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

地下挖掘用于各种民用和军事目的，包括采矿，公路铁路隧道和洞穴。美国目前核废料储备的永久储存将利用大型地下挖掘。随着世界人口的增长，预计未来对地下建筑的需求将加速增长。从信息技术（IT）的角度来看，地下设施的设计和建设刚刚从黑暗时代中走出来。地下矿山和隧道施工中的岩石破坏继续夺去生命，隧道行业仍然受到频繁故障的困扰。与传统的岩体分类系统和经验设计程序相比，计算建模可以为地下开挖提供更合理的设计。利用计算机模型进行地下开挖设计的关键问题是缺乏有关场地地质、岩体性质和地应力的信息。该项目的两个主要研究目标是：1）设计和实现一个基于IT的系统AMADEUS，用于实时和自适应的地下空间地质测绘，分析和设计; 2）加强与工程地质，采矿，岩石力学和计算机科学相关的教学工作。信息技术的进步，特别是在数字成像、数据管理、可视化和计算方面的进步，可以显著改善地下开挖的分析、设计和施工。利用信息技术，可以在施工期间使用非侵入性技术收集有关地质和挖掘反应的实时数据，这些技术不需要昂贵和耗时的仪器。实时数据将用于更新挖掘的地质和计算模型，并确定最佳挖掘速度，挖掘顺序和结构支撑。虚拟环境（VE）系统将用于允许虚拟步行通过挖掘内部，观察地质条件，执行虚拟隧道施工，并通过计算机模拟调查挖掘的稳定性。该项目的主要智力优势包括：1）用于岩石暴露地质特征的数字成像和分析系统，2）用于监测施工期间隧道变形的远程测量系统，3）用于确定由于挖掘引起的岩石内应力变化的计算机断层扫描系统，4）岩体建模系统，其用于根据由所述数据收集任务获取的数据来构建3D地质/地质力学模型，以及5）用于可视化地质/地质力学模型并与地质/地质力学模型交互的虚拟环境（VE）。该项目更广泛的影响包括为K-12，本科生和研究生提供教育机会。在项目中开发的3D，互动和沉浸式VE将增强学生的教育体验。少数民族，妇女和其他代表性不足的群体的个人将被招募参加研究，通过与既定的国家和大学计划，并通过与K-12学校在阿巴拉契亚地区的联系。研究结果将通过以下方式迅速广泛传播：1）全球网络; 2）岩土工程和计算机科学印刷媒体; 3）会议演示; 4）向矿山运营商、承包商和工程师演示AMADEUS。作为一个综合系统，AMADEUS将为地下空间的安全、高效和经济建设和利用做出重大贡献。

Underground excavations are used for a wide variety of civilian and military purposes, including mining, road & railway tunnels, and caverns. Permanent storage of the current U.S. stockpile of nuclear wastes will utilize large underground excavations. With increasing world population, demand for underground construction is expected to accelerate in the future. From an Information Technology (IT) viewpoint, design and construction of underground facilities are just emerging from the dark ages. Rock failure in underground mines and tunnel construction continue to claim lives, and the tunneling industry is still beset by frequent failures. Computational modeling can lead to more rational designs for underground excavations than what is provided by traditional rock mass classification systems and empirical design procedures. The key problem in using computer models to design underground excavations is the paucity of information on site geology, rock mass properties and in situ stresses. The two major research objectives for this project are 1) to design and implement an IT-based system called AMADEUS for real-time and adaptive geologic mapping, analysis, and design of underground space, and 2) to enhance teaching efforts related to engineering geology, mining, rock mechanics and computer science. 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 will then be 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 will be used to allow virtual walk-through inside an excavation, observe geologic conditions, perform virtual tunneling operations, and investigate stability of the excavation via computer simulation. The major intellectual merits of the project include development of 1) a digital imaging and analysis system for geologic characterization of rock exposures, 2) a remote measuring system for monitoring tunnel deformation during construction, 3) a computer tomography system for defining stress changes within the rock due to excavation, 4) a rock mass modeling system for constructing 3D geologic/geomechanical models from the data acquired by the data gathering tasks, and 5) a virtual environment (VE) for visualizing and interacting with the geologic/geomechanical models. The broader impacts of the project include educational opportunities for K-12, undergraduate, and graduate students. The 3D, interactive and immersive VE to be developed in the project will enhance the educational experience of students. Minorities, women, and individuals from other underrepresented groups will be recruited to participate in the research by working with established national and University programs, and through contact with K-12 schools in the Appalachian region. The research results will be disseminated rapidly and broadly through 1) the worldwide web, 2) geotechnical and computer science print media, 3) conference presentations, and 4) demonstrations of AMADEUS to mine operators, contractors and engineers. As an integrated system, AMADEUS will result in significant contributions to the safe, efficient and economical construction and utilization of underground space.