Pawtucket Tunnel – Building & Shaft Monitoring

the project

As part of the Narragansett Bay water quality improvement and management program, the Narragansett Bay Commission is excavating a 2.2 mile tunnel along the Seekonk River – with three main wells, four inlet wells and junction tunnels to the main tunnel.

summary

Client: NBC Narragansett Bay Commission

Contractor: CB3A (CBNA & Barletta Heavy Division Consortium)

Project type: Public works; Structural monitoring

Value: 2.2M €

Project duration: 48 months

Project completion: 2023

UBY solutions used: UBY Structure

Site overview

In 2021 CB3A, a consortium between CBNA, the American subsidiary of Bouygues, and Barletta Heavy Divison, commissioned UBY to equip a system capable of delivering real-time structural monitoring during the entire project. 

The tunnel, being excavated in close proximity to the banks of the Seekonk river as well as densely populated residential areas and major roads posed major challenges to the integrity of neighbouring infrastructures. 

The development project involved mining five 20 m wells and three 30 m branch junction tunnels as well as the construction of the starter/tail tunnel to set the tunnel boring machine.

UBY Solution

UBY successfully implemented a convergence monitoring system for the tunnel boring machine along a varied geological path. Sensors deployed on structures and roads within the project zone enabled real-time monitoring with alerts to calculate possible impacts.

The project director received detailed, automated reports on a regular basis for near real-time information about the TBM’s impact on all monitored land and infrastructures. The flow of data from the tunnel boring machine was integrated with UBY’s data monitoring platform to continually assess  the impact of the excavations on surrounding areas.

Equipment installed included:

  • 9 Automatic Total Stations
  • Topographic targets
  • Laser distance sensors (telemeters)
  • Excavation inclinometers

To find out more about UBY Structure

Benefits for the worksite

The engineering and project management teams onsite received real time information and alerts in case any abnormal movement or behaviour was detected by the UBY Structure sensors and platform.

the video of our project

Our references