Surface problems – Underground solutions

Surface problems – underground solutions 1

Surface problems– underground solutions

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Surface problems – underground solutions 3Surface problems – underground solutions2

Competence and experienceHigh mountains, long fjords and steep valleys. A demanding landscape and tough climate with abundant precipitation meaning infrastructure construction in Norway is a severe challenge. This became all the more clear as road and rail started to replace the sea links that were the most important communications in the previous centuries. Yet the landscape also holds gre-at opportunity. Many hydroelectric projects in the second half of the 20th century formed the industrialized Norway.

Nature and culture combined to inspire innovative industryThe challenges of the topography have inspired Norwegian tunnelling engineers to become pioneers in management of projects that demand carefully tailored solutions. Norwegian tunnelling engineers have continuously looked for new methods, improved working procedures, new machinery and equipment and learned from colleagues within both the national and the international tunnelling community.

Short command lines, decision making on site and an adventu-rous spirit have resulted in new methods and ground-breaking projects, at the time they where build. Road and rail tunnels link Norway together.

The construction sector is among Norway’s largest industries.

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Norwegian Tunnelling TechnologyInternationally Norway is recognized for its use of the underground for a variety of purposes. The Norwegian Tunnelling Technology exploits the rock as a construction material in an industrialised work cycle making optimal use of man, machine and technology. Central to the process are the systematic pre-investigations at face, combined with geological engineering decisions on rock quality, -classification and support measures.

Conventional drill and blastDrill and blast tunnelling was the main method when constructing the many hydroelectric projects in the 20th century, remaining the common way of tunnel excavation in Norway. Experienced tunnellers assess how to support the tunnel in consultation with engineering geologists at face. Computer aided drilling jumbos, uses a digitally defined drilling pattern, and the drill log is often analysed using measure while drilling. Geological mapping, measuring leakage rates, permeability and rock quality all help determine whether pre-grouting of the rock is required.

TBM-tunneling TBMs have assisted in Norway’s extensive Hydro Power Projects, where international manufacturers were challenged to develop

suitable machines for the hard and abrasive Norwegian rock. About 260km of hydro electric power tunnels have been excavated with TBM. Within the next few years, TBM will be used for both railway and hydropower projects.

Efficient management structureEfficient management with short decision lines from top management to on-site workers, are typical for tunnelling teams in Norway. This team work encourages dialogue, sharing of experience, and pro-motes a general understanding throughout the project organisation. Engineers will be found at the face more than in the office, and many decisions are taken on site.

The subsea road tunnel connecting Karmøy with the mainland in Tysvær is 8.9 kilometres long.

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Safety, a natural mind-setStrict standards of safety governs all activities. Health, safety and environment are in the natural mind-set for all parties in a tunnel project. Stan-dards of tunnel non-permeability and structural integrity have nurtured a grout injection techn-ology and safety philosophy that is world-class. The result is a time-saving and cost-effective tunnelling operation.








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Historical highlights

Year

Royal silver mines in Kongs-berg, once Norway’s largest enterprise, with more than 1000 km of mine shafts.

World’s very first hydroelectric plant in Senja.

Bergen Railway connects eastern Norway with the west coast through 182 tunnels.

Lyse Hydro Electric Power plant, the first in Norway to use an unlined shaft.

1965

Norway was among the first to use and develop the wet-mix sprayed concrete.

NGI’s Q-System of rock classification developed at Norwegian Geotechnical Institute.

2008

1995

The Troll shore approch Tunnels with piercing at 175 metres below sea-level, for export/import of oil and gas.

1623

1882 1909

1953

Vardø Tunnel, Norway’s first subsea road tunnel,2890 metres long.

Eikesund, the world’s deepest undersea road tunnel at 287 metres, and 7765 m long.

1974

1982

Gjøvik Olympic Mountain Hall, world’s largest cavern span of 61 metres.

2007

New Tyin Hydro Electric Power plant breaks 1000 m height limit for an unlined headrace.

1994


Surface problems – underground solutionsRapid population growth, increased urbanisation and climate change in the decades ahead will require major infrastructure investments and wide use of underground solutions.

Urbanisation encourage underground solutionsFor the first time in history, more than half of the world’s popula-tion live in cities. The lack of new urban space means that infrastructure must be planned underground. Accordingly, the use of the underground needs to be carefully and coherently engineered with sustainability in mind.

New infrastructure must take into account, that future tunnels and underground facilities must be employed to protect critical infrastru-cture from the forces of nature and human interference. Strategic assets for oil and gas, information technology and communications,

and civil defence are increasingly being housed in extremely secure locations, such as large rock caverns. This ensures their operability even when disaster strikes.

More renewables necessaryClimate mitigation may be important, but climate solutions are even more so. Norway is even today a major supplier in the renewable energy network thanks to the high number of Hydro Electric Power plants. The demand for more green energy is sought-after all over the world and Norway have this expertise.

