SMEC's tunnelling specialists on digital innovation and adaptive design

𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞. 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝, 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝. Underground infrastructure is evolving rapidly as cities grow denser and renewable energy networks expand. The global pipeline of tunnel construction projects now exceeds USD 1.26 trillion, reflecting both the scale and complexity of underground development. In the second edition of our “Beneath the Surface” series, SMEC specialists share insights from their latest research ahead of their presentations at the Australasian Tunnelling Conference (ATC 2025) later in November. The article explores how continuous ground intelligence, dependable strength testing, adaptive design, and advanced numerical modelling are transforming underground engineering. From high-resolution probe-hole imaging to realistic reinforcement modelling, the team explains how observation, design, and monitoring now work in a single adaptive loop to deliver safer, more efficient tunnels. Read the full article to explore how digital tools and adaptive design are changing the way we plan, design and deliver tunnels. https://brnw.ch/21wWOQH #EngineeringPositiveChange #Beneaththesurface #Tunnels Mahdi Zoorabadi | Alexandre (Alex) Gomes | Helen Baxter-Crawford | Amin Emadi (PhD, MIEAust, CPEng, NER, APEC, IntPE) | Ivan Ching | Kara Stariha | Ben Chapman | Albert Chen | Rani Susilo

Proud to see our tunnelling specialists leading in digital innovation and adaptive design. In the second Beneath the Surface article, they explore how data-driven insights and ground intelligence are transforming tunnel design, construction, and management, demonstrating how SMEC combines technical expertise and innovation to deliver safer, more efficient underground infrastructure.

As underground infrastructure grows in scale and complexity, digital tools are reshaping how we approach tunnelling. In SMEC’s latest Beneath the Surface article, our team explores how adaptive design and continuous ground intelligence are enabling more resilient, efficient tunnel systems. Proud to contribute to this series ahead of our presentations at the Australasian Tunnelling Conference (ATC 2025).

Tunnelling is changing as engineers harness data and technology to improve how we understand and respond to ground conditions. SMEC will be represented at the Australasian Tunnelling Conference 2025, held from 10 to 14 November in Perth, where our specialists will share research and project learnings that contribute to the future of underground engineering. Our Beneath the Surface article provides an early look at some of these ideas, highlighting how digital tools and adaptive design are driving progress across the industry. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gBQKRtPe #EngineeringPositiveChange #ATC2025 #Geotechnics #Tunnelling SMEC

The report provides exhaustive technical, commercial, financial, and operational analysis of the commercial space station sector, with particular emphasis on EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) frameworks, vendor ecosystem assessment, bill of quantities analysis, and comparative evaluation of competing development approaches. The document synthesizes multiple analytical disciplines including aerospace engineering, financial modeling, supply chain management, procurement strategy, regulatory compliance, ESG assessment, and competitive intelligence to deliver actionable investment recommendations for allocating capital in the emerging commercial LEO infrastructure market. https://lnkd.in/eNvRaH85

Just 2 days to go till our FREE webinar on 24 Oct - Enhancing subsurface insights for infrastructure projects. In this session, experts from Tecna Systra-SWS Advanced Tunnelling will share how they used solutions from Seequent to accelerate operations and make better-informed decisions. 🔑 Key discussion points: - Understanding subsurface risks - Discover how integrated data and modelling can identify potential issues early, reduce costly claims, and limit project delays. - Digital modelling & connected workflows - See how 3D geological and structural modelling, combined with geotechnical analysis, enables faster design iteration, clearer communication, and more efficient project delivery. 👉 Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how digital tools are shaping the future of complex infrastructure projects. Register for free today - https://shorturl.at/uKrjy

At CPKC, we never stop innovating to help keep our network safe. Our Geotechnical Engineering team worked with Tetra Tech to create an advanced waterbody monitoring system that uses artificial intelligence and satellite data collection to detect water-related hazards along our rail network before they pose a risk to safe rail operations. This month in Toronto, the Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards recognized this innovative safety work with two awards, including the highest honour of the night, the Schreyer Award, presented to the best technical entry of the year. Congratulations to Tom Bourgonje, Vice President Engineering, Mehwish Rahman, Director Geotechnical Engineering, and the entire team. Canadian Consulting Engineer #CCEAwards Learn more about the winning system at https://bit.ly/48KJSwy

We recently wrapped up an inspiring few days at the NZGS2025 Conference, and it was refreshing to attend a geotechnical event that focused beyond cyclic loading and liquefaction. With recent disasters being so landslide-driven, the theme of resilience really resonated - especially through the many case studies and council-led presentations. A standout takeaway was the reminder that while some geotechnical design processes can be standardised, you can’t remove the engineering geologist from the equation. A robust ground model remains essential. Another thought-provoking session tackled how we manage uncertainty in our geotechnical data - highlighting that even “precise” lab test results carry bias depending on how samples are taken. It reinforced how geological context and on-site understanding are crucial for interpreting data and managing uncertainty effectively. Overall, a great mix of practical insights and forward-thinking discussion for our profession. Thank you to New Zealand Geotechnical Society for putting on the event.

As underground infrastructure becomes more complex, innovation and collaboration continue to shape how we design and deliver tunnels. From 10 to 14 November, SMEC specialists will join peers at the Australasian Tunnelling Conference 2025 in Perth to share insights on digital investigation, reinforcement modelling, material performance and adaptive design. Our latest Beneath the Surface article offers a glimpse into these discussions, exploring how digital tools and adaptive design are transforming the way we tunnel. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/d_xH_GtC #EngineeringPositiveChange #ATC2025 #Geotechnics #Tunnelling

Proud to see our SMEC specialists contributing to global discussions shaping the future of underground infrastructure! As tunnelling projects become increasingly complex, innovation, digital tools, and adaptive design are redefining how we plan and deliver safe, efficient, and sustainable underground solutions. Looking forward to the insights our team will share at the Australasian Tunnelling Conference 2025 in Perth (10–14 November) on topics such as digital investigation, reinforcement modelling, material performance, and adaptive design. Catch a preview of these ideas in our latest Beneath the Surface article 👇 🔗 https://lnkd.in/d_xH_GtC #EngineeringPositiveChange #ATC2025 #Geotechnics #Tunnelling #Innovation #DigitalEngineering