A settlement prediction system is currently being used as part of the civil engineering concept design work being carried out by a JV of Gibb/Team Engineering /Geoconsult for a proposed 11km section of the Rome Metro Line C.
This section includes some 20km of running tunnels and 12 stations that will be constructed for the most part under densely built up urban areas. A number of historic structures are situated along the route, including an ancient aqueduct that straddles the line.
Tunnelling on the project is set to take place through volcanic and alluvial soils using a combination of TBM and NATM techniques. Station construction will be carried out using both deep braced excavations and NATM tunnels.
Gibb developed the specialist software package to quantify settlement risk for the client. The software enables design assessments to be made plus detailed cost estimates of the effects of the metro project. Likely building strain and damage is presented on a Geographical Information System (GIS).
