A novel monitoring technology, CSattAR, designed and developed by CSIC PhD student Mehdi Alhaddad has been shortlisted for three New Civil Engineer Tunnelling Awards 2016, the annual awards that showcase the best in tunneling expertise.
Mehdi has developed the innovative photogrammetric system to address tunnel monitoring challenges, including problematic clearance and installation practicalities experienced when working in running tunnels.
CSattAR has been shortlisted for:
• Technical Innovation of the Year – Monitoring What Matters (Bond Street Station Upgrade – Sattar Image Tracking (SIT) Monitoring of Royal Mail Tunnel)
• Design Innovation of the Year – Monitoring What Matters (SIT Monitoring of Moorgate Escalator 3 for Crossrail - complemented by Senceive Tilt Meters)
• Ground Investigation and Monitoring Award – Monitoring What Matters.
The technical content of CSattAR makes it possible to measure movements smaller than 0.1mm using low-cost cameras. The technology, which costs a fraction of current conventional alternatives, allows engineers to record extremely precise movements and monitor numerous points along a tunnel section delivering additional deformation measurement, in real-time, that has not been available until now. The system is capable of monitoring radius of curvature (ROC) at local level, which marks another first.
CSattAR has been installed in a number of tunnels to monitor the integrity of structures while other construction activities are taking place close by. Successful deployments include monitoring operational London Underground tunnels, the Bond Street upgrade project, the Royal Mail Tunnel, the Moorgate Escalator 3, CERN tunnels and other underground spaces affected by the excavation of the Crossrail project. CSattAR has been matured and trialled in several projects over the last two years and is now ready to run commercially.
Mehdi said: “The technology has been specifically designed for tunnel environments and to monitor the most critical deformations that affect tunnel linings. The strength of CSattAR is its simple, accurate and un-intrusive design and potential in the wider context of monitoring infrastructure works.”
The winners of the New Civil Engineer Tunnelling Awards will be announced on 8 December at the awards ceremony held in London. CSIC won the prestigious New Civil Engineer Tunnelling Awards Ground Investigation and Monitoring Award for the Smart Tunnel in 2014.