The construction industry accounts for nearly 40% of global energy-related CO2 emissions. A single major tunnel project can equal the carbon footprint of hundreds of thousands of intercontinental flights.
With projects like the Mediterranean Corridor in Spain and the Brenner Base Tunnel in the Alps underway, the sector is turning to low-carbon, high-efficiency solutions.
After a tunnel blast, visibility is near zero and unexploded charges pose a deadly risk to workers. The BEEYONDERS initiative removes humans from that danger zone.
"We employ drones in two stages," explains Marco Montes Grova, Perception and AI Engineer at CATEC. "First, they map the tunnel to create a digital twin. After detonation, the drone guides the loader through smoke to the excavation front. Its thermal camera can detect unexploded ordnance."
This synergy saves lives and optimizes the construction cycle. Machinery can enter the tunnel immediately after a blast-while the air is still too thick for humans-reducing downtime significantly.
The same technology is being adapted for surface works, tested along the Rome-L'Aquila highway in Italy. Drones perform photogrammetry to map the site, while workers wear RTK sensors so the autonomous loader can identify and avoid personnel in real-time.
"This mechanical loader, converted to autonomous driving, can cut fuel use by about 10%," says Fabrizio Federici, Project Manager at AISCAT Servizi. "The digital twin calculates the best and safest route, reducing environmental pollution."
By automating inspections and heavy lifting, these innovations aim to transform infrastructure sites into high-precision, low-emission digital environments.