Slightly different office to most
I did some gyro azimuths for a pair of hydro tunnels in Peru, they had me come in when they were getting close to breakthrough, drilling from both ends. I think one was 22 km and the other a bit less. Had a bit of a water problem...
We had to ride in the mine cars to get to the face, about 45 minutes each way
Here was their "low-tech" TBM guide target, as long as the laser was inside the hole, they were online
I had to observe a surface line to calibrate, on triangulation pillars
The TBM was nowhere as clean looking. They actually got one of them stuck, and had to bring in another one to clear a path to get it out.
They sent me pics when they broke through, not sure what I did with those.
Awesome. Never worked with a gyro myself, that's true surveying. I love it!
We won't use a gyro on this one in the pictures the first two drives are only 1.6km per drive, the alignment is almost a straight line too. Did some astro-shots on the external control, just for self development/curiosity exercise as I heard its more accurate and we never covered that when I went to university (still got to process it).
The second two drives are about 6km per drive, curved alignment. We'll use a gyro, start, midway and one just enough before breakthrough probably.
Start reference was about 500 metres on the first drives, got the benefit to start it from a very open cutting in the countryside.
The water does look a bit of a problem and I'm very impressed with those guide targets!
Looks like a great experience to have had like an expedition. Would love to work abroad in South America at some point, been to Peru and Ecuador before and loved it.
UPDATE: One completed
Is it a boring job?
???? Indeed
