In a two-part series, we provide insights into the Mühlberg Tunnel pilot project, in which we successfully digitized construction site processes together with our colleagues from HOCHTIEF Infrastructure's Southwest branch in Frankfurt. In this first part, we present the project and explain how data collection and networking works.

The Mühlberg Tunnel is a 400m-long tunnel that has been under construction near Kaiserslautern since 2022. The tunnel is being built using the mining method with a classic NATM (New Austrian Tunneling Method). This means that the tunnel is being excavated by drilling and blasting with support provided by a shotcrete outer shell.

The project is a special project in terms of BIM, as some BIM use cases are being used for the first time in tunnel construction in order to exploit the potential of BIM methodology specifically for tunnel construction.

We are supporting our colleagues on site with the digitalization of construction site processes. The focus here is on the digitalization of existing construction site processes. The processes start with data collection using mobile devices and end with the use of the evaluated information to optimize business processes. In this project, we use digital condition recording, the digital construction diary and quality assurance with digitally recorded construction site inspections.

The tunnel excavation is documented using data recorded on mobile devices in a special digital form. The individual steps of the tunnelling process, the so-called cut-offs and the materials and equipment used are documented in detail. This data is then read out in several steps, networked, evaluated and used directly for invoicing, for example.

To ensure that the data can be evaluated, data networking is carried out on the basis of the business processes by implementing the project data structure (PDS). To this end, we created meaningful links between the collected data and the 3D model at an early stage of the project.

Stay tuned: In the second part, we provide insights into data evaluation, the resulting added value for project operations and our success factors.

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