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Harsha Madiraju, harsha.m@GISdevelopment.net Alook into application of geospatial technologies in the implementation of some of the most amazing projects in the modern construction history BOSTON'S BIG DIG   Reaching to a precision of 3/8 of an inch The largest urban construction project in modern history, the "Big Dig" has taken nearly 30 years and cost some $14.6 billion, it is the most expensive public-works project in US history. It is the replacement of downtown Boston's elevated central artery (I-93) with 8-to-10 lane underground highway and a bridge and improving its connection with the airport. A part of this project is the Fort Point Channel Crossing tunnel is the first rectangular concrete vehicular Immersed Tunnel Tube (ITT) project in the U.S. and the most complex of its kind in the world. It spans 1,100 feet and carry 10 lanes of traffic between the Mass Turnpike (I-90) extension and the Ted Williams Tunnel. An immersed tube is a kind of underwater tunnel constructed using Trimble Marine Construction Pages
TUNNELLING UNDER THE ALPS Laying foundation for Europe's future transport The Brenner Pass has served as a vital alpine link between Austria and Italy since early Roman times by supporting trade and transportation from northern to southern Europe. Recognizing the critical need to improve its transportation networks, the European Union (EU) initiated a series of studies and proposals that resulted in the Trans-European Transportation Networks (TEN-T) project, which was adopted by the EU in 1996. TEN-T is a series of coordinated improvements to roadways, airports, railways, and water transportation networks designed to stimulate economic growth, competitiveness, and employment throughout Europe. Axis no. 1 (TEN 1) of the TEN-T project is a revitalization of the rail network from Berlin, Germany to Palermo, Italy. It is divided into eight distinct projects, and the projected completion date for the entire railway corridor is 2040. The Brenner Base Tunnel section of TEN 1 is 56 kilometres in length and will be completed by 2020. 
The tunnel is expected to take much
of the existing truck and automobile
traffic out of the Brenner Pass, transporting
primarily freight (80%) but
also passengers (20%) through the
region by railway. To manage the comprehensive
geographical database of
this project, BBT SE decided to adopt a
modular and scalable GIS based on the
latest Web technologies, which will
enable everyone involved in the implementation
of the project to access relevant
geospatial information quickly
and efficiently. The system architecture
includes modules for geology,
planning, water monitoring, topography,
land parcels and owners and public
in which data and functionalities
are provided based on type of user. The
internal GIS application is used by BBT
SE engineers for project planning and
development. The external application
is for use by the general public so that
they can easily follow the progress of
the project.
This system is not only playing a key
role as a data archive for various stages
of the project, but also helping in the
design, support of various stages of the
project life cycle through various
analysis tools in its modules.
Geo: International Magazine
WIDENING THE PANAMA CANAL Tackling the problem of navigating "Post Panamax" vessels The Panama Canal's man-made passage way between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans changed the world commerce. But nearly a century later, many cargo ships are too large to traverse the canal. This lead to the Panama Canal Widening project, that is to be completed by 2014. DHV is responsible for all maritime and lock constructions within the program management connected to the canals expansion; this includes the deepening and widening of the channels, reservoirs and the new and larger locks on both sides. Preliminary designs are currently being carried out by other parties.  
The canal has to be modified to allow
the so-called Post Panamax ships
through. These mega-tankers cannot
make it through the
current canal because
they are wider and
deeper than the waterway.
The construction
work has to be completed
in 2014 and
involves and investment
of US$5.25 billion.
The expansion project involves building
a new set of massive locks on both
the Atlantic and Pacific ends of the
existing canal and will include substantial
excavation and dredging. The
project schedule calls for the first "Post
Panamax" vessel to transit through the
expanded canal in 2014, the 100th
anniversary of the completion of the
original canal.A Post Panamax vessel is the term for ships that are larger than a Panamax and do not fit in the original canal. After expansion, the Panama Canal is expected to be able to handle vessels up to 12000 TEU in size. "The expansion of the Panama Canal is considered one the most visible and important infrastructure projects in the world, and will affect global commerce significantly over the next century," said Garry Higdem, CH2M HILL's lead executive for the Panama Canal program. Page 1 of 1
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On July 6, 1998 Hong Kong opened its new international
airport 16 miles out at sea. But, first engineers had to build
not only the largest passenger terminal on earth, but a whole
new island to hold the airport, and miles of tunnels, bridges and
roadways to connect it to the mainland. Beyond this marvel was
a team of around 70 surveyors lead by the chief surveyor Ian
J. Ayson.
The initial Geological surveys were conducted in this region by
Hong Kong Geological survey in 1967-69 which was updated in
1989 and the topographical data by the Hong Kong Survey and
Mapping office in 1979-80 both the works with Leica equipment.
Survey control was provided by a network of fixed reference points
began in 1982 with Leica TC1010 total stations.
The Combination of Photogrammetry with orthophoto techniques,
DTMs, and land-information system proved itself as the best overall
survey. Once every four weeks from the time of construction,
the Hong Kong Government Survey & Mapping Office, on behalf
of the Airport Authority flew its aircraft equipped with Wild RC10A
aerial camera system, which were used to prepare topographical
data and to calculate volumes through 3D models. Applying such
technologies helped the team to complete the operations with in
team and with the allocated cost budgets.
