Prof. Quick und Kollegen was commissioned by Deutsche Bahn Netz AG to determine an optimal rail route option and explore the geotechnical feasibility of tunnels while protecting the local environment and community. 

The high-speed line (up to 240km/hr) will accommodate an expected 30% more passengers by 2030, while the two-thirds of the approximately 100-kilometre investigated route-options run in tunnels, where the longest tunnel between Schlüchtern and Mittelkalbach runs a distance of 9.5 kilometres.  

Faced with multiple complex subsoil, data and coordination challenges to create their 3D geotechnical models, Schneider and the team realized the need for BIM workflows in a connected, collaborative data environment. Over 100 boreholes explored, 15 lithological layers created, including a fault system of 88 fault blocks.

Leveraging Bentley and Seequents PLAXIS and Leapfrog Works, they built a 3D ground model to develop a common understanding from which to perform accurate geotechnical calculations.

With a focus on the geotechnical feasibility of tunnels, Prof. Quick und Kollegens subsurface exploration involved coordinating and assessing multiple sources of information including drilling, geophysical surveys, boreholes, and laboratory testing. 

Through our field investigations and official archival records, we gained good geological insights to help us understand the underground of our project area. However, this information was only available in 2D format and often only viewed in isolation, said Schneider. 

Accurately representing the complex subsoil to include all 88 fault blocks was a major concern for our team. We were unsure if any software even Leapfrog Works would have the capabilities but were excited to discover it did and the Bentley and Seequent teams worked closely with us to tackle this challenge, said Schneider. 

With Leapfrog we could link the tectonic layers with our geological profiles to verify information from the drillhole and geophysical investigations while paying particular attention to all the fault lines that interact with our railroad lines, he said.

The team created a digital workflow using Bentley and Seequent solutions to model two approximately 50-kilometre-long railroad line options from Gelnhausen to Fulda in Germany (Image credit: Prof. Quick und Kollegen).

Schneider and the team made use of the interoperability between Bentleys PLAXIS 2D and Seequents Leapfrog Works to accurately run through their geotechnical calculations. 

For greater precision, we imported the digital terrain and integrated topography drone scans into our 3D model. And used geological maps and official borehole information to create georeferenced profiles, aligned with the planned railroad routes, said Schneider.  

We were able to continuously integrate the groundwater measurements into our subsurface model to create an attributed groundwater model as a source of monitoring and for further calculations. 

The outcome was a highly detailed subsurface 3D model (including cross sections, long sections and alignment serial sections) that comprehensively captures the 200-metre area alongside the railroads.  

We now have an accurate digital twin of the two railroad line options, within a seamless digital workflow and a common, collaborative data environment that is accessible to all project stakeholders that can continue to support all stages of the project, said Schneider.

Introducing BIM methods for geotechnical engineering is a pioneer project for Schneider and the team at Prof. Quick und Kollegen. They expect to see many more advantages of using Bentley and Seequent technology as the Gelnhausen-Fulda project progresses. 

Already, the positive effects can be seen in the clear communication between internal and external project participants which in addition to lively exchange also results in time saved, said Schneider.  

And has brought significant changes to the way projects are approached. By consolidating all necessary information into a single, transparent 3D model, accessed via a cloud-based data environment, everyone works with more motivation and with a simpler, more streamlined daily routine, he said. 

Overall, the tunnels will help preserve nature and ensure that communities are not adversely affected as they will significantly reduce the noise from goods traffic across the local towns and villages. 

We hope our Leapfrog story helps motivate other geotechnical engineering companies and teams to also adapt their way of working to BIM methods so that they, and especially the environment, can benefit from the same advantages, he said.

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Prof. Quick und Kollegen were finalists in the Subsurface and Modelling category in Bentleys prestigious 2023 YII Going Digital Awards in Infrastructure. Geologist, Thomas Schneider and the team were recognised for leveraging Bentley and Seequents PLAXIS and Leapfrog Works, to establish a BIM workflow and 3D model, for a new high-speed railway line in Germany.

Source: Prof. Quick und Kollegen establish BIM workflow for new German high-speed railway line

Categories

Tunneling in Rock, Tunneling in Soils, Jacked Tunnels

Keywords

PLAXIS, Leapfrog