Infrastructure & Services
The Underground Future Lab offers a unique research infrastructure for a wide range of topics and enables researchers to develop innovative solutions for the challenges of the future.
We are pleased to carry out your project
Research Partnerships with VSH
Our reserach infrastructure provides a unique environment for experimental research, demonstration projects, and validation of new technologies related to underground infrastructure and geotechnical systems. Researchers and project teams are invited to collaborate with VSH by integrating the facility into national and international research proposals.
VSH offers a rare opportunity to test concepts, materials, sensing technologies, and construction processes in a real underground environment. Projects may range from targeted experimental campaigns within existing tunnels and test areas to larger research programs requiring dedicated installations or infrastructure modifications.
The VSH team can support you with different services as for example proposal preparation by helping define experimental setups, identifying suitable locations within the facility, and outlining potential collaboration models.
If you are planning a research proposal and would like to explore the use of VSH as an experimental or demonstration platform, please contact us.
Advantages of underground infrastructure
We offer the ideal research infrastructure:
- Real underground conditions: The Underground Future Lab offers the opportunity to conduct research under real conditions with simultaneously the peace of a laboratory. Researchers can test their experiments and technologies in a real underground. VSH enables experiments and demonstrations in a full-scale underground environment, allowing researchers to validate technologies under realistic mechanical, environmental, and operational conditions.
- Flexible experimental infrastructure: The facility provides access to a network of tunnels, test galleries, and experimental zones that can accommodate a wide range of installations, monitoring systems, and prototype deployments.
- Diverse geological environments: The Lab is located in a region of soft slate and hard siliceous limestone, which allows researchers to study different geological conditions and develop technologies for construction in challenging conditions.
- Modern facilities: The Underground Future Lab has a wide range of modern facilities and equipment. In addition to machines and internet access throughout the tunnel, there is a restaurant on the mountain that caters for the physical well-being of the visitors.
- Safety standards: The tunnel meets strict safety standards, allowing researchers to conduct their experiments in a safe environment and minimise potential risks.
Advantages of our services
- Interdisciplinary collaboration: VSH serves as a meeting point between academia, industry, and infrastructure operators. The facility supports collaborations spanning civil engineering, geotechnics, mining, robotics, sensing technologies, digital infrastructure, and energy systems. The Underground Future Lab facilitates and enables interdisciplinary collaboration towards the development of holistic solutions to complex problems in underground mining.
- Long-term projects: Researchers have the opportunity to conduct long-term projects with their own prototype equipment in The Underground Future Lab to study long-term trends and evaluate the long-term performance of underground mining technologies and methods.
- From laboratory concept to field validation: Research at VSH allows academic and industrial partners to bridge the gap between laboratory development and real-world deployment. Technologies can be tested under conditions representative of operational underground infrastructure.
- Visibility and demonstration opportunities: Projects implemented at VSH benefit from high visibility through guided visits, industry events, and international collaborations. The facility regularly hosts stakeholders from research institutions, infrastructure operators, and industry.
Public access: The Lab also offers the opportunity for educational institutions, research groups and companies to visit the gallery and participate in specific research projects, which promotes knowledge sharing and collaboration. - Integrating VSH into research proposals: Researchers interested in incorporating VSH into national or international research proposals (e.g., SNSF, Innosuisse, Horizon Europe, or other funding schemes) are encouraged to contact the VSH team at an early stage of proposal development.
Research topics that can be investigated at The Underground Future Lab
- Optimisation of tunnelling methods: Investigation of new technologies and processes for the efficient and safe construction of tunnels and underground structures, e.g. innovative anchors, new grouting solutions, optimised sealing options, special shotcrete and its optimal application.
- Use of robotics and automation: research into robots and automated systems for use in underground construction to improve productivity and safety.
- Development of energy-efficient machines: Investigation of technologies to reduce the energy consumption of machines and equipment in underground mining.
- Materials for tunnelling: Evaluation of new construction materials and materials with improved properties such as durability, strength and environmental compatibility.
- Construction under difficult geological conditions: Research into techniques and strategies for the construction of tunnels and underground structures in complex geological environments
Intelligent monitoring systems: Development of sensor technologies and monitoring systems for real-time monitoring of tunnels and underground infrastructure in order to recognise and rectify potential problems at an early stage.
Sustainable disposal of excavated materials: Investigation of methods for recycling and disposing of excavated materials from underground mining in order to minimise environmental impact and conserve resources.
Communication and data exchange in underground construction: Research into technologies and protocols for communication and data exchange in underground environments in order to improve the efficiency and safety of construction and operational processes.
Construction of underground transport systems: Development of technologies and concepts for the construction and operation of underground transport systems such as underground railways, tunnel roads and underground railway stations.
Integration of renewable energies in underground construction: Investigation of possibilities for the integration of renewable energies such as geothermal energy, solar energy or hydropower in underground construction to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.
Research Areas at The Underground Future Lab
Energy Solutions
This includes circular and renewable production, transformation, on-site storage or distribution of energy and heat.
