Digital twins and sensor monitoring for alpine engineering structures: Applications for tunnels

Abstract

Sensors create synergies in monitoring. The use of sensors to determine the reaction of a tunnel cross-section or tunnel maintenance to certain rock formations and to monitor construction and functional components is common practice in tunnelling today. Sensors can detect physical effects such as deformation, strain, vibration or temperature under real conditions that are not always easily described by numerical models. Nevertheless, given the complexity of modern tunnels and modern rehabilitation methods, as well as the interdependencies between components, comprehensive instrumentation can provide crucial insights for digital twin considerations. The aim of this contribution is to show how digital twins of tunnel cross-sections can be created using sensor monitoring information and what added value they can provide for cross-section performance assessment.