The new Holmestrand Railway Station is being excavated as a rock cavern 250 metres long, 35 metres wide and 15 metres tall.

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Future Pioneering projects

First

Solbakk Tunnel - as a part of the Ryfast con-nection - the world’s longest subsea road tunnel will be 14.3 km long when completed in 2018.

Stad Ship Tunnel - the world’s first ship tunnel may commence in 2018. With a section of 1620 m2 and length of 1.7 km, it will offer safe passage through a no-toriously exposed piece of coast with many shipwrecks.

Rogfast Road Link in Rogaland, when it opens for traffic in 2023, will then be the world’s longest sub-sea road tunnel at 27 km, and among the world’s deepest at 390 metres.

Longest Longest and deepest Norway’s longest rail tunnel

The Helgeland Tunnel, the world’s deepest road tunnel is being planned to descend 396 m.b.s, more than 100 metres below any other road tunnel in the world today.

Deepest

The Follo double-tube Railway tunnel will be Norway’s longest rail tunnel when completed in 2021. Most of the 20 km tunnels will be excavated by TBMs.

Surface problems – underground solutionsSurface problems – underground solutions12 13

Tunnels that bind Norway togetherEvery year tens of kilometres of tunnels are completed in Norway. Those with most traffic handle almost 100,000 vehicles a day, those with least less than 100.

Sea routes were for thousands of years the standard means of travel in Norway. The first road tunnel was built in 1884. Frejus, St.Gothard and Arlberg where among projects that inspired the international tunneling community. For Norway the great breakthrough came with the construction of the Bergen Railway in 1909. The 182 tunnels were constructed as part of this first rail connection between east and west of Norway. The construction cost equalled one entire national budget.

More than 1800 tunnels cover more than 1000 kilometresToday Norway has more than 1800 road and rail tunnels whose total length is well over 1000 kilometres.

Travelling through the Lærdal Tunnel, the world’s longest road tunnel at 24.5 kilometres, takes some 20 minutes. Avoiding accidents is given top priority, and the tunnel features comfortable lighting, driving variation and good ventilation. It is on the USA Today list of the ”World’s coolest tunnels”.

Norway’s longest rail tunnel, Romeriksporten, is 13.3 kilometres double track, and was built for the shuttle service to Oslo’s inter-national airport at Gardermoen in 1999.

1 Ref: http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2013/10/15/worlds-coolest-tunnels/2914539/

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Facts about Norwegian tunnels• Number of road tunnels: approx 1100

• Number of rail tunnels: approx 700

• Number of subsea tunnels: approx 40

• Deepest subsea tunnel: Eikesund Tunnel at 287 metres below, 7.7 km long

• Longest subsea tunnel: Bømlafjord Tunnel, 7.8 km long.

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Surface problems – underground solutionsSurface problems – underground solutions12 13

Tunnels that bind Norway togetherEvery year tens of kilometres of tunnels are completed in Norway. Those with most traffic handle almost 100,000 vehicles a day, those with least less than 100.

Sea routes were for thousands of years the standard means of travel in Norway. The first road tunnel was built in 1884. Frejus, St.Gothard and Arlberg where among projects that inspired the international tunneling community. For Norway the great breakthrough came with the construction of the Bergen Railway in 1909. The 182 tunnels were constructed as part of this first rail connection between east and west of Norway. The construction cost equalled one entire national budget.

More than 1800 tunnels cover more than 1000 kilometresToday Norway has more than 1800 road and rail tunnels whose total length is well over 1000 kilometres.

Travelling through the Lærdal Tunnel, the world’s longest road tunnel at 24.5 kilometres, takes some 20 minutes. Avoiding accidents is given top priority, and the tunnel features comfortable lighting, driving variation and good ventilation. It is on the USA Today list of the ”World’s coolest tunnels”.

Norway’s longest rail tunnel, Romeriksporten, is 13.3 kilometres double track, and was built for the shuttle service to Oslo’s inter-national airport at Gardermoen in 1999.

1 Ref: http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2013/10/15/worlds-coolest-tunnels/2914539/

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Facts about Norwegian tunnels• Number of road tunnels: approx 1100

• Number of rail tunnels: approx 700

• Number of subsea tunnels: approx 40

• Deepest subsea tunnel: Eikesund Tunnel at 287 metres below, 7.7 km long

• Longest subsea tunnel: Bømlafjord Tunnel, 7.8 km long.


From mining to data server storageRock and stone have played a major role in Norwegian industry and rising affluence - from the ancient extractive industries, via the oil age, to the digital age.

Norwegian tunnelling owes its origins to the 17th century mining. For centuries the mining industries formed the backbone of the Norwegian economy. Skills and experience gained in these mines with their cavernous spaces and complex geometry were impor-tant qualifications for Norway’s many Hydro Power developments in the 20th century. The result was affordable electricity for the establishment of a viable mainland industry.

