Coming from the underground mining sector to tunnels is a digital package of key systems and methods developed and proved by Epiroc’s Mobilaris business to help monitor and manage in real-time the activities of multiple drill rigs and tunnelling machinery as well as stationary equipment in operation.

In mines, the Mobilaris Mining Intelligence products have been for years supporting decision-making that includes planning, productivity and situational awareness in 3D – including for safety.

The software draw continuous streams of data via the installed network (WiFi/LTE, etc) from dedicated tags and tablets that are installed in drill rigs and equipment. Tags are also worn by workers as part of spatial safety management.

“All software/hardware offered are completely OEM agnostic and can be used in any type of vehicle,” says Håkan Bolsöy, business development manager for Mobilaris Tunneling Intelligence at Epiroc.

Bolsöy says, “An appropriate amount of network antennas helps to ensure smooth operation and connectivity” in the underground environment that is a network of interconnected tunnels and junctions, with frequent movements – especially for drill and blast tunnelling, and associated construction activities.

“However, should any device lose connection then data for reporting will not be lost,” he adds, “but will be reported once connected again.”

Antennas – and BLE beacons to increase accuracy – are strategically placed according to a design arrangement, which is matched to suit the evolving layout of an underground project with advancing faces and headings, and also moving equipment. For location tracking of personnel, vehicles or assets, Epiroc’s own standard hardware, such as the multipurpose tag, can be used, but the system can also track those provided by vendors and suppliers, he says.

“Even virtual tag for cell phones is offered, avoiding the need of a physical tag,” says Bolsöy.

Inputs from workers and equipment operators also contribute to the flow of data to be gathered and rapidly assessed.

On top of the hardware layout, the Mobilaris system then runs its suite of software products that have proved their effectiveness in underground mines. The modules available from Mobilaris Tunneling Intelligence are Planning and Scheduling, Productivity Analysis, Situational Awareness, Emergency Support, and more.

“We have adapted and developed them to fit the specific needs in tunnelling construction,” says Bolsöy.

In effect, it is a real-time overview of the network of resources deployed and in action. It shows how progress is being achieved across the faces and headings, and the performance of the supporting supply lines.

When Epiroc acquired Mobilaris Mining & Civil Engineering, in 2021, Bolsöy also transferred with the business. Serving mines first – across the world – Epiroc’s Mobilaris Mining & Civil Engineering business has expanded into the tunnel construction sector, “initially in northern Europe but requests are being received already for projects elsewhere,” he says.

SAVINGS FROM DATA

Through recent discussions with a tunnelling contractor, Bolsöy says, they were able together to specify “the typical timing of the drill and blast cycle, including typical and very often occurring delays.” This means how long the delay is per round, on average, “and how often they typically occur.”

On these “very interesting” points, he says the detailed discussions determined the specification for the average delay per round to be approximately 10%-15% – which “means 1.5 hours are added if a round was 10-hour (excluding injection), which is a lot of time waste.”

A rough estimate for potential time saving in tunnelling works can then be calculated by including an average advance per metre per round.

For example, based on the judged figures, then a 2km-3km-long tunnel could have the tunnelling period reduced by about one month, he adds.

On top of that is the potential for cost saving, adding either an hourly rate or average rate per metre of advance.

“Adding other activities may even further improve the potential” for benefits from savings, says Bolsöy, and he sees Epiroc’s Mobilaris Planning & Scheduling tool as offering potential on these points.

The tool helps a customer “see what’s going on in real time,” he says, and “how to easily adjust timing of the next activity in the cycle” – including actions such as when to, more accurately, order the shotcrete, etc. Often this is a key point of delay, he emphasises Reporting is helped, too, such as outputting digital shift reports, saving further time, and the data also can highlight areas where time and/or materials, or process, improvements can be sought “for coming shifts, weeks ahead or even to quote for a new contract by having better insight,” he says.

TAKING DIGITAL VIEWS

Bolsöy says the construction intelligence software tools have been designed for use in a variety of types of underground project works, such as tunnels and caverns, and more. In addition to safety, the main purpose is to increase productivity in the drill and blast cycle, making planning and reporting easier.

“This highlights waste or problems, and does so quickly, benefitting the workers individually as well as the projects,” he says.

The Planning and Scheduling module, and also the Productivity Analysis module, are focused on gathering and analysing information that can come automatically as data transmissions about operations and movements of machines, such as jumbo rigs, and also direct inputs made by operators and workers (such as through the Operator Client software, installed on a networked tablet).

With a constant flood of data, tunnel managers can assess performance and consider what changes may be helpful, or necessary. They can help ensure that time gaps aren’t stretching that could affect key deadlines, like blast windows or other key activities. The system also allows operators to perform checklist logging and note consumables used, in realtime, all of which adds to the tighter management of tunnelling progress – even to take a Just-in-Time (JIT) approach, Epiroc says.

“Via API’s, the results and progress can easily be presented on screens, such as in lunchrooms, etc,” says Bolsöy.

Standing back from the immediate real-time needs, the reports can help review utilisation of resources as well as evaluation of plans and outcomes, including against any Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Then, improvements to working systems at faces or headings, or adjustments for fleet or individual machines, can be systematically introduced.

Ever important is knowing who is underground, where and when, all of which is visually enabled by the Situational Awareness module.

It can be integrated with fire alarms and communications systems, the company says.

Tags that can be monitored by the networks can be from Epiroc or other vendors and suppliers.

The Mobilaris Emergency Support module is focused on personnel, providing evacuation direction which can go to phones or tags.

By acknowledgment from each worker, it becomes visible who is aware or not of an emergency.

The system helps manage the real-time situation with those personnel needing to be focused on first, and it also can guide rescue teams, the company adds.

BUILDING OUT WITH DATA

Improving the speed – reducing the time – of the drill and blast cycle by “as little as a few percent can save weeks in the end,” says Bolsöy. With such time sensitivity in outcome, wasted time can easily add a month to the planned work and increase costs by a “few million euros.”

Knowing where things are, and when, are data points of high value for any construction work cycle. Where the activity locations, work sequences and equipment involved is not always immediately or easily visible – such as in underground environments – but still can be widely monitored makes the value of such data even more important.

Epiroc is taking a system, proven in mining, into the tunnelling market and will primarily focus on drill and blast work.

But, in essence, he agrees, the system has potential for even wider uses in tunnelling.

It could be that the system might fight use on tunnel works with roadheaders, TBMs, or other kinds of excavations. What they have in common is challenging, complex, and continuously active and evolving underground environments.

Like for any infrastructure project, but perhaps more those where the deployments of equipment and materials resources are not fully and easily visible – such as when they are tucked away, working along many different tunnels – there remains a need to improve performance.

Having a way to cast a net and catch data underground, in real-time, helps to improve productivity and also safety on tunnel projects.