ACROT: TBM Risk Control and Operation Assessment

ACROT is Sener’s proposal to reduce risk and optimise the operation of TBMs. ACROT (Guidance to Control the Risk of TBM Operations) proposes a control system based on the application of analytical techniques to operational parameters that seeks to convert raw data into accurate and reliable information that facilitates and improves decision-making in the event of anomalies or risky situations during tunnelling operations.

This data analysis, which can be applied continuously, 24/7, in highly sensitive excavation environments, such as urban settings or complex geologies, provides the advantage of being able to apply corrective measures to anomalies virtually in real time, which is vitally important, since an anomaly can turn into a serious incident in a matter of minutes. ACROT not only acts to prevent potential risks to third parties, but by applying these techniques, it proposes significant adaptations to the operating parameters, yielding benefits for the health of the TBM and avoiding stoppages or malfunctions of elements that are critical to its operation.

ACROT has relied on digitisation processes over the last decade, applying them to its system to create a complete digital ecosystem of document control and data analysis. This resulted in the creation of the ACROTDigital operating data control platform, which, together with one already developed by Sener, EXCAVA, is used to process millions of datapoints from the TBM, transforming them into the accurate information we mentioned earlier. ACROT aims to ensure that the data and last value displayed are of the highest quality and reliability, for both the equipment and the customer.

In addition to reducing the operational risk, ACROT ensures the utmost documentary control of the entire operation, storing all the data securely and in accordance with certified security protocols, thus guaranteeing the fundamental security and confidentiality of this type of information.

ACROT’s activity can also be expanded to later stages to yield the complete digitisation of the structure’s maintenance, completed during its operational phase. Through the development and application of digital and automated systems to inspect and identify pathologies that allow the incorporation of data such as location, type, risk level and follow-up measures, among others, the operator or manager of the line has new accurate and quality information that lets it increase the efficiency of the tunnel maintenance processes. This results in an increase in the useful life of the structure and the optimisation of the maintenance work itself.

Thus, by extending the digital model applied from the start of the tunnel construction, ACROT offers a complete, comprehensive digital solution for all the phases of a tunnel.