The first pilot deployment of CT.Connected began at the Elleringhauser Tunnel project in Germany in January 2026. After initially running alongside the established manual documentation process, the app-based module was fully adopted for documenting the construction of the new rescue tunnel in May 2026. The experience gained under real jobsite conditions shows how digital documentation can reduce administrative effort, improve transparency and support site teams in their daily work.
From parallel testing to daily use
The Elleringhauser Tunnel project comprises the refurbishment of a historic railway tunnel and the construction of a new rescue tunnel using Conventional Tunnelling methods. It is being delivered by the ARGE EET consortium, consisting of Max Bögl Stiftung & Co. KG, Marti GmbH Deutschland and Marti Tunnel AG.
The pilot deployment of CT.Connected began in January 2026. During the initial phase, the solution operated alongside the existing paper- and Excel-based process, allowing the project team to compare both approaches under real working conditions. With CT.Connected, shift and advance data is entered directly in the tunnel via smartphone or tablet and becomes immediately available to authorised project stakeholders. Following the successful test phase, documentation for the rescue tunnel was fully transitioned to CT.Connected at the beginning of May.
Tangible benefits for the project team
The straightforward and intuitive mobile data entry helped the site teams quickly integrate CT.Connected into their daily routine. All foremen within the consortium now use the system. As data no longer needs to be recorded by hand and subsequently transferred to a PC, the project team estimates that each foreman saves approximately 30 minutes to one hour per day.
Foremen can spend more time supporting operations underground, while project management gains a real-time view of the progress of the advance. Work cycles, advance times and individual activities can also be analysed without consolidating information from numerous separate Excel files.
For Erich Merkle, Site Manager at ARGE EET / Marti GmbH Deutschland, the outcome is clear:
“We would definitely use CT.Connected again. The system eliminates duplicate data entry and therefore saves a significant amount of time. It also gives us a real-time view of the current progress of the advance and makes data analysis much easier than working with numerous individual Excel files.”
Positive feedback beyond the pilot project
The experience gained at the Elleringhauser Tunnel has already generated interest beyond the project itself. CT.Connected has been presented at internal project and site meetings across the partner organisations, where its simplified data analysis and consistent digital workflow received particularly positive feedback.
Digital solutions such as CT.Connected can also help Conventional Tunnelling meet growing documentation requirements and respond to the expectations of a new generation of professionals. Modern digital working environments not only make processes more efficient but can also make jobs in Conventional Tunnelling more attractive.
VMT would like to thank ARGE EET and the site team at the Elleringhauser Tunnel for the open dialogue, close collaboration and valuable practical feedback throughout the pilot phase. Their contribution has helped refine CT.Connected under real jobsite conditions and provides a strong foundation for its use on future projects.