ZaB–Zentrum am Berg: Research for New Underground Solutions

Abstract Zentrum am Berg (ZaB) is a full-scale underground research infrastructure of the Technical University of Leoben (TUL) that enables 1:1 investigations of construction, operation, safety, and energy applications in tunnels and caverns. Designed with true-to-scale motorway, railway, and mining cross-sections, ZaB overcomes the scaling limitations of conventional laboratories, allowing coupled studies of ventilation, smoke propagation, heat release, geotechnical behaviour, hydrogeological processes, and construction logistics under realistic boundary conditions. A neutral governance and standardized measurement–simulation workflow ensure reproducible, transferable results for component benchmarking and system-level assessments. Since its commissioning in 2021, ZaB has operated under a sustainable model combining institutional funding with project revenues and open access for national and international partners. Its instrumentation supports spatially and temporally resolved data acquisition (e.g., velocity, temperature, concentrations, structural response), enabling robust calibration and validation of CFD, FEM, and multiphysics models. Current research spans: geophysical advance exploration; occupational dust mitigation; long-term material performance and basalt-fibre linings; AI-based classification and reuse of excavated materials; automated drainage diagnostics; fire safety, mixed-reality responder training, and full-scale ventilation trials; drone-swarm mapping and digital twins; and subsurface energy storage (hot water, compressed air). The Horizon Europe project iRIS will further integrate AI-enabled eco-design and life-cycle sustainability assessments. ZaB couples research, development, education, and training to accelerate safe, resilient, and sustainable underground infrastructure, supporting European innovation priorities.