Saalg Geomechanics and Acciona Infrastructures

This category is open to any geotechnical company that can show excellence in the way it has used digital technology to improve systems, performance, processes or project delivery within its own business between January 2022 and January 2023. Entries in this category should focus on business-wide innovations and, where applicable, be used on multiple projects. Project-specific innovations should be entered in the Technical Excellence category. Entries could focus on a particular digital innovation - such as an initiative to improve safety, employment practices, collaboration or delivery - or present how digital innovation is fostered and encouraged across the business and the benefits this is driving. The innovation could be site or office based, and entrants should present clear evidence of how the innovation has delivered performance, cost, health and safety or reliability improvements for the business and how this benefits both clients and society.

GEMINI (Ground Excavation Management via Infrastructure Network Intelligent)

In collaboration with ACCIONA Infrastructures, SAALG Geomechanics tackled the challenge to predict TBM advance rate considering both machine performance parameters and ground conditions. Understanding this relationship becomes a powerful tool to support both tunnel engineers and TBM pilots making wiser decisions in terms of reducing costs by optimizing excavation performance and increasing safety by anticipating change of ground conditions. SAALG Geomechanics has developed DAARWIN-GEMINI, a real-time digital system to predict penetration rate, detect geological anomalies and TBM time cycle management in TBM-driven tunnels to optimize excavation and reduce costs of tunneling projects. Implementation in the Mularroya tunnel (10 km long and 3m diam.) estimated a reduction of 14 excavation days, which can save up to 1.2 M GBP. The system is being setup for its deployment in Sao Paulo (Brasil) metro and S19 expressway in Poland.