Ed. Züblin and VMT, are to combine their know-how of software based process steering for tunnelling in a newly formed a JV. The newly established company, ITC Engineering GmbH & Co. KG, will jointly market software systems for Process Data Management (PDM) in the construction sector.
Further developments will focus on the web-based expert system for infrastructure projects – IRIS (Integrated Risk and Information System). Using IRIS, the CBP (Controlled Boring Process) and Hydra (High Performance System for Data Storage, Reporting and Analysis) product lines already on the market by both companies are combined into a unique process data management system for infrastructure design.
“In industrial processes with a high degree of mechanization, e.g. mechanized tunnelling and specialized underground works as well as in engineering, the flood of data and information is permanently increasing”, explains Manfred Messing, Executive Managing Director of VMT. “ITC Engineering develops software systems that support companies and their construction sites in terms of data management and data analysis, resulting in a transparent construction process.” ITC Executive Managing Director, Dr. Peter-Michael Mayer, adds: “IRIS is an innovative tool developed as a software system for steering tunnelling and pipe jacking works, which has been extended to cover other areas of infrastructure construction such as special underground works, bridge and road building.”
The aim is to handle major infrastructure projects transparently and effectively with the aid of an efficient, web-based software solution. “Construction companies and all partners involved in implementation and controlling can therefore avail of a comprehensive and flexible concept”, adds Dr. Mayer.
By combining the technical monitoring know-how offered by VMT with the extensive design and construction expertise offered by the Technical Head Office at Ed. Züblin, ITC says it will be capable of developing innovative solutions and services for its customers.
The system covers
- merging and analyzing manual and automatic process data governing mechanized tunnelling, special underground works as well as geological and environmental monitoring in a central database
- Systematic processing and archiving of tunnelling data on ongoing tunnelling projects by monthly, weekly and daily reports; shift evaluation is realized via interactive shift logs
- Evaluation of TBM data, e.g. backfilling, cutting wheel pressure, hydraulic pressure of jacks, cutterhead speed etc., in combination with geological parameters from preliminary exploration and surface subsidence monitoring data
- Evaluation and visualization of monitoring data for assessing the TBM position, control movements, shield driving accuracy etc., in order to identify any possible risks as regards stresses inflicted on the tunnel lining
- Web-based recordings and evaluations of inclinometer and extensometer monitoring data on buildings at risk of subsidence in a joint database with tunnel and environmental monitoring data
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