On 11 January 2026, Hunan University and China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Corporation (CRCHI) officially released the Intelligent Agent for Shield Tunneling Operation, Maintenance and Risk Prevention and Control in Changsha.

The system was jointly developed by Hunan University’s Advanced Technologies and Intelligent Equipment for Underground Space team and CRCHI. Prof. Chao Zhang, director of the UNSAT Lab, was among the key technical members involved in the development. The intelligent agent integrates state sensing, risk warning, and intelligent decision-making, supporting the transition of shield tunneling from experience-driven operation toward data-driven intelligent construction.

Release ceremony of the intelligent agent for shield tunneling

The intelligent agent can assist with surface-settlement prediction, risk warning for shield/TBM operation, and intelligent selection of tunneling parameters. It has been deployed on super-large-diameter shield equipment serving major infrastructure projects.

Interface of the intelligent assistance system for shield tunneling

Field application of the intelligent agent during shield tunneling

Media Coverage

Science and Technology Daily
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The Paper
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China Education Daily
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Hunan University News
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