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Innovation TUnIS.moving station – EN






TUnIS.moving station

TUnIS.moving station

TUnIS.moving station is an assistance system that enhances a laser and targetbased navigation system in large diameter tunnelling. With TUnIS.moving station, the total station is not mounted on the tunnel wall, but travels on the gantry of the TBM.

Tino Heinze
Sales Manager
t.heinze[at]vmt-gmbh.de
t +49 7251 9699 48
m +49 160 9017 8949


Benefits

  • Efficient use of specialist labour
    The surveyor no longer has to continuously accompany the advance on the machine, as the recurring modification of total station and console is no longer necessary. This leaves more time for working on other activities.
  • Material-saving tunnelling
    Since heavy total station consoles are no longer required, the segments remain undamaged. The prisms can be attached quickly and easily.
  • Everything in view, regardless of radius
    Because the total station is permanently mounted on the gantry, tight curves can be driven – without loss of sight.
  • Increased occupational health and safety
    Simplified assembly, remote control of the tachymeter via mobile app and reduced danger of looking into the laser beam all ensure better occupational health and safety.
  • Optimal flexibility
    Switching between TUnIS “main system“ and „moving station“ navigation modes is quick and easy.

Tino Heinze
Sales Manager
t.heinze[at]vmt-gmbh.de
t +49 7251 9699 48
m +49 160 9017 8949
Features

  • Precise, automatic measurement with the laser tachymeter during ring building
  • Determination of the current position during the advance using stroke measurement of the thrust cylinders and the assistant system TUnIS.track assistant
  • Permanent calculation and display of the TBM position
  • Complete documentation of the shield run in a database
  • Reporting and data export to CSV and XLSX
  • Robust hardware components designed for the demanding use in the tunnel
  • Comprehensive service from installation and maintenance to training of the site personnel by VMT

Tino Heinze
Sales Manager
t.heinze[at]vmt-gmbh.de
t +49 7251 9699 48
m +49 160 9017 8949
Case Study

London Power Tunnel | Hurst – Crayford: total 2517m

  • Situation: 1 drive – 1 curve
    On a 300m radius curved alignment with 277m the total station requires about every 6th Ring (each 7,2m advance) to relocate. On the straight sections of the alignment it is about every 20th Ring.
    ► Savings
    • By calculation this equals the saving of time to fix 38 laser station positions that have to be drilled and mounted onto the ring segments.
    • Bracket drilling and placing surveyor and assistant 0.5 man-hours each.

    • Total saving in man-hours 0.5*2*38 = 38 hours for a 277m curve
  • Situation: all drives
  • Summary: Assuming that every 6th ring in a curve you need to relocate the TCA)
    ► Savings for the whole project
    1637 man-hours by using the TUnIS.moving station

Tino Heinze
Sales Manager
t.heinze[at]vmt-gmbh.de
t +49 7251 9699 48
m +49 160 9017 8949
TUnIS Navigation – the common software platform for all VMT navigation systems

Tino Heinze
Sales Manager
t.heinze[at]vmt-gmbh.de
t +49 7251 9699 48
m +49 160 9017 8949
Screenshots

Photos

picture Roy Behrend,
Chief Surveyor For The 
Thames Tideway Tunnel,
Highlights The Savings 
Offered When Using TUnIS.moving station



The science of tunnel navigation is an area of technology that over the decades has moved from the simplest of surveying techniques to the modern complex IT supported systems we have today. VMT has always been at the forefront of such developments and has recently introduced the latest innovation TUnIS.moving station.

TUnIS.moving station is an assistance system that enhances a laser and target-based navigation system in large diameter tunnelling. With TUnIS.moving station, the total station is not mounted on the tunnel wall, but travels on the gantry of the tunnel boring machine (TBM).

TUnIS.moving station determines and calculates all data and information that is necessary for navigating the TBM along a tunnel axis. The high information content of the data displayed ensures optimum control of the machine position and thus helps to maintain a uniform shield run with small deviations from the desired route. The position and tendencies are continuously displayed to the shield operator. This allows vertical or horizontal curves to be easily and precisely controlled.

