Solutions used in industry have been installed in the tunnel.
The control system of the Somport Tunnel between Spain and France has been modernized without stopping the daily traffic travelling on its two single lanes. Operating since 2003 as part of the European E-7 route, the road tunnel is an important border crossing through which several thousand vehicles pass every day, and it serves as a regular freight transport route for hundreds of companies. The 8.6 km-long tunnel has now been made more energy-efficient and safer, preparing it for the challenges of the future.
Real-time data collection and faster response
The central element of the project to renew the twenty-year-old technology was the implementation of a new supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA), in connection with which four industrial controllers (PLCs) were also integrated. In addition, the previous peripheral modules, which collect data from, among other things, sensors located in the tunnel and transmit it to the control system, were also replaced with an updated version.
The Somport Tunnel control room.
With the help of all these, not only were data communication and sensor response times improved, but real-time data collection was also enabled, and the continuous operation of the infrastructure was ensured even if a technical failure or other incident were to block the independently operating control centers on either the Spanish or French side of the tunnel. By using the Siemens TIA Portal platform, the commissioning time of the automation project was reduced by 25 percent compared to the average.
Enhanced safety
A new video surveillance system was also installed in the tunnel: by integrating the closed-circuit television system (CCTV) into the SCADA network, real-time video and audio monitoring can also be carried out. Using emergency management software, in the event of a fire or accident, this system supports operators step by step with visualizations in implementing emergency protocols, and immediately displays the image from the camera showing the incident on the central screen of the control room, while simultaneously starting video recording.
Fire simulation in the Somport Tunnel.
Next step towards a sustainable future
As the next step in the developments, a digital twin model of the tunnel is planned to be created, with the help of which various events can be simulated to further improve safety and develop operator training. In addition, intelligent LED lighting will be introduced, which is expected to improve energy efficiency by more than 30 percent compared to the previous system.
Special know-how
The world of tunnels is familiar territory for Siemens, as the technology company has a separate business unit dedicated to this specialized field. The company, for example, participates in the operation of the Hagerbach Test Gallery in Switzerland, which also functions as a training center and research laboratory, where the entire life cycle of the so-called “digital tunnel” is presented – from planning through operation to services. Solutions that can be viewed here include building information modeling (BIM design); engineering software specifically developed for tunnel design (Tunnel CAD); simulation of fires, ventilation systems, road signs, and emergency exit door placement; virtual commissioning and operator training; preparation of cybersecurity plans; or IoT / Industrial Edge services for predictive maintenance.
Digital twin model of the tunnel.