Geotechnica 2015

Is Innovation the Key to Step Change for

the Geotechnical Industry
Dr Nader Saffari London Underground

Contents
1. Introduction to LU
2. Ground Investigation
3. Innovation
4. Conclusions

1. Introduction to LU

The LU Network consists of approximately 463 km of track route of

which 239 km is supported by earth structures.

4 million passenger journeys per day.

During its daily peak services 540 trains run across 11 lines and 270
stations.

Capital investment programme amounting to 1.6 billion per annum in

order to increase the system's capacity by 35%.

Night tube - 24-hour service on Friday and Saturday nights

commencing September this year.

Less time available for engineering activity on the operational railway

Growing reliance on non-intrusive techniques & smart technology.

Asset Management
Routine
Heavy

Inspection

Maintenance

Cyclic
Measurement
Data capture
Reporting

Assessment

Design
Construction

Remedial
Works

Instrumentation
Remote data
Groundwater
Movement
Weather

Investigation
Analysis
Report
Classification

Risk
Assessment
Service Loss
Safety Risk
STRATA

Monitoring

Geology and Ground Conditions

Terrace gravels
Alluvium
London Clay
Lambeth group
Chalk & overlying superficials
Fill derived from above
Ash

2. Ground Investigations
Life extension of existing network, e.g.
Earth Structures
Tunnels, etc.

Earth Structures

Tunnels - Lambeth Group Sand Channels

The water flow can carry substantial quantities of

sand into the tunnel potentially causing operational
problems and structural concerns

2. Ground Investigations
Growing/improving the existing network, e.g.
Victoria Station Upgrade
Bond Street
Cooling the Tube

Challenging Ground Conditions - VSU

Made Ground
Alluvium
Terrace Gravel

London
Clay

Cooling the Tube

Mid tunnel
ventilation

Borehole
cooling

2. Ground Investigations
Extending the Network, e.g.
Northern Line Extension
Croxley Rail Link
Crossrail 2

Northern Line Extension

Note Temporary shafts
have been removed from
the project scope

13

GI on Northern Line Extension

2. Ground Investigation - Challenges

Access

Space
Steep slopes

Underground
Safety

GI on or Near Track

Windowless sampling

2. Ground Investigation - Objectives

Geological

Stratigraphy
Faulting
Sand bands
Chalk types and structure

Hydrological and hydro-geological

GW
Rainfall & SMD

Geotechnical design parameters

How much of the above data already exists
(somewhere?)
Targeted investigation?

2. Ground Investigation - Quality

Specification

Equipment
Skills & experience
Supervision
Data collection
Data management
Effective use of data
Team collaboration & engagement

2. Ground Investigation - Quality

Major projects
Usually receive more attention

Routine
Often quality is compromised

Quality cost money

what is the reward? Cost saving by optimising design?
EC7?

3. Innovation

Before

Now

3. Innovation

Before

Now

3. Innovation Remote sensing

Satellite Technology Transport Infrastructure
Management (TIM), new generation of asset monitoring

LiDAR
Laser Scanner

Drones

3. Innovation - Laser Scanner

Mapping of Chalk Cuttings - Abseiling

Mapping of Chalk Cuttings Laser Scanner

Mapping of Chalk Cuttings Laser Scanner

3. Innovation - Data Management

Data collection &
reporting
LU database & GIS
Data sharing
3D geology
BIM

3. Innovation Remote sensing

A 6ft wide drone searches Amersham

Station roof tops for any cracks or signs
of dampness

Satellite technology, Transport Infrastructure Management (TIM)

3. Innovation in Monitoring

Standard inclinometer

Shape Accel Array (SAA)

UtterBerry - GE Award 2015

3. Innovation - Analytical
L
Made Ground

Cutting Material
(depth of
Weathered Clay)

Underlying Material

Weakened Basal
Layer (refer to text
for appropriate
location)
H

0.7 L
0.15H to 0.2H

3. Innovation

GI ?

3. Innovation - GI
Identify areas in need of innovation
What are the drivers
What are the barriers
Cost
Is there a business case?

4. Conclusions
LU is involved in a capital investment programme in order to
increase the system's capacity by 35%.

There is a growing reliance on non-intrusive techniques & smart

technology.
GI plays a key role in the design, construction and management
of assets on LU Network.
The industry has made significant advances in the development
of smart infrastructure and construction over the years.
Innovation in ground investigation is required to meet the
challenges ahead.