The Schiphol Tunnel is part of a 17-km passenger train route connecting central Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport, one of the busiest airports in Europe based on passenger volume. Millions of passengers pass through the Schiphol Tunnel every year; it is a vital transportation link between central Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport. There is frequent traffic through the tunnel and any interruption impacts passengers going to and from the airport, as well as trains en route to other cities in the Netherlands, Belgium and France. Safety and reliability are major priorities of the interconnected rail network.
ProRail is the government agency responsible for maintenance and expansion of the Dutch national railway. The rail operator manages around 7,000 kilometers of track and 1.4 million passenger trips per working day. In 2020, ProRail commissioned GeoNext, a Dutch geodetic engineering firm, to survey the Schiphol Tunnel and build a comprehensive 3D model that could be used to plan repairs and infrastructure upgrades.
Due to overhead equipment attached to the ceiling of the tunnel, a highly accurate model was required to ensure proper alignment of new tracks and adequate clearance for the fast-moving passenger trains. The strict 7-mm or better accuracy requirement meant that GeoNext needed to use top-quality equipment and carefully follow workflow processes for efficient data collection.
Surveying the tunnel presented a combination of several unique challenges, such as the lack of GNSS underground, the 7-mm accuracy requirement, and the need to work around train schedules. Fast scanning was a necessity because access to the Schiphol Tunnel was restricted to pre-scheduled maintenance days.
GeoNext has extensive experience with laser scanning and rail surveying and owns several laser scanners, total stations, and GNSS base and rover systems. A laser scanner is well suited for fast and accurate surveying, since the laser delivers a high point density and collects one million points per second, a major advantage when dealing with strict time constraints. Also, the rugged design of surveying instruments ensures reliable operations in a challenging environment like a tunnel. GeoNext used the Trimble TX8.
“A laser scanner was a perfect device to scan more than one track at the same time,” explained Daisy Sparla, project leader at GeoNext. “The 360-degree capability allowed us to set up in between the tracks and collect everything in that specific area. While the scanner was completing its scan, we had time to hang the next targets. It was a highly efficient process.”
To make up for the lack of GNSS in the tunnel, GeoNext used emergency exits to set GNSS points outside with R10 and R12 GNSS receivers. They leveled to the Dutch height system NAP and connected the outdoor GNSS points to targets inside the tunnels. For measuring the coordinates of these targets inside the tunnel, GeoNext used total stations with prisms.
Working in close cooperation, the GeoNext team collected around 750 scans with the total station, with a scan every 20 m and overlap of 5─10 m. Close scan station setup spacing and overlap between consecutive scans enabled GeoNext to reach the necessary 7-mm accuracy. The team surveyed the two 6.5-km dual-track tubes in just four weekends.
After scanning was complete, GeoNext utilized RealWorks, a special software from Trimble, to process the scan data. The auto extract feature in the software helps identify targets and matching the scans. Bentley MicroStation Connect was used to build the complete 3D model of tracks and objects, and the point cloud was delivered in RD-NAP (Dutch coordinate system).
The speed of the scanner enabled the surveying team to meet the tough deadline.
Schiphol Airport was voted best airport in Western Europe in 2020 and with its continued efforts to improve and enhance safety and efficiency, it will be a successful airport for years to come.
Specializing in geospatial technology, Linda Duffy has worked as a freelance writer and market researcher since 2003.