A common feature of Norwegian Hydro Power is the large excavations in rock to establish powerhouse complexes. Today some 6000 km of tunnels serve the 200 Hydro Power houses underground.

Rock caverns gaining popularityDuring the cold war, Norway established a number of underground shelters for the population. Many where built with dual purposes like sports halls, car-parking etc.

Other caverns were excavated for the defence forces and civil aviation. One of the most recent uses for an underground facility, is at Rennesøy, where energy-neutral data servers storing vital information for some of Norway’s largest companies.

Key partner to oil industryBesides its reputation as a mountainous country, Norway is also well known as an oil- and gas-exporter. Safe storage of the black gold is therefore imperative, and few arrangements are safer than underground rock caverns. Many technical advanced facilities have been built, some pressurized and some refrigerated. The tunnelling industry has also supported Norway’s oil production by building landfall tunnels and export tunnels for both oil and gas, and with the construction of industrial sites for the refining of petroleum, as at Mongstad, Sture, Kårstø, and Aukra.

Entrance area of the Gjøvik Olympic Mountain Hall. The hall opened in 1993 as the world’s largest underground cavern for civil use with a total capacity of 5600 spectators.

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About NFFIn 1963 the Norwegian Tunnelling Society (NFF) was established to bring together and strengthen the professional environments which embody mining disciplines and rock technology. NFF’s vision is to be the central knowledge arena for rock engineering technology.

The membership of more than 1100 individuals spans the entire scope of the profession - from project owners, to contractors, consulting engineers, equipment suppliers and research centres.

Community of disciplinesMembers of NFF have a range of professions and technical back-grounds. What we share is the culture to discuss and exchange our experience, arranging courses, conferences and membership meetings.

NFF works to promote the interests and profile of underground solutions. NFF is organised into a range of members committees who perform their missions on a voluntary basis.

NFF is actively involved in the international aspects of the profession, and contributed to the formation of the International Tunnelling Association (ITA) in 1974.

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About NFFIn 1963 the Norwegian Tunnelling Society (NFF) was established to bring together and strengthen the professional environments which embody mining disciplines and rock technology. NFF’s vision is to be the central knowledge arena for rock engineering technology.

The membership of more than 1100 individuals spans the entire scope of the profession - from project owners, to contractors, consulting engineers, equipment suppliers and research centres.

Community of disciplinesMembers of NFF have a range of professions and technical back-grounds. What we share is the culture to discuss and exchange our experience, arranging courses, conferences and membership meetings.

NFF works to promote the interests and profile of underground solutions. NFF is organised into a range of members committees who perform their missions on a voluntary basis.

NFF is actively involved in the international aspects of the profession, and contributed to the formation of the International Tunnelling Association (ITA) in 1974.

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Facts of NorwayNorway is well known for the mountains, steep valleys and beautiful fjords. The same landscape that has rendered Norway a magnet to adventurous tourists, has produced a tunnelling community of global standing.

The Northern Lights, Midnight Sun, stunning fjords, snow-capped peaks, world-class seafood and painted timber houses. There are many reasons why people are drawn to Norway. Some may even hope to see polar bears walking the streets and may be disappointed to learn that the bears only live on Svalbard, not the mainland.

Definitely differentNorway is the perfect destination for anyone wanting to commune with nature and enjoy the Nordic culture, and sample town and country on the same trip. Lonely Planet, reputedly the largest travel guide in the world, recently described Norway as ”one of the world’s most exciting destinations”.2 Reputable National Geographic Traveler Magazine voted the fjords of West Norway the best-preserved attraction on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2009.

The starting point to see the West Country fjords must be Bergen, a city that sits between seven mountains - known for its timber wharves, beautiful setting and decorative seafront. The seafront wharves are also on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Norway is definitely different, in an age when many have seen a great deal, Norway offers visitors a chance to see something entirely unique.

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2 http://reise.aftenposten.no/reise/--Norge-er-et-av-verdens-mest-spennende-reisemal-51358.html#.UyrQW615PF0

Facts about Norway• Population: 5,100,000

• Capital: Oslo

• Area: 385,186 km2

• Length: 1790 km

• Overall rank doing business: 15 (Source: Bloomberg, 2014)

• Human development index, rank: 1 (Source: UNDP, 2013)Trolltunga, the Tongue of the Troll, is one of Norway’s many spectacular destinations which entice visitors to this country.







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• Capital: Oslo

• Area: 385,186 km2

• Length: 1790 km









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• Capital: Oslo

• Area: 385,186 km2

• Length: 1790 km









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• Capital: Oslo

• Area: 385,186 km2

• Length: 1790 km



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Surface problems – Underground solutions

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