China Railway Tunnel Group (CRTG) says it used “Eight Intelligent Systems” to build China’s deepest and highest-water-pressure tunnel under the Pearl (Zhujiang) River Estuary.
The 9,175m-long main tunnel and a 1,160m-long inclined shaft will accommodate high-speed trains on the new, 116km railway linking the cities of Shenzhen and Jiangmen across the estuary on China’s southeast coast.
Boring for the tunnel started on 31 December 2021.
Earlier this month, tunelling experts from around the world visited the tunnel site during the 2024 World Tunnel Congress in Shenzhen.
The eight systems include intelligent tunnelling, segment assembly, coordination, diagnostics, monitoring, component production, material management, and ventilation.
Thanks to them, CRTG “successfully navigated the project’s challenges and ensured efficient operations”, the company said.
A smart management platform integrated real-time monitoring, analysis, collaborative management, auxiliary tunnelling, and big data analysis, it added.
The systems use neural networks, machine learning, predictive algorithms, edge feedback control, and emergency fuse control.
“As we progress in intelligent tunnel construction research and development, our commitment is to bridge the data gap between construction and operation, thereby setting new standards in the field,” said Hong Kairong, CRTG’s chief engineer.
