Skip to main content

Tunnel inspection investigation innovation in Japan

A new approach to tunnel inspection technology in Japan could yield major benefits in determining quality and safety. A team comprising specialists from Japan’s Institute for Laser Technology and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency is having evaluating the use of lasers for upgrading tunnel inspection methods as part of a two year research programme. The new technique is said to allow inspectors to examine tunnel wall conditions at a higher frequency of 25 times/second. The technology also allows tunnel wall
January 14, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
A new approach to tunnel inspection technology in Japan could yield major benefits in determining quality and safety. A team comprising specialists from Japan’s Institute for 3098 Laser Technology and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency is having evaluating the use of lasers for upgrading tunnel inspection methods as part of a two year research programme.

The new technique is said to allow inspectors to examine tunnel wall conditions at a higher frequency of 25 times/second. The technology also allows tunnel wall conditions to be inspected to a depth of 10cm under the surface. The new method uses a combination of laser technology and ultrasonic flaw detectors to evaluate conditions to greater depths than would previously have been possible.

Key features of the system include the use of a special lens as well as water-cooling in the laser to reduce heat generated by the equipment and boost performance.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • MOBA machine control tools help in asphalt paving
    January 12, 2015
    Machine control systems from MOBA are playing an important role in laying out a new street in the southern German village of Apfeldorf in Bavaria. New development in the village is seeing the construction of 14 new homes as well as a new street being built and the time savings and cost savings of machine control systems are proving highly beneficial. Although well proven in larger projects, these technologies are now being used in smaller construction projects also, with major advantages for the users. Loc
  • Asphalt paving innovations are coming
    July 28, 2023
    Innovative new machines are coming to market that will boost efficiency for the asphalt paving segment
  • Out of sight
    July 16, 2012
    With traffic volumes increasing around the world, many existing road links will need to be upgraded or replaced in coming years The need for new road tunnels is particularly intense in many dense urban areas, due to environmental requirements that mean new road links will have to be installed underground. However, improving existing road tunnel links is providing a very large part of the business for this specialised construction segment at present.
  • Innovative asphalt paver advances for 2015
    April 8, 2015
    Pressure on asphalt paver manufacturers to develop new and more efficient machines is bringing results - Mike Woof writes. For all the key manufacturers in the asphalt paving segment, pressure is being brought to bear with regard to the development of new and more efficient machines. Both for US and European style of pavers, incremental improvements are being seen in machines. In keeping with regulations for Europe and North America, many of the new generation machines are now being powered by the latest lo