Sensing Techniques for Intelligent Tunnel Construction
A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Intelligent Sensors".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 March 2026 | Viewed by 66
Special Issue Editors
Interests: smart sensing of tunnel structures; intelligent tunnel construction
Interests: intelligent construction of drilling-blasting tunnels
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The rise of intelligent tunnel construction is fundamentally reshaping underground engineering. In this transformation, smart sensing techniques serve as the backbone of intelligent systems by providing accurate, real-time, and comprehensive information about ground behavior, structure response, equipment status, and environmental conditions. Compared with traditional techniques, which often rely on manual inspections and may suffer from limited precision or delayed responses, smart sensing techniques enable continuous, automated, and accurate monitoring, which is beneficial for the early warning of anomalies, timely decision-making, and proactive risk mitigation throughout all phases of tunnel construction. These sensing technologies not only enhance the efficiency and safety of construction operations but also lay the foundation for long-term structural health monitoring and lifecycle management of various tunnel projects.
This Special Issue highlights the latest advances in sensing techniques for intelligent tunnel construction, providing a platform to share innovative concepts, practical applications, and interdisciplinary insights that contribute to safer, smarter, and more efficient tunneling. We welcome recent studies focusing on next-generation sensors, novel methodologies, field deployments, and case studies that demonstrate real-world values. Submissions may include both original research articles and comprehensive reviews related to smart sensing technologies for tunnel structural health monitoring, stratigraphic information identification, excavation parameter analysis, and related aspects. Topics of interest include but are not limited to laser scanning, optical fiber sensing, piezoelectric sensing, ultrasonic testing, acoustic emission, percussion-based and image-based transducer-free approaches, wireless sensor networks, and AI-empowered sensing techniques.
Dr. Chuan Zhang
Prof. Dr. Guowen Xu
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- smart sensing techniques
- Intelligent construction
- drill-blast tunneling
- tunnel boring machine
- tunnel safety evaluation
- automated measurement
- artificial intelligence in tunnel construction
- structure health monitoring
- nondestructive testing
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