DAARWIN Rock Characterisation Tool: Instant RMR Evaluation with Image Recognition

Characterising rock mass conditions at the tunnel face is a critical part of every underground project. Traditionally, this process requires manual visual assessment, note-taking, and later calculation of rock mass parameters — a workflow that is often time-consuming and subjective.

The new DAARWIN Rock Characterisation Tool, co-developed with ACCIONA, transforms this process. By automated data interpretation, DAARWIN enables engineers to evaluate the Rock Mass Rating (RMR) in just a few seconds — directly from the field or even from project documentation.

How It Works

1. Access the application with your DAARWIN licence

Once your organisation holds a DAARWIN licence, you’ll gain access to the Rock Characterisation module through the DAARWIN mobile application. After logging in, select your project and open the tool

2. Capture the rock face

Point your phone’s camera at the exposed rock surface in the tunnel. The tool automatically captures and analyses the image in real time

3. Add minimal geological inputs

   
   

To refine the analysis, you can provide a few basic geological inputs such as rock type, joint condition, or groundwater presence

DAARWIN then combines the captured image with these inputs to automatically calculate the RMR value — ensuring a more accurate and reliable classification

4. Synchronisation with DAARWIN Compute

   
   

Once the analysis is complete, all results are automatically uploaded and encrypted within your DAARWIN project database, ensuring secure and seamless integration with your geotechnical and monitoring data

5. Visualise and track excavation progress

   
   

Within DAARWIN, you can visualise RMR evolution along the tunnel alignment and review historical changes over time — providing full traceability of ground conditions during excavation

Why It Matters

Reliable rock mass classification is fundamental to safe and efficient tunnel design. However, traditional manual RMR assessment can vary significantly between individuals. DAARWIN eliminates this variability by providing objective, standardised, and repeatable classifications, instantly available on site

This innovation enables:

• Faster feedback to design and construction teams

• Reduced human bias in rock mass interpretation

• Improved decision-making for excavation support and design adaptation

• Enhanced integration between field data, monitoring, and numerical models

  
  

Key Benefits

1. Instant evaluation of rock mass conditions on site

2. Automatic RMR calculation combining image data and geological inputs

3. Objective and consistent classification across teams and shifts

4. Improved safety and design optimisation during excavation

5. Encrypted and integrated data storage within your DAARWIN database

6. Historical tracking of tunnel evolution, section by section

Innovation Through Collaboration

The DAARWIN Rock Characterisation Tool represents a joint development between SAALG Geomechanics and ACCIONA, merging expertise in digital geotechnics and tunnel construction.This collaboration bridges field operations and data science — enabling engineers to rely on rapid, data-driven, and traceable rock mass characterisation throughout the excavation process.

Available soon for DAARWIN licence holders.Stay tuned for the official release and discover how this innovation will redefine rock mass characterisation in tunnelling.