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6/10/25, 10:54 AM Tunneling In The Digital Age: Rethinking Subsurface Infrastructure - Construction Business News Middle East
multiple disciplines in the project can result in poor decision-making and critical risks to project
delivery and the profitability of the project.

But successful construction is just the start of the journey. Underground infrastructure is a long-term

investment—just look at the London Underground, with the metropolitan line opened over 150 years
ago but now spans lines with 270 stations, carrying 4 million passengers daily. We need to set forth

with ongoing operation and expansion in mind by bringing a multidiscipline digital twin approach from

the outset.

As we respond to the challenge to do more with less, we can lean on the advantages offered by digital

solutions to increase agility while accelerating manual and repetitive tasks. We can provide engineers

with more time to analyze potential errors and create alternatives for optimum design, safety, and
performance prior to construction, and carry this into the operational phases.

Current Challenges and Frontier Opportunities

Despite their transformative potential, these collaborative approaches face several significant
challenges that must be addressed before they can become standard practice:

The Data Management Burden

The 2023 Geoprofessionals Data Management report revealed that geotechnical professionals spend
approximately 20% of their time—one full day each week—simply managing data. This administrative

burden reduces the time available for actual engineering analysis and interpretation.

Streamlining data workflows remains a critical priority. The ultimate goal must be systems that handle
routine data processing automatically, freeing engineers to focus on exceptions, anomalies, and

insights that require human judgment.

The Uncertainty Communication Challenge

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