Visualisation in tunnelling

Numerical simulation in tunnelling poses a particular challenge to scientific visualisation. Apart from the need for displaying geological features, one also has to visualise 3D multivariable scalar fields, such as the amount of damage in the rock mass. This paper presents a novel visualisation technique, which is being developed within the Joint Research Initiative (JRI) entitled “Numerical Simulation in Tunnelling” (SiTu), which can be very effectively applied to the display of geological features or to the results of computer simulations. The software has been presented at the “Computer Animation and Effects Show”, using realistic examples in tunnelling. Display options include virtual reality and temporal/spatial fogging techniques for displaying scalar fields