Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Traffic detection
The tunnel is provided with an automatic traffic detection system (speed
detection system) by means of detection loops in the road surface. The
detection loops are applied per driving lane and are spaced 60 metres apart.
The automatic traffic detection is used to measure the intensity and the
speed of the traffic per driving lane and to detect the coming about of traffic
jams. The information supplied by the detection system activates the TV
installation and starts up the tunnel ventilation when a vehicle has come to
a 'standstill' in the tunnel.
Height detection
In order to avoid damages and collisions with equipment, height detection
takes place ahead of the tunnel entrances. Height indication alarms occur in
two phases: after the ignoring of a first warning, the traffic is automatically
brought to a halt by means of the traffic system (a flashing orange light,
followed by red traffic lights).
The testing of electrical and mechanical
installations
Introduction
From the description of the installations it has been made clear that in the
Westerschelde Tunnel it involves a complex composition of systems and
functions. The systems are operated in a combined form: in part they func-
tion autonomously and in part they are operated centrally by means of an
operating system especially designed for the Westerschelde Tunnel. The
main purpose alone - the guaranteeing of a safe tunnel operation - made
it necessary to fully and thoroughly test the functions and systems.That also
clarifies that, although the apparent purpose of testing is the finding
of faults in systems, it actually concerns the limiting of risks. In this way the
failure of the tunnel ventilation could have far-reaching consequences for
the users in the tunnel, certainly in the case of smoke development.
In the following, firstly a theoretical framework is outlined, whereafter a
number of learning experiences are dealt with in a nutshell.
In the building industry it is a relatively new development that the proper
operation of systems more and more, is being determined by software and
no longer by hardware. This calls for differing knowledge and skills; it is no
longer adequate to select a good pump, a nice ventilator or a clever sensor.
A sound (co)operation of these parts within a cohesive system has become
far more important. On the one hand this development has been instigated
by the increased attention for safety (certainly in tunnels) and on the other
hand by the advancing developments in the field of technology. At the
Westerschelde Tunnel there is, for example, a disaster and evacuation sce-
nario entirely steered by software, which operates all kinds of subsystems in
a formally prescribed manner, and shows the operator what events take
place.This, and more applications which are similar, will more and more be
built into all kinds of objects, because the technology allows for it and the
safety (of the user) benefits by it.Yet a consequence is, that in the setting up
of a testing trajectory for a tremendously complex system configuration
which is the case at the WesterscheldeTunnel, from an extremely early stage
(during the designing), a great deal of attention has to be geared, more so
than in the past, towards the role of information and communication tech-
nology. A role - so it seems - of which the importance is not always
assessed correctly.
During all phases of the project (the contracting phase, the tendering phase,
the design phase, the implementation phase and the completion phase)
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