NEOM Running Tunnels

Project context

NEOM is an urban mega-project in the Tabuk province of northwestern Saudi Arabia. It is one of the most ambitious and largest civil engineering projects of our time, representing a bold vision for the future of urban living, work, and sustainability. As part of the construction of this futuristic region, we can find the Drill & Blast tunnels that will serve to transport people and goods throughout the NEOM area.

This case study explores how Proqio, the infrastructure data intelligence monitoring platform, become crucial for monitoring one of the D&B tunnel section for this complex and groundbreaking project.

The story of NEOM running tunnels

The NEOM Running Tunnels project is a crucial part of the NEOM grand vision, involving the construction of over 28 kilometers of tunnels for high-speed and freight rail services. These tunnels are set to transform the transportation making it faster, safer, and more efficient across the NEOM region.

To manage the NEOM Running Tunnels project, an optimal solution had to be found for the construction company to integrate its various geotechnical, geodetic and geological data.

Given such a large project, the stakeholders needed a reliable system to manage exposure mapping, instrumentation data, support measurements and drilling records to ensure that everything ran smoothly and safely. Proqio's software was the solution of choice.

The Challenge of Data Management and Monitoring

One of the biggest challenges for the NEOM Running Tunnels team was to integrate and analyze the vast amount of data from tunnel construction progress, geology, instrumentation, monitoring and surveying. The complexity of the project is reflected in:

1. Data overload, with over 10,000 instruments generating data daily.

2. Concern for ensuring the structural integrity and safety of extensive tunnel networks.

3. The need for real-time monitoring with immediate alerts to take quick decisions against potential issues and maintain operational efficiency.

4. Geological variability: Managing construction through diverse and challenging geological conditions.

5. Coordination: Ensuring smooth communication and data exchange between the various stakeholders.

The impact of Proqio on the NEOM Running Tunnels Project

Proqio was chosen by the contractor and the NEOM Running Tunnels team for its robust real-time data management features, graphical representations and secure online access. These features coupled with the ability to monitor tunnel convergence, construction progress and report automation persuaded the stakeholders.

How did Proqio provide solutions to the key challenges they faced? Through:

• Unified data management system: integration of GSMDMS (Instrumentation and Monitoring) and TDMS (Tunnel Data Management System) on a single platform.

• Real-time monitoring: Providing instant access to critical data on tunnel convergence, geological conditions and construction progress.

• Automatic report generation for engineers to review during each turn.

• Alert management: Providing 24/7 support staff to manage real-time project alerts and trigger action plans when necessary.

• Advanced analysis to determine the cause-effect relationship of tunnel deformations.

How NEOM Running Tunnels Team Used Proqio

The Proqio platform covered everything related to GSMDMS (Instrumentation and Monitoring) and TDMS (Tunnel Data Management System) on the project. The software helped the team to monitor tunnel movements and assess geological conditions with precision. Thanks to the automatic reports generated by the platform, engineers could quickly review the data, enabling them to respond quickly to any potential issues. In addition, Proqio's support team managed project alerts in real time, ensuring immediate action when needed.

Monitoring Tunnel Convergence

Monitoring tunnel convergence during construction is critical to understand the deformation or movement of the tunnel walls as they adjust to new stress conditions created by excavation. This phenomenon occurs because the surrounding rock or soil, which was previously in equilibrium, reacts to the removal of material and the creation of a void (the tunnel) by shifting and settling into a new equilibrium.

Proqio’s capabilities allowed the project team to:

• Ensure Safety: By detecting potential structural issues early, thus protecting workers.

• Maintain Stability: By tracking the long-term stability of the tunnel.

• Manage Risks: By providing critical data to improve risk management and future tunnel designs.

The monitoring was conducted through arrays of optical targets read with semi-automatic robotic total stations. Proqio’s ability to create virtual calculations from these readings was crucial in measuring tunnel convergence accurately.

Drill & Blast Data Management

Proqio stored comprehensive information on construction progress and tunnel data, including:

• Live monitoring of tunnel progress.

• Geological face mapping for every tunnel advance.

• Records of site activities during excavation and lining.

• Rock mass assessments and tunnel geology.

• Characteristics of soft/mixed ground and rock interfaces.

• Details of blast holes and explosives used.

• Excavated volumes and blasting vibration monitoring.

• Photographic records of exposed rock faces.

• Project site maps and imagery.

• Graphical representation of construction progress.

Proqio enabled engineers to have a complete overview of the work, making precise cause and effect analyses of in-tunnel deformations possible.

Automatic Reporting

Instrumentation and monitoring reports, reviewed and analyzed by engineers every shift in the Shift Review Group (SRG), were automatically generated by the platform. Additionally, Proqio provided full-time support staff to manage all project alerts in real-time, performing initial assessments and activating the project action plan as needed.

The Results

Thanks to Proqio, the NEOM Running Tunnels team was able to manage the analysis of the huge amount of monitoring data in real-time, achieving greater structural safety. Additionally, the automated data collection and reporting features save time and reduces manual errors, improving decision making and risk management. This way, Proqio plays a key role in ensuring that NEOM tunnel construction runs smoothly and safely.

The satisfaction of the NEOM Running Tunnels team can be noticed in the following testimonial:

“We are managing the geological mapping parameters, convergences and displacement trends of tunnels with Proqio. It allows us to have unparalleled control over the construction project”

Pablo Corrales – Tunnel Engineer Leader at NEOM Lot 2-3

Conclusion

Proqio has been an essential tool for the NEOM Running Tunnels. By providing robust data management, real-time monitoring and advanced analytics, Proqio has enabled the construction team to overcome the challenges associated with this complex and large-scale project. As NEOM continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in urban development, Proqio is ready to support and improve the efficiency and safety of its ambitious infrastructure projects.

Ready to elevate your project’s safety and efficiency? Discover how Proqio can transform your monitoring today. Claim a demo today!