fact, the presence of a wide and frequently connected network of underground cavities and tunnels, which were used for hydraulic, religious or connecting purposes. The cavity network is often unknown, abandoned or even buried, thus representing a risk for their susceptibility to sinkholes. Such elements are important as cultural heritage of inestimable value and as attractors for tourism; for this reason, the multidisciplinary study conducted on a place of worship in the Caserta area is illustrated herein: the Cloister of Sant’Agostino, in Caserta (XVI century CE). A geological and geotechnical characterization of the subsoil was performed at first. A laser scanner survey of the accessible cavities and the external churchyard was carried out. The resulting 3D model of the underground sector allowed for a clear understanding of the room size, their location, the levels and the path of the corridors. To understand the extension and layout of the crypts, Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) surveys were undertaken in the surrounding areas. The analysis of the ERT measurements revealed some anomalies that could be ascribed to unknown structures (crypts). Finally, numerical methods were applied to estimate the stress state of the soft rocks and the potential areas of crisis, with preliminary assessments of the influence of the presence of cavities on the stability of the subsoil. The results allowed us to improve the knowledge of the study site and provide useful data for the planning of future targeted investigations, underlining how integrated research between applied disciplines can provide indispensable support both in the management and mitigation of geological risks in urban areas and in the sustainable reuse of hypogea.

Assessment of polybenzimidazole/MOF composite membranes for the improvement of high-temperature PEM fuel cell performance

This study aims to determine the most effective utilization of ZIF-8 type metal-organic framework (MOF) doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) composite membrane in high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFC) and investigate how ZIF-8 filler affects performance. ZIF-8 particles were prepared by solvothermal method and added to the PBI polymer using a weight percentage varying from 1 to 5 %. XRD, BET, and TEM examined the prepared ZIF-8. Composite membrane properties were investigated by XRD, SEM analysis, proton conductivity measurements, acid doping, and acid stripping tests. The HT-PEMFC performances of the membranes were carried out using Hydrogen and dry air at 150–180. The highest performance was acquired with the composite ZIF8/PBI-2 membrane as 0.432 W/cm2 at 170 °C. The obtained result is explained by easier proton transfer over ZIF-8's enlarged tunnel network. This study proposes a promising strategy to use ZIF-8 to prepare a PBI composite membrane with excellent proton conductivity, acid doping, and low acid leaching for HT-PEMFC application. The current study's findings can support future research on PBI/MOF-based composite membranes for HT-PEMFC applications.

A Photoelectromagnetic 3D Metal-Organic Framework from Flexible Tetraarylethylene-Backboned Ligand and Dynamic Copper-Based Coordination Chemistry.

Porous frameworks that display dynamic responsiveness are of interest in the fields of smart materials, information technology, etc. In this work, a novel copper-based dynamic metal-organic framework [Cu3TTBPE6(H2O)2] (H4TTBPE = 1,1,2,2-tetrakis(4″-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-[1,1″-biphenyl]-4-yl)ethane), denoted as HNU-1, is reported which exhibits modulable photoelectromagnetic properties. Due to the synergetic effect of flexible tetraarylethylene-backboned ligands and diverse copper-tetrazole coordination chemistries, a complex 3D tunneling network is established in this MOF by the layer-by-layer staggered assembly of triplicate monolayers, showing a porosity of 59%. These features further make it possible to achieve dynamic transitions, in which the aggregate-state MOF can be transferred to different structural states by changing the chemical environment or upon heating while displaying sensitive responsiveness in terms of light absorption, photoluminescence, and magnetic properties.

Construction Method for a Three-Dimensional Tunnel General Monomer Model Based on Parallel Pathfinding

Existing approaches for the 3D modeling of tunnels suffer from several problems, such as highly difficult data acquisition, redundancy of model data, large computational burden, and the inability of the resulting models to be monolithic. Therefore, solutions to the tunnel network modeling problem for complex structures need to be proposed and elaborated in detail. In this paper, a construction method for a three-dimensional tunnel general monomer model based on parallel pathfinding is proposed. Widely used tunnel CAD drawings are analyzed and read, a disordered arc ensemble intersection trend decision method is developed, and an automatic path extraction solution algorithm for unidirectional modeling of tunnel centerlines is constructed. By constructing and splicing the surface elements of the 3D model, a monomeric 3D tunnel model representing the complex network structure is finally obtained. Moreover, the modeling of shafts is realized based on the monomer model, allowing for the three-dimensional topological relationships between different sub-levels of the tunnel and the ground to be established. The automatic modeling method proposed in this paper is applied to the digital twin platform of a filling project in a mining area in Gansu province, China. The experimental results demonstrate that the 3D tunnel models constructed in this way have a smaller data volume, higher modeling accuracy, and more stable growth of modeling speed.

Wind Tunnel Network Receives Funding

Wind Tunnel Network Receives Funding