Working with the industry and utility companies, Dr Lu Ming, Associate Professor of Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, and his research team have successfully developed the TunnelingGSV system (GSV stands for Guide, Sense, and Visualize). The system facilitates the use of “trenchless” technology in installing underground utility pipelines by minimizing the nuisance of public works to busy traffic and businesses on the surface.

The TunnelingGSV system is coupled with the use of a sophisticated micro Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) which works like an underground robot for piping work. TunnelingGSV can automatically survey the TBM's positions by a robotic total station and can derive any tunnel alignment deviations in real time. Given the coordinates of three observation points on the TBM, TunnelingGSV can accurately determine the rotation angles of the TBM in the underground space. Through wireless data communication and computer visualization, underground working environment can be visualized in real-time 3D computer graphics through the system.

TunnelingGSV can help prevent the TBM from being derailed or trapped in boring through complicated ground conditions; or “over-cutting” the underground soil and undesired ground settlement in the adjacent area when the TBM advances too fast. For well-developed and densely-populated cities like Hong Kong, the use of “trenchless” microtunneling and pipe jacking to install subsurface pipelines is both community-friendly and environmentally-friendly. Details >>