Tunnel Safety & Operations

Modern society has high expectations for the safety of technical systems, often assuming that absolute safety is a given. However, this assumption is unrealistic. As a leading consultant in risk assessment and safety management for underground transportation systems, ILF adopts a more realistic mindset to safety: we focus on identifying hazards, assessing probabilities and consequences, and minimizing and managing residual risks in the most cost-efficient way.

Fields of Expertise:

• Quantitative Risk Assessment
• Resilience & Maintenance Management
• Safety Concepts & Emergency Planning

At ILF, we identify, analyze and manage risks in road and railway tunnels through quantitative risk assessment. By sharing the insights gained from this assessment with clients, we facilitate a better understanding and effective mitigation of potential hazards before they become risks. Our risk assessment techniques also enable design optimization and identification of the most cost-effective risk mitigation measures, while prioritizing the safety of tunnel users.

Since the introduction of the Austrian Tunnel Risk Model (TuRisMo) in 2008, we have been refining the model to reflect the specific characteristics of different tunnel systems. TuRisMo can be flexibly adapted to different technical and regulatory environments and enables comprehensive quantitative assessment of relevant risk factors in tunnels.

Malfunctions, failures or damage to tunnel structures or installations can lead to long downtimes and high rehabilitation costs, resulting in significant socio-economic losses. Resilience and maintenance management are therefore critical to the operational availability of transportation infrastructure, especially considering the vital role that road and railway tunnels play in connecting areas and reducing travel time.

ILF provides integrated resilience and maintenance management solutions that minimize operational disruptions and thus ensure cost-effective operation and sustainable performance.

The safety concepts that we at ILF provide for tunnels and other underground transportation structures are recognized on an international level. These comprehensive concepts systematically address hazards and risks in various systems and include structural, technical and organizational safety measures to protect both individuals and assets.
With further expertise in emergency management, we also offer tunnel operators and emergency response teams tailored strategies and protocols to effectively address a wide range of potential tunnel emergencies.