MT.connect is a cutting-edge network-based hardware platform that was used for the very first time in the construction of a 548-metre-long mains wastewater collection pipe under a busy road in Belgium. The revolutionary system doubled up to navigate the TBM and monitor the pipes and pressure transmission rings in the micro tunnelling project.
Diestersteenweg Street in Sint-Truiden underwent extensive renovations, including the installation of a new sewer and rainwater collection system. The project was designed to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians in the local area, which encompassed a school. The contract for the new sewer system was awarded to K-Boringen and was installed using microtunneling equipment.
Curved microtunnelling drive
The sewer required the installation of pipe with an internal diameter of 1600mm over a length of 548m. An ‘S’ bend was formed by driving two curves, one with a minimum radius 300m radius and the other a 600m radius. K-Boringen, a long-time user of VMT Navigation Systems, chose the new generation TUnIS Navigation MT system combined with the newly developed MT.connect hardware platform for its superior accuracy, especially in the curved section. The project, which started in early October 2020, achieved a breakthrough at the reception shaft just ten weeks later, on 9 December 2020.
Plug and play simplicity
In addition to deploying our TUnIS Navigation MT Laser Totalstation, this project enabled us to use MT.connect for the first time on a live project and navigate and monitor the pipes and pressure transmission rings simultaneously with our partner, Jackcontrol.
The customer was impressed by the installation and in particular the quick and easy start-up, which was successful first time thanks to the advance tests and the plug and play-style solution. Jackcontrol connected its site computer and sensors via the MSS boxes in the tunnel, whilst VMT connected its computer, TBM box, and total station box to MT.connect, demonstrating the platform’s ease of use and compatibility.
MT.connect components:
- MSS (Multi Station System) boxes: Connection of sensors and navigation components from VMT and Jackcontrol, provision of an internet connection.
- MT.connect system cable: A power and data cable used for optional tunnel lighting.
- Container-Tox: Supply of power and internet, with data interfaces to construction site computers.
- Measuring wheel: Measurement of tunnel length with connection to the container box.
“Running the Jackcontrol and VMT systems over the same hardware platform made handling faster and easier. We are keen to use MT.connect for our next drives.”
Wim Feyen,
Chief Operating Officer, K-Boringen