MANAGEMENT OF TUNNELING DATA

Traditionally, during tunnel construction, inspectors for the construction management team and for the contractors take chronologic notes of the ongoing tunneling activities. The information consists, among other things, of production phases, routine maintenance, breakdown and ground condition. Other data may also be collected; a geologist would map the tunnel wall, water inflow will be measured and if installed, the monitoring instruments would be read. Communication of progress and problems to management is generally done verbally and/or through hand written summary reports. The data are manually sorted and recopied many times over in a variety of formats to be used for monthly payment, performance analysis, claims backup, and references for case history. The use of a computer for entering data of tunneling activities is lagging.

For the MetroWest Water Supply Tunnel Project (MWWST) a data base system was developed that electronically organizes information collected in the course of tunnel excavation. The information is summarized so that, through a network, interested parties at remote locations are readily informed of the status of the project. By clicks on the mouse, progress, rate of advance and the cause of production delays for a given period are placed on the screen. Increasing levels of detail are made available upon request for downloading.

The electronic data system described produces daily, weekly, and monthly summary reports from the database automatically by a click on the mouse. In addition, an "as built" drawing placed on CD's is produced periodically which groups and summarizes the data described above. The drawing incorporates 3,000 feet of tunnel and is updated once a month depending on the rate of advance. Factors such as progress, penetration rate, TBM utilization, maintenance time, breakdown time, rock mass quality, ground support and inflows are superimposed on the drawing. Rate of advance for a given period is shown above penetration rate downtime, and rock quality. If an area raises a particular interest, the database where details are stored is downloaded.

The system assemblies neat, comprehensive and timely reports in a speedy manner and has been proven to be a valuable tool in management of the MWWST project.