Maintenance and Safety Strategies for Existing Tunnels: Challenges and Innovations
A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 5
Special Issue Editors
Interests: soil conditioning; backfilling; tunnel maintenance
Interests: tunnelling; soil conditioning; mechanized tunnelling; permeation grouting; rock wear; mechanised tunnelling; vibration control in D&B
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Tunnels are critical components of modern transport infrastructure, ensuring the connectivity and continuity of mobility even in densely populated or geographically complex regions. As many existing tunnels age and experience increasing traffic loads, new challenges arise in terms of structural safety, operational reliability, and long-term maintenance. These challenges are further intensified by continuously evolving regulatory frameworks, limited budgets, and the need to minimize disruptions to service.
This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for state-of-the-art research and case studies focusing on the maintenance, inspection, and safety assessment of existing tunnels for road and railway systems. Contributions addressing innovative methods for condition evaluation, risk-based maintenance planning, and the implementation of national and international guidelines (such as EU directives or country-specific codes) are especially welcome.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Structural diagnosis and condition classification of existing tunnels;
- Risk-informed approaches to tunnel maintenance and safety;
- Application of digital tools (BIM, digital twins, sensors, AI) in tunnel asset management;
- Experiences with tunnel inspections and periodic assessments;
- Repair techniques and strengthening methods for tunnel linings;
- Case studies of tunnel retrofitting, refurbishment, or failure investigation;
- Implementation of safety regulations and standards (e.g., EU Directive 2004/54/EC, national frameworks);
- Integration of monitoring data into decision-making processes;
- Life-cycle assessment and sustainability of tunnel maintenance strategies.
This Special Issue welcomes original research articles, review papers, and real-world case studies from academia, industry, and public authorities. Our goal is to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and highlight the best practices that can support the safe and efficient operation of existing tunnels in the years to come.
Dr. Andrea Carigi
Dr. Carmine Todaro
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- tunnel maintenance
- tunnel inspection
- tunnel refurbishment
- tunnel monitoring
- tunnel asset management
- regulatory frameworks for tunnel maintenance
- risk assessment in tunnels
- structural diagnosis in tunnels
- case studies
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