High-Precision Geotechnical Monitoring for Safe Urban Stormwater Tunneling
MU Services Ltd. successfully delivered comprehensive geotechnical instrumentation, real-time monitoring, and geodetic surveying services for the NDM microtunneling stormwater pipeline project beneath Corniche Road in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The project involved the construction of a DN 1800 mm stormwater drainage tunnel, 56 meters in length, installed at a depth of only 4 meters below ground level beneath one of Abu Dhabi’s busiest arterial roads. Due to the silty soil conditions, shallow tunnel depth, and continuous traffic load, advanced geotechnical monitoring was critical to ensure public safety, infrastructure stability, and tunneling accuracy.
All monitoring systems were deployed using high-precision geotechnical sensors manufactured by Encardio, while MU Services Ltd. handled the full execution, operation, and reporting scope.
Project Engineering & Monitoring Challenges
This microtunneling project presented several high-risk factors:
- Shallow tunnel depth under a high-traffic urban roadway
- Silty soil conditions prone to settlement and instability
- High groundwater influence
- Continuous surface loading from traffic
- Strict safety regulations from local authorities
- Extremely limited working windows for instrumentation and surveying
Due to these risks, the consultants mandated continuous, real-time geotechnical and geodetic monitoring throughout the tunneling process.
MU Services Ltd. Scope of Work
MU Services Ltd. was awarded the complete instrumentation & monitoring (I&M) scope, which included:
Instrumentation Supply, Installation & Monitoring
Using Encardio-manufactured sensors, the following systems were installed and operated:
- Inclinometers – lateral soil and pit wall movement
- Piezometers – groundwater pressure monitoring
- Borehole extensometers – vertical ground deformation
- Earth pressure cells – load changes around the tunnel
- Surface settlement points – road and ground settlement monitoring
Drilling Works
Execution of all boreholes required for subsurface instrumentation installation.
Optical & Geodetic Surveying
High-precision monitoring of:
- Road settlement
- Pit deformation
- Tunnel alignment behavior
- Surface and subsurface displacement
24/7 Monitoring & Reporting
- Monitoring and surveying every 2 hours, 24/7
- Daily and weekly reporting
- Full engineering evaluation and interpretation
- Alarm thresholds and early warning system
- Immediate reporting of deviations
Due to the project’s location on a live roadway, all monitoring and surveying activities were strictly synchronized with tunneling operations and performed within government-approved time windows. MU Services Ltd. deployed round-the-clock engineering shifts to meet the extreme operational demands.
Monitoring Objectives & Safety Outcomes
The monitoring program ensured:
- Continuous control of ground settlement and deformation
- Verification of microtunneling machine behavior
- Groundwater pressure regulation
- Protection of road infrastructure and underground utilities
- Safety of workers and road users
- Prevention of surface collapse or differential settlement
- Full regulatory compliance
Project Details
- Project Name: NDM Microtunneling for Storm Water Pipeline under Corniche Road
- Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Client: Department of Municipalities & Agriculture (DMA)
- Contractor: Samsung – Saif Bin Darwish JV
- Consultant: Parsons International
- Tunnel Diameter: DN 1800 mm
- Tunnel Length: 56 meters
- Tunnel Depth: 4 meters below ground level
- Duration: 2011
- Monitoring Executed By: MU Services Ltd.
- Sensor Manufacturer: Encardio
Technologies & Systems Deployed
- Encardio inclinometers, piezometers & extensometers
- Earth pressure cells & settlement sensors
- Optical surveying & total station networks
- Real-time geodata acquisition platforms
- Automated alert & reporting systems
- Tunnel deformation analytics
Urban Tunneling Safety Through Intelligent Monitoring
By combining Encardio’s precision geotechnical sensor technologies with the engineering execution, field services, data processing, and 24/7 monitoring expertise of MU Services Ltd., the project achieved:
✅ Zero surface collapse
✅ Controlled settlement within design limits
✅ Safe operation under live traffic
✅ Fully compliant urban tunneling execution
✅ Data-driven construction control
Need Advanced Microtunneling or Stormwater Infrastructure Monitoring?
MU Services Ltd. provides full-scope geotechnical monitoring, tunneling instrumentation, stormwater infrastructure control, mining safety systems, and oil & gas infrastructure support across the Middle East and internationally.
Contact MU Services Ltd. today to discuss your underground construction monitoring needs.