Adaptive and Real-Time Geologic Mapping, Analysis, and Design of Underground Space (AMADEUS)

This paper describes the design and implementation of an Information Technology (IT)-based system called AMADEUS for adaptive and real-time geologic mapping, analysis, and design of underground space. Advances in IT, particularly in digital imaging, data management, visualization and computation can significantly improve analysis, design and construction of underground excavations. Using IT, real-time data on geology and excavation response can be gathered during the construction using non-intrusive techniques which do not require expensive and time-consuming instrumentation. The real-time data are then used to update the geological and computational models of the excavation, and to determine the optimal rate of excavation, excavation sequence and structural support. Virtual environment (VE) systems are employed to allow virtual walk-through inside an excavation, observe geologic conditions, perform virtual tunneling operations, and investigate stability of the excavation via computer simulation.