July 2014
Waterview Connection: New Zealand’s Largest Infrastructure Project
A comprehensive set of customised navigation and control systems from VMT are taking over key functions for the large diameter tunnelling project Waterview Connection in Auckland.
In New Zealand’s largest city a new motorway section is being constructed, the centrepiece being two parallel tunnels each with three lanes. The large-scale Waterview Connection project will close the gap between the Northwestern (SH16) and Southwestern (SH20) motorways, therefore completing Auckland’s much needed Western Ring Route. This will provide a high-quality alternative to State Highway 1 for journeys through and within Auckland as well as a much needed direct motorway link between the Central Business District (CBD) and Auckland Airport. The centrepiece of the Waterview Connection is a twin-bore 2 x 2.43 km long tunnel. Since October 2013 a Herrenknecht EPB Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) of 14.41m diameter has been utilised for tunnel excavation. During a celebration to open the tunnelling works, New Zealand’s Minister of Transport Gerry Brownlee said “The project is a significant investment by the Government in the strategic expansion of the motorway, which relieves Auckland’s population and supports the economy.”
VMT GmbH configured a comprehensive package with customized navigation and control systems for tunnel excavation in close cooperation with the project partners. The VMT systems monitor and regulate parameters and interfaces needed for tunnel construction, therefore supporting project management in process control and quality assurance.
The laser based navigation system TUnIS measures the position of the 14.4 metre TBM in relation to the designed tunnel alignment to the nearest millimetre. TUnIS transmits the measured data to monitors for the TBM operator, responsible for precisely navigating the TBM underground. The TUnIS software also incorporates a ring sequencing module to assist in ring selection. Depending on elements such as alignment radius or location of cross passage construction, the ring sequencing module recommends which segment type to build. The ring sequence calculation takes into account the data delivered by VMT’s GAPtrix tailskin clearance measurement system.
The precast plant in Auckland will produce a total of 24,000 tunnel lining segments, plus over 2,400 precast concrete culverts for installation at the tunnel invert. The production of segments including materials used, their storage across three yards and respective logistics are monitored, controlled and documented by the Segment Documentation System SDS from VMT.
The Integrated Risk and Information System IRIS provides an efficient tool for data management. IRIS collects and analyses all relevant tunnelling data and stores within a central database, to assist overall management of the construction site.
Project Partners
- Project owner: NZ Transport Agency
- Joint Venture: Well-Connected Alliance
- TBM manufacturer: Herrenknecht AG
- Segment production: Precast Alliance (Well-Connected Alliance & Wilson Tunnelling)
Scope of Supply by VMT GmbH
- Comprehensive consulting and service during installation and operation of the systems; on-site support by personnel from VMT Tunnel Guidance based in Australia
- Navigation: TUnIS TBMLaser and TUnIS Office, including ring sequencing module
- Tailskin clearance measurement: GAPtrix
- Segmental production and logistics management: SDS
- Integrated Risk and Information System: IRIS