Geographic information system (GIS), Geological Modelling, and Geotechnical Modelling & Monitoring for Building Information Modelling (BIM): GeoM4BIM is a modelling system developed preferentially for underground constructions and mining (Huang et al. 2021).

Multi-LOD BIM for underground metro station: We proposed a workflow to offer an automated error-free, design-to-design solution, and hence enables the efficient exploration of design scenarios and construction optimisation before IFC is adopted by geotechnical modelling software (Huang et al. 2022).

Integrated framework for embodied carbon assessment and construction feasibility: The design and construction of sustainable underground infrastructure will be highly benefited from adopting digitalisation and innovative construction technologies. We developed a framework by integrating digitalisation, interoperability and embodied carbon for a prefabricated underground station. A multi-LoD prefabricated station is developed to verify the proposed framework (Huang et al. 2023).

The split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) or Kolsky bar has been widely used for the determination of dynamic properties of materials at high strain rates (Zhang and Zhao 2014).

A triaxial Hopkinson pressure bar (ARC LE150100058) is developed to apply initial pre-stresses achieving various in-situ stress conditions, including uniaxial (σ1>σ2=σ3=0), biaxial (σ1≥σ2>σ3=0) and triaxial (σ1≥σ2≥σ3 ≠0) confinements, and then to determine dynamic properties of materials under multiaxial pre-stress states (Liu et al. 2019) and (Zhang et al. 2022).

Dynamic Behaviours of Geomaterials in Underground Infrastructures: Worldwide population growth, infrastructure development, and climate change raise new challenges in the extraction and use of earth resources and spaces. However, both earth resources and subsurface infrastructures face unique challenges and huge uncertainties and are frequently exposed to natural disasters (e.g. earthquakes, rockbursts, and rockfalls) and human-induced events (e.g. explosion, perforation, induced seismicity, and rock blasting). Meanwhile, the stress states of geomaterials in underground environments are much more complicated, which is varied from uniaxial to triaxial. These extreme loading conditions increase the difficulty of warning and protection in advance during mining and infrastructure constructions (Wang et al. 2021) and (Wang et al. 2022).

3D continuum-discrete coupled modelling of triaxial Hopkinson bar tests: (1) full-scale modelling of the entire Tri-HB system to validate the assumptions and effects of stress wave propagation; (2) rock representation considering 3D microstructural effects; (3) multiaxial confining pressure condition under coupled static and dynamic loads; and (4) simulating the conditions beyond the limits of the equipment capacities (e.g., Yield strength and buckling of long steel bars, and impact velocity of the striker) (Hu et al. 2020) and (Hu et al. 2023).

High-speed three-dimensional Digital Image Correlation (3D-DIC): Two Phantom v2511 ultra-high speed cameras (up to 1 Million frames per second) for 3D-DIC measurement (Xing et al. 2017 and Xing et al. 2018)

An integrated high-frequent continuous acquisition and streaming system (i.e., acoustic emission and microseismic) for monitoring natural and human-made hazards.