History of Tunneling to AI: How DAARWIN TBM Is Evolving Tunnels
- SAALG GEOMECHANICS
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Tunnel Construction History: How It All Began
The history of tunneling begins with the simplest of tools—stone hammers, chisels, and human labor. Ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, Greeks, and Persians dug tunnels for irrigation and water transportation using little more than fire and manual digging techniques.
Tunneling was slow, dangerous, and physically intense. Yet even then, it required incredible planning, alignment, and surveying skills. Engineering intuition was the only technology available.
Birth of the TBM: A Key Milestone in Tunnel History
The 19th and 20th centuries saw a turning point. With the invention of dynamite and the development of mechanized drilling equipment, tunnels became larger and faster to build.
Then came the game changer: the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM). These mechanical beasts allowed engineers to bore through hard rock and soft soils with minimal surface disruption. TBMs became the backbone of metro lines, hydropower tunnels, and cross-country infrastructure projects.
TBMs evolved quickly—from basic mechanical heads to shielded machines capable of segmental lining and real-time ground support. But one thing remained: decision-making was still manual, relying on the operator’s and engineer’s experience.
From Sensors to Smart Tunnels: The Data Boom Before AI
With the digital revolution, the tunneling world began capturing more data. Sensors mounted on TBMs provided performance metrics: torque, thrust, revolutions, pressures. Ground investigations produced lab and in-situ data. Monitoring systems captured settlements, deformations, and pore pressures.
Despite this, the challenge was clear: too much data, not enough insight. Most tunneling teams lacked the tools to process it all in real time or extract actionable intelligence. And that created a new bottleneck—human interpretation of complex, variable data.
Tunneling Meets AI: The Evolution with DAARWIN TBM
Artificial Intelligence has changed the way we solve problems across industries—from medicine to aviation. In tunneling, its arrival was both expected and necessary.
DAARWIN TBM represents the cutting edge of this transformation - Want to see how it works? Try a free demo here
Developed by SAALG Geomechanics, DAARWIN TBM is an AI-powered system that brings true intelligence to tunnel excavation. Here's how it works:
Predicting penetration and advance rates using machine learning trained on real TBM and geological data
Running automatic geotechnical back-analysis, updating ground parameters ring by ring
Assisting pilots and engineers with live dashboards for performance tuning and anomaly detection
Learning and adapting over time, improving model accuracy as excavation progresses
With DAARWIN TBM, tunnel construction becomes autonomous, powered by a continuously evolving understanding of the ground-machine interaction.
Toward Autonomous Tunneling
DAARWIN TBM is more than a monitoring tool—it’s a stepping stone toward autonomous tunneling. The system’s intelligence allows it to:
Anticipate ground-related risks
Optimize machine parameters in real time
Refine ground models with every meter excavated
Deliver structured knowledge for future designs and nearby tunnels
With DAARWIN TBM, tunneling evolves from force to foresight—where every meter excavated leads to smarter, safer decisions
Ready to make your tunneling smarter with AI?
Explore DAARWIN TBM and try the free demo: saalg.com/tbm-data-management
