Tunnel construction

GPS stops at the tunnel mouth

Underground tunnel construction is one of the most dangerous work environments there is. Limited visibility, confined spaces, heavy machinery, and crews spread across kilometers of active excavation — knowing exactly where every worker is at every moment isn’t a convenience. It is a matter of life and safety.

The usual tools don’t reach. GPS does not work underground. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth lack both the range and the accuracy. And most UWB systems need anchors every 20 to 50 meters, which makes covering kilometers of tunnel expensive to install and expensive to keep running.

One tag per helmet, along the full length of the tunnel

Redpoint deployed its UWB-based real-time location system along the entire length of an active highway tunnel construction project. Every worker wore a compact, helmet-mounted tag providing continuous real-time position data, giving supervisors live visibility of who is underground and where on a single centralized dashboard.

Anchors 400 meters apart, not 40

What made this deployment unusual was the spacing. Stretching the distance between anchors is what turns tunnel coverage from a budget problem into a routine install.

  • 400+ meter anchor spacing — 8 to 20 times farther apart than a typical UWB deployment, cutting hardware count, cost and installation time
  • 98% ranging success rate — maintained at those extreme distances
  • No coverage gaps — seamless tracking across the full tunnel length
  • Live dashboard — every worker’s location, updated in real time
  • Instant emergency mustering — an accurate headcount of who is underground, and where
Steel gantry and ventilation ducting inside an unlined highway tunnel bore under construction, lit by LED strips

Zero safety incidents, and full-scale deployment underway

The pilot exceeded expectations. The system delivered reliable, continuous personnel tracking across the entire tunnel, in an underground environment that defeats most alternatives.

  • Sub-meter accuracy verified throughout the tunnel length
  • 400+ meter anchor spacing at a 98% ranging success rate, far beyond industry norms
  • Zero safety incidents for the duration of the pilot
  • Emergency muster capability — instant headcount and location of all underground personnel
  • Full-scale deployment now underway on the strength of the pilot

400m+

Ranging between anchors

Zero

Safety incidents

<1 m

Personnel tracking accuracy

Why Redpoint for tunnel construction

Extended range

400+ meter anchor spacing, proven in live tunnel conditions — 8 to 20 times farther than competing solutions. Lower cost, faster install, less infrastructure to maintain.

Proven accuracy

Sub-meter precision at a 98% ranging success rate, in harsh underground conditions where other technologies fail outright.

Built for safety

Real-time mustering, zone alerts and instant visibility into who is underground. When seconds matter, you already know where everyone is.

Ready to protect your tunnel workforce?

Book a Demo →

98%

ranging success rate, with anchors 400+ meters apart

“We can now see every worker in real time across the entire tunnel. That changes everything for safety management.”

Three workers in hard hats and high-visibility vests installing a UWB anchor on the wall of a highway tunnel under construction

Project

Active highway tunnel construction