The State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Geotechnics and Tunnelling is a national-level strategic scientific and technological research institution approved for reorganization and establishment by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China in 2023.

Reorganized from the former State Key Laboratory of Rail Transit Engineering Informatization, the Laboratory was jointly established by three complementary institutions: China Railway First Survey and Design Institute Group Co., Ltd., a leading enterprise in the rail transit industry; Southwest Jiaotong University, which has an outstanding reputation in civil engineering and transportation tunnel engineering; and Shenzhen University, which has distinctive strengths in urban underground space and resilient engineering. Through the close integration of their respective expertise and resources, the three institutions have formed a highly collaborative research platform.

National Engineering Survey and Design Master Li Guoliang serves as Director of the Laboratory. Academician Chen Xiangsheng serves as Executive Deputy Director, and Academician He Chuan serves as Deputy Director.

Responding to major national strategic needs, including the development of China into a leading transportation nation, the three-dimensional development of territorial space, and the Belt and Road Initiative, the Laboratory is committed to addressing world-class challenges associated with the construction and maintenance of geotechnical and tunnel engineering under extremely complex environmental conditions.

The Laboratory aims to drive a fundamental transformation of geotechnical and tunnel engineering in extreme environments toward greater safety, sustainability, and intelligence. Its core mission is to investigate and systematically address three major scientific questions:Multi-field coupling and disaster evolution mechanisms of geomaterials in extreme environments;Theories and methods for multidimensional coordination in the intelligent construction of large-scale engineering projects;Theories of high resilience and long service life for engineering structures in extreme environments.

The Laboratory also focuses on overcoming four major technological bottlenecks:Comprehensive intelligent sensing of geomaterials and geotechnical systems;Prediction, prevention, and control of engineering disasters;Green and intelligent construction with reduced human involvement or fully unmanned operations;Intelligent maintenance, operational disaster prevention, and emergency response.

The Laboratory regards supporting major national strategic projects, including the Sichuan–Tibet Railway, the Tibet–Xinjiang Railway, and large-scale infrastructure projects along major rivers and coastal regions, as one of its principal responsibilities. It is dedicated to becoming a leading center for frontier technology research and high-end equipment innovation, as well as a first-class base for talent development and international academic exchange in the field.

The Laboratory has established four closely interconnected core research areas:Multisource information sensing and multi-field coupling mechanisms of geomaterials in extreme environments;Intelligent prediction, prevention, and control of disasters in geotechnical and tunnel engineering under extreme environments;Green and intelligent construction of geotechnical and tunnel engineering in extreme environments;Intelligent maintenance, operational disaster prevention, and emergency rescue for geotechnical and tunnel engineering in extreme environments.

Research Team

The Laboratory has established a highly capable, well-structured, and innovation-driven research team. It currently has 269 permanent staff members, including five members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and four National Engineering Survey and Design Masters.

The team also includes 12 national-level leading scholars, such as Changjiang Scholars and recipients of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, as well as 16 national-level young talents. In total, members of the Laboratory have received national-level talent designations on 44 occasions.

A well-structured talent development system has been established, characterized by strategic scientists providing overall leadership, leading experts taking primary responsibility, and young and middle-aged researchers tackling critical scientific and technological challenges. Researchers under the age of 45 account for nearly 60% of the team, while personnel holding full senior professional titles account for more than 56%. This structure demonstrates the Laboratory’s substantial talent resources and strong potential for future development.

Major Research Projects and Achievements

Since its reorganization, the Laboratory has undertaken a series of major national research programs and produced numerous influential scientific and technological achievements.

Over the past three years, the Laboratory has newly undertaken 66 nationally funded research projects as the lead institution. These include six projects and 13 research tasks under the National Key Research and Development Program of China, as well as 11 major or key projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The total value of its research contracts has reached RMB 1.35 billion.

The Laboratory has achieved a series of landmark breakthroughs, including:Solving the world-class challenge of controlling extreme heat hazards, with temperatures reaching 92.6°C, in tunnels along the Sichuan–Tibet Railway;Establishing a comprehensive technological system for information sensing and risk assessment of high and steep slopes in strong-earthquake regions;Developing an original control theory for the safe construction of underground spaces within metro influence zones, together with an innovative pipe-jacking technology for closely spaced twin tunnels;Establishing a theoretical and technological system for mechanized and intelligent construction of drill-and-blast tunnels;Developing key technologies for intelligent sensing, resilience enhancement, and rapid post-earthquake reopening of operational tunnels.

These achievements have been successfully applied to dozens of major national engineering projects, generating significant social and economic benefits.

During the past three years, the Laboratory has received 45 science and technology awards at the provincial or ministerial level. It has been granted 425 patents, published 822 papers indexed by the Science Citation Index, and issued 18 academic monographs. It has also taken the lead in formulating 20 national and industry standards, including international standards issued by the International Organization for Standardization.

Research Facilities and Experimental Platforms

The Laboratory has established research bases in Xi’an, Chengdu, and Shenzhen, with a total floor area of 25,400 square metres.

These research bases comprise six advanced experimental platforms covering:Multi-field coupling of geomaterials under extreme environmental conditions;Intelligent construction;Disaster prevention and control;Intelligent maintenance;Digital twins;Cloud-based data centres.

A cumulative investment of RMB 206 million has been made in the Laboratory’s research infrastructure, with the total value of its equipment exceeding RMB 148 million. These facilities provide comprehensive experimental verification and research and development capabilities covering the entire engineering lifecycle.

Openness and Academic Exchange

The Laboratory consistently follows an open, dynamic, and collaborative operational model.

It founded the Academic Conference on Intelligent Geotechnics and Tunnelling in Extreme Environments. Over the past three years, the Laboratory has organized or co-organized 35 high-level domestic and international academic conferences, further strengthening interdisciplinary cooperation and international academic exchange.