Issue link: https://geospatial.trimble.com/en/resources/i/1480699
Case Study Customer: Academy Geomatics Ltd Project: Monitoring a Metro tunnel during overhead construction works Solution: Trimble S7 Total Station, Settop M1, Trimble T4D Monitoring Software n Need for additional sensors - the tunnel was a cast iron ring section which meant heat could trigger movement through expansion which would need to be recorded. n Covid, cost and time – restricting the number of site visits to an absolute minimum would be beneficial to all involved especially with these visits restricted to the night Tailor-made solution Responsible for finding a solution to the site's complex demands was Academy Geomatics Ltd Director, Mark Anderson. Having managed many of the previous Metro monitoring jobs, Mark ensured that his initial investigation of the site included a 3D laser scan of the affected tunnel. The scan revealed that through careful positioning, there would be room within the tunnel to place a total station and consequently Mark was able to suggest two potential solutions to the client, one involving the total station and an alternative method using tilt sensors. The client elected to use the total station method favouring the ability to generate absolute displacement values over the extra cost of using a total station. As a long-term user of Trimble equipment supplied by KOREC, Mark used both his Whilst the development of Newcastle city centre continues apace, there have been many construction projects completed within the vicinity of the underground sections of its Metro. These works often require careful monitoring of the relevant sections of the network and several of these monitoring schemes have been managed by the highly experienced team at Gateshead based Academy Geomatics Ltd. With a further construction project just beginning in the city centre, Academy Geomatics Ltd was recommended to design and install a system for a tunnel that may be affected by the works, a job with many complex demands: Complex site challenges n Lack of access - the site was within a live metro tunnel so could only be accessed for a short period of time during the night. n Restricted site - in previous locations within the Metro tunnel, there had been insufficient room to install a total station so a laser scanning method was used on a weekly/two weekly basis. However Academy Geomatics advised the client that during critical phases of this job, such as piling, more frequent measurement would be required. n Requirement for client assistance – the construction company undertaking the work would need guidance in both the system set up and in understanding the generated results and long-term logistics for the site. n Communications – if data was to be transmitted from the tunnel, robust transmission of this data would be imperative with a possible requirement for 280m of fibre optic cable up a vent shaft. Whilst you were sleeping – A tailor-made monitoring solution is set up remotely As construction work gets underway above ground, a tailor- made, automated monitoring programme protects the live Metro tunnel below thanks to a system designed specifically to overcome a unique set of challenges and bring a new level of automation through remote set-up. "The system will deliver exactly what the client and Nexus (who provide, plan and promote public transport in the NE) specified for this complex project. " Mark Anderson, Academy Geomatics Ltd Custom built housing for the Trimble S7