ABSTRACT
Tunnelling projects that fail to meet the planned objectives of time, cost, or quality are often a result of unanticipated and unpriced geotechnical risks at the tender stage. Reliance upon geotechnical interpretations and baselines without considering uncertainties in, and variations from the interpretations and baselines can lead to the project team (Owner, Designer and Contractor) to be collectively unprepared. Assessing and quantifying the range of uncertainty in ground properties and behavior can improve risk management, minimize commercial losses, and enhance confidence in tunnelling projects. The quantification of geotechnical uncertainty using geostatistical methods provides a practical means to improve risk management and can now be used throughout planning, procurement and construction. This paper highlights new developments on the application of geostatistics and data-driven decision making, putting the focus back where it needs to be, to use Sir Alan Muir-Woods’ words, on the ‘old enemy’ the ground itself.
