Advanced tunnel data services: scalable solution for greater efficiency and security 

North tunnel equipped with IA building block Object Data Services

Within the framework of the TopII performance contract, Croonwolter&dros is responsible for the long-term maintenance of six national tunnels in the western part of the southern Netherlands. One of these is the Noordtunnel located between Alblasserdam and Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht. Last May, this structure was the first tunnel in the Netherlands to be equipped with the IA building block Object Data Services (ODS) from Rijkswaterstaat. A standardized solution that enables cybersecure access to operational control data. Linking this information with Croonwolter&dros' advanced tunnel data services makes management and maintenance of the structure more efficient and predictable.

Unlike several bridges and locks, existing tunnels in the Netherlands do not yet have an ODS data link. With the connection of the North Tunnel, this will definitely change. Moreover, the other tunnel structures within the TopII contract will also follow in the coming years. "Rijkswaterstaat's Central Information Department has drawn up a roadmap to provide the tunnels (including the North Tunnel) with ODS," says Brendan Kleer, asset manager within the Technology & Development department of Croonwolter&dros' Infra division. "To that move, we are connecting with our data-driven asset management, a strategy that focuses on predicting necessary maintenance and repairs as accurately as possible. Having sought the right cooperation, we have now applied the ODS data link to the North Tunnel. In the future, this will allow us to use data collection, analysis and sensors to identify potential problems early, thus preventing breakdowns and system failures. In this way, efficiency and safety increase and the road user does not suffer adverse effects from any defects."

Great plan

The implementation of ODS and the connection to Croonwolter&dros' tunnel data services take place within a close cooperation between the two parties. "During the tender phase, Rijkswaterstaat already challenged us to think about improving the predictability of breakdowns and maintenance," continues Jeroen Ruzicka, a consultant also working in the aforementioned department. "Subsequently, we created a plan in which data-driven asset management plays the main role. That set-up was rated excellent by Rijkswaterstaat and is now being rolled out. In this we are working from manual data analysis and dashboarding to unlocking data online and in real time and analyzing it automatically. A next step to enrich the information is the use of new data sources, such as sensors. In this way, we will make the analyses even more reliable."

Downsizing

Optimal security of the systems used is of utmost importance during data collection and transport. By making the systems cybersecure, this is provided for. Unauthorized persons cannot gain access to the object data. Currently, this data relates exclusively to the North Tunnel. It is up to Croonwolter&dros to further extend the shredding within the other tunnels managed by the TBI company as part of the TopII contract. "The North Tunnel is the starting point for making maintenance increasingly data-driven and making even better use of the opportunities around obtaining control data," Brendan believes. "With the aim of using a standard approach and algorithms to ultimately arrive at even sharper analyses. This development will take place step by step. But we have the expertise available to meet the challenges."