Engineering decision support of automated shield tunneling

Construction-engineering problems in the application of automation to soft-ground tunneling, especially shield tunneling, are discussed. A concept for decision support in the selection of a type of shield-tunneling machine and of an appropriate construction technology under given site conditions is presented. Corresponding engineering problems involved in an entire tunneling project from preplanning to excavation practice are also discussed. As an illustration of the discussed issues, the history of an earth-pressure-balanced shield-tunnel project in Osaka, Japan, suggests an effective application of construction automation in similar future works.