Advanced software systems to optimise the control and operation of modern road tunnel plant equipment

The implementation of modern road tunnel control and monitoring systems (RTCMS) requires explicit consideration of a range of interacting design criterion, including recognition of applicable safety standards; the requirement for improved control efficiency and adaptability; and the need for an effective, powerful and easy to manage user interface. The author considers these aspects with particular emphasis on advanced operator facilities and the associated software platform, used on several recent tunnel projects. The author describes SCOPE (supervisory control and operator pre-configured environment), which has been developed as a generalised platform for the implementation of a range of projects in which the issues of safety, efficiency and advanced operator facilities are of primary importance. The application of SCOPE to road tunnel projects is also discussed