edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Robert Egan
Editors' notes
The future of tunnel construction isn’t just about better explosives, steel, and machinery. It’s digital, data-driven, and smarter. And perhaps most importantly: safer, writes the author. Credit: Norwegian Geotechnical Institute
Every day, new tunnels are being built through rock across the country. The completed tunnels are safe, but the construction phase presents challenges.
For those working with blasting and drilling, the risk of rockfalls, water ingress, or unpredictable rock conditions is part of daily life. So how can we make this phase safer, more precise, and less costly?
My answer is: with the help of artificial intelligence.
"Rock" refers to the material we drill and blast through, while "mountain" describes the landform we see in nature. This article is about rock.
Too many subjective assessments
Over many years working on various tunnel and mining projects, I've seen that many decisions in tunnel construction are still based on experience and often subjective judgment.
In the planning phase, we use core samples and seismic data to predict conditions. During excavation, the rock mass is assessed visually, and we analyze how the drilling machine behaves.
For example, rapid penetration into the rock may indicate weaker zones. But without the ability to see inside the rock, these assessments carry a degree of uncertainty. That's where the risk lies.
Today, we have access to far more data than we actually use. A modern drilling machine collects thousands of measurements per minute while drilling. This is called MWD data—"Measure While Drilling."
MWD data acts like a signature of the rock: We get information about the rock's resistance, how much water flushing is needed, and how much pressure is required to drill forward. These data are often just stored and not actively used for decision-making.
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