Summary Reader Response Draft #1

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Tunnels in the past were utilized for purposes such as irrigation, drainage, and water transportation system as well as communication routes to ameliorate the underground habitats. The Leonard (2022) webpage titled, “Innovation at the end of the tunnel”, informs readers about the rising need for underground infrastructures brought on by population pressure and urbanization. This underground infrastructure includes functions such as sanitation, logistics, and transportation. To meet these demands, modern tunnel-boring machines were introduced to meet these needs. As mentioned in another webpage by Trenchlesspedia, (2020, para. 2), tunnel-boring machines are referred to as “mole(s)” and are designed to bore circular tunnels through all types of earth, from sandy soil to hard rocks. The recently completed construction of the Thomson - East Coast Line (TEL) in Singapore is an excellent example of how this technology is being extensively utilized (Wong, 2019). Modern tunnel-boring technology prevails over traditional tunnelling methodologies, such as drilling and blasting. This is because, despite its high initial cost, it is superior in terms of operational safety and building efficiency.  

 

Tunnels have traditionally been excavated through the drilling and blasting method, which uses explosives to break up rocks (Engineering Channel, 2023). Tunnel-boring machines, on the other hand, offer benefits such as rapid construction time and safe operations, which allowed them to be widely used in underground space development and tunnelling projects (Gong, Yin, Ma, & Jian Zhao, 2016).


Tunnel-boring technology increases building efficiency by allowing for faster construction of building infrastructure. Land Transport Authority (LTA) project director Henry Foo stated that tunnel boring machines save time, and manpower and are less disruptive (Tan, 2016).  Land Transport Authority (LTA, 2022) contends that the type of ground influences the speed of tunnelling. A tunnel boring machine (TBM) can squeeze through 20 meters of marine clay in the same amount of time that it would take to cut through a 4-meter rock, which is approximately half the length of a bus. This process is being compared to "pushing toothpaste through a tube." This demonstrates that tunnel boring technology increases productivity, allowing for faster infrastructure completion.


Another benefit of tunnel–boring technology is the ability for operational safety to take place during the construction of infrastructures. The utilization of TBMs increases safety by minimizing disturbances to the environment (Mining Technology, 2022) In addition when compared to conventional drilling and blasting methodologies, a TBM has the advantages of speed, efficiency, quality assurance, and high-level safety (Zhang, et al., 2022). However, the tunnel-boring machine must have enough support to exert pressure on the face, so it must be stable to prevent gripper shoe supports from sinking and collapsing or detachment from the smallest lining (Mapfre, 2019). This demonstrated that the tunnel boring machine was used with caution and that safety was prioritized. In addition, the tunnel-boring machine is used in a controlled working environment and is supported by supports while in use, suggesting that tunnel-boring machine activities are safe.


Despite the many benefits of the tunnel boring machine (TBM), it has its drawbacks – one of which is the high initial cost of tunnel boring technology. TBM tunnelling is typically not economical for short tunnel runs due to the lengthy procurement and assembly time, coupled with the high initial cost of acquiring a machine, for tunnels that are less than a mile long (“Summary memorandum: tunnel construction study”, 2018, pg. 18, para. 4) Furthermore, if a specific excavation length is not obtained, the comparatively high initial cost of deploying the TBM results in poor economic feasibility (Kong, et al., 2021). In Singapore, the TBM construction method costs four times higher than cut -the and-cover method (Tan, 2016). Thus, this implies that TBMs require more cost for this method to be used since it requires more effort to work in a controlled environment such as narrow spaces. TBMs, on the other hand, are more cost-effective in the long run. TBMs of today are larger in diameter, have more refined excavation technologies, and are more expensive than earlier generations of equipment. However, new machines can recurrently excavate faster, with less risk and surface settlement, saving money in the long run (Clark & Ramsey, 2017). In addition, TBMs are costly to build and can be difficult to transport. The longer the tunnel, the lower the relative cost of tunnel boring machines versus traditional methods. Tunnelling with TBMs is significantly more effective and results in shorter delivery times, assuming they function properly. As a result, having a shorter construction delivery time will result in lower overall project costs. 


In conclusion, the advantages of using tunnel-boring technology over conventional techniques make it a preferable choice for tunnel construction. The continuous use of TBMs in construction necessitates a recognition that technological improvement is essential to enabling these TBM machines to work more cost-effectively and efficiently. Therefore, for these machines to stay relevant and significant to the construction industry, more thorough research and modifications must be made.

 

References

Bhavyasahni. (2023, January 5). IoT innovation: Leading companies in tunnel boring machines for the mining industry. Mining Technology. https://www.mining-technology.com/data-insights/innovators-tunnel-boring-machines-mining-2/

 

Clark, G., & Ramsey, M. (2017, October 18). Tunnelingonline.com. tunnelingonline.com | 520: Web server is returning an unknown error. https://tunnelingonline.com/advanced-technologies-help-overcome-tunneling-challenges-save-time-money/

 

Engineering Channel. (2021, April 6). Tunnel boring machine. https://engineering-channel.com/tunnel-boring-machine/

 

Gong, Q., Yin, L., Ma, H., & Zhao, J. (2016). TBM tunnelling under adverse geological conditions: An overview. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 57, 4-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2016.04.002

 

Innovation at the end of the tunnel. (2022, January 26). Leonard, foresight and Innovation by VINCI. https://leonard.vinci.com/en/innovation-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/

 

Kong, S., Choi, S., Shim, S., Lee, H., Oh, D., & Lee, S. (2021). Stability evaluation of TBM pilot tunnels to rear blasting using the protection shield. Applied Sciences, 11(4), 1759. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11041759

 

MAPFRE Global Risks. (2019, May 7). Tunnel construction: Design for latest generation tunnel boring machines. https://www.mapfreglobalrisks.com/en/risks-insurance-management/article/tunnel-construction-rational-design-for-latest-generation-tunnel-boring-machines/

 

Tan, C. (2016, June 15). New tunnel-boring machine makes cutting corners perfectly sound. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/new-tunnel-boring-machine-makes-cutting-corners-perfectly-sound

 

What is a tunnel boring machine (TBM)? - Definition from Trenchlesspedia. (2017, March 23). Trenchlesspedia - Trenchless Solutions Through Education. https://www.trenchlesspedia.com/definition/2572/tunnel-boring-machine-tbm

 

Wong, K. Y. (2019, November 23). Tunnelling for Thomson-east coast line completed on schedule. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/tunnelling-for-thomson-east-coast-line-completed-on-schedule

 

Zhang, Z., Wang, B., Wang, X., He, Y., Wang, H., & Zhao, S. (2022). Safety-risk assessment for TBM construction of hydraulic tunnel based on fuzzy evidence reasoning. Processes, 10(12), 2597. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr10122597

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