Three prisms installed on the tunnel wall with an active electronic laser target in the shield of the TBM are used for exact determination of position. In the first step, the exact current position of the total station is determined using the prisms. In the second step, the current position of the laser target is determined and thus the position of the TBM.

This new system has recently run very effective trials on the Thames Tideway Tunnel project in the UK. The trials were so successful that the tunnelling operation has now been moved onto the new system replacing the existing VMT standard navigation system for the remainder of the current tunnelling operation.

Subsequent to the trial Roy Behrend, Chief Surveyor for the BAM Nuttall, Morgan Sindall, Balfour Beatty joint venture (BMBJV) constructing the west section of the tunnel was interviewed by VMT’s Steve Wojtkowiak to obtain his views on the TUnIS.moving station.


Why did you choose the VMT TUnIS.moving station product when there are alternatives / competitive solutions?

“BMBJV was using VMT’s original fixed position Total Station Navigation System (TUnIS Navigation TBMLaser) which uses two stationary inter-visible brackets mounted on the Ring Segments. These brackets, the Total Station as well as the reference prism were moved and relocated as the TBM advanced.“


What where the main arguments that convinced you to go with the VMT product?

“VMT installed and tested the new Moving Station guidance system on our TBM. The Moving Station and the original fixed station guidance systems were operated simultaneously to check for coincidental position accuracy and system comparison. The advantages of the Moving Station were evident and the system has been implemented and adopted for the remainder of the tunnel drive.”


Did the VMT solution generally fulfil your expectations? Did they perform as expected?


“Yes, all expectations were fulfilled by VMT.”


What were the main benefits that the systems delivered and do you have any ‘hard data’ that highlights the benefits, for example cost reductions, reduction in staff/time etc.?

“BMBJV was about 50% completed with construction of the 7 km TBM drive when the TUnIS.moving station was implemented. The advantages of the system can be accredited mostly for improved time efficiency resulting in cost saving. These efficiencies included:
• Total station fixed brackets are no longer required to be drilled and bolted onto the Ring Segments. This is a saving of time for the Engineer to drill and mount about 270 bracket positions for the remaining 3,500 m of the tunnel drive. Also, there is a time saving by not having to repair the drilled holes once the station position is changed, so the original finish of the Segment is maintained.
• With the original system the Total Station continuously measured to the active laser target unit (ALTU) to update the TBM position during the advance. With the TUnIS.moving station, a geometrical TBM position is only required once before the start of each advance when the total station is stationary. This allows for free movement of the TBM crew and no longer provides a conflict with staff blocking the laser beam during the advance especially with our TBM’s gantry design.
• With the TUnIS.moving station, the Engineer updates the TBM position remotely by use of a mobile device App and WiFi data communication with the TUnIS software. This App allows ‘hands free’ Total Station operation and position calculation which is efficient and easy to use
• With the TUnIS.moving station, the Total Station nor the radio modem require external battery charging and replacement. It is powered continuously from mains power.
• The TUnIS.moving station did not reduce the staffing requirement. The Engineer still operates the guidance system as before, but the improved time management for the system operation has made it a less onerous task.“


How do you rate your collaboration with VMT in terms of:
• in negotiation/consulting phase
• during testing phase on TBM and later implementation
• support during the project


“Communication was really good with VMT for the testing and implementation of the new system. There is always immediate ongoing support for VMT’s navigation systems and TUnIS software. Support is also available remotely online via Team Viewer.”


Do you have any proposals for improvement of our technologies?

“Not at this time.”


Would you opt for a VMT product solution again and work with VMT as a partner?

“The TUnIS software package is well developed and menu systems allow for ease of use. The system is very well supported by VMT. VMT Support Engineers have remote access to the system which allows for easy system maintenance and testing. I would not hesitate to recommend or use VMT products again.”

Tino Heinze
Sales Manager
t.heinze[at]vmt-gmbh.de
t +49 7251 9699 48
m +49 160 9017 8949