Ensuring Infrastructure (and Animal!) Safety with InSAR
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home - London, United Kingdom
Highlights
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Geotechnical FEA model of proposed basement construction, loading and subsequent tunnelling.
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Tunnelling-induced ground movements and building damage category found to be acceptable.
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Category 3 check of piled foundation and basement wall design for Network Rail.
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3-year post-construction and tunnelling settlements measured by DInSAR to be only about 5mm.
The construction of the new Veterinary Hospital and Centre of Excellence (VHCE) at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home was completed about a year before the Northern Line Extension (NLE) tunnels were excavated nearby. To safeguard this new facility from potential damage caused by ground movements from the upcoming tunnelling, a detailed analysis was essential.
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Before starting the basement construction, a comprehensive Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was performed using advanced FEA software. This analysis, based on the Finite Element Method (FEM), utilised mathematical models and small elements to provide an approximate solution for how tunnelling might affect the VHCE. This approach, rooted in structural mechanics, helped assess the risks associated with ground movements from the NLE and provided crucial data to ensure the basement’s structural integrity.
To further safeguard the building, remote sensing techniques, including SAR images and radar images, were employed. These remote sensing methods allowed for continuous monitoring of surface deformation and potential shifts in the building’s line of sight. The integration of InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) provided a non-intrusive, reliable way to track ground movements, ensuring that any displacements remained within acceptable limits and no additional measures were required.
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Once the tunnel routes were finalised, the property owner was responsible for managing any tunnelling-induced risks. The FEA provided stakeholders with the confidence to proceed with the basement construction, knowing that the potential impacts had been thoroughly analysed. By combining advanced civil engineering practices with simulation software and innovative InSAR monitoring, the project demonstrated that the VHCE building, and its animal residents would remain safe throughout the tunnelling operations.
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This case study highlights how effective the Finite Element Method, FEA software, and InSAR can be in mitigating the risks of ground movements in complex urban construction projects, ensuring the result meets all safety and stability standards.
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