A TBM Generates
600 Data Points Per Ring
The Challenge
Advance rate data not linked to ground conditions
TBM advance rate varies with geology. Paper logs record advance per shift but do not correlate rate changes to the geotechnical baseline. When the machine slows, nobody can quickly determine if it is ground conditions or mechanical issues.
Grout volume tracking is shift-level only
Annular grout volume should match the theoretical annular gap per ring. Paper logs track total grout per shift, not per ring. Over-grouting or under-grouting patterns hide inside shift totals.
Cutter wear intervention records are inconsistent
Cutter inspections and changes during hyperbaric interventions generate critical data — cutter position, wear measurement, hours since last change. Different crews document at different levels of detail.
Ring build tolerances not trended
Each ring has build tolerances for position, roll, and lip step. Paper ring build sheets record individual measurements but nobody trends whether tolerances are drifting across multiple rings.
The POD Advantage
Voice-captured TBM parameters
Speak thrust pressure, torque, advance rate, and earth pressure as the machine shoves. POD links every parameter to the ring number and chainage for ring-level trending.
Grout volume trending
Grout volume tracked per ring against theoretical requirements. POD flags rings where grout take exceeds or falls below the design envelope so engineers can investigate immediately.
Cutter intervention logging
Standardized cutter inspection records with position mapping, wear measurements, and change history. Every intervention documented the same way regardless of which crew performs it.
Tolerance drift detection
Ring build measurements trended across the drive. POD identifies when position, roll, or lip step measurements are drifting toward tolerance limits before they exceed them.
TBM Operations Intelligence
“We had a 200-meter section with grout volumes 40 percent above design and nobody caught it until the surface settlement survey came back. The TBM operator logs showed normal but nobody was trending the actual grout take data. POD would have flagged it at ring 3.”
— Tunnel Manager, TBM Contractor
Industry-Specific KPIs That Update Themselves
POD tracks hundreds of KPIs from a 5-minute voice report. Here are just 2 of them.
Safety Performance
Earned Value Performance
Both cost and schedule under pressure
These update in real time from a 5-minute voice report. No spreadsheets. No data entry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Turn TBM Data Into Actionable Intelligence
See how POD tracks every ring, every shove, and every parameter for complete TBM operations documentation.