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IDA Tunnel

 
IDA Tunnel is a comprehensive and state-of-the-art simulation tool for road, rail, and metro tunnel ventilation and fire safety analysis — trusted by leading tunnel design firms worldwide. 

 

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Designed for both everyday design tasks and advanced engineering studies, IDA Tunnel supports the full spectrum of ventilation and fire scenario simulations. You will be able to get computed results that can be animated in the context of a full 3D representation of the tunnel network. 

As the latest generation of EQUA’s advanced tunnel simulation software, IDA Tunnel brings major enhancements in modeling capability, performance, accuracy, and user experience—empowering engineers to design safer and more efficient tunnel systems.

IDA Tunnel is usually used for the following studies:
  • Fire studies and smoke ventilation design.
  • Finding extreme temperature conditions in tunnels and platforms.
  • Jet fan sizing, placement, and control.
  • Sizing of cooling and ventilation equipment.
  • Computation of boundary conditions for more detailed 3D CFD studies of smoke and air movements on platforms and ticket halls.
  • Air quality in tunnels with combustion driven vehicles.
  • Particle levels in metro systems due to train traffic.

 

Read more about:

 

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Some of our customers:

  • ramboll 1 WSP 1 Sweco
  • norconsult 1 FVT mbh 1 Lechner Partner zt KEG
  • Arup 1 JohnHolland 1 staceyagnew
  • UGL 1 gruner 1 HBI
  • Pyry 1 SENER 1 typsa
  • Euroestudios 1 CSTB 1 Systra
  • Atkins 1 Metropolitana 1 Haskoning dhv
  • Novenco 1 Witteveen 1 AECOM
  • GANCOM 1 Tylin 2 1 Tylin 2 1

  • FES PROMETEO



 

Product brochure

Read more about IDA Tunnel and its features.
Download PDF here

IDA Tunnel Brochure cover image  

 

 

 

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Highlights in 1.1

 

Below is a list of of the most important news in IDA Tunnel 1.1.

 

leafFaster simulations

Improved algorithms increase the simulation execution speed - in many cases simulations run up to 30 % faster.

  

 

leafVersion handling system

A version handling system keeps track of model changes and automatically reruns all cases that depend on a change. Differences between models are computed as scripts and results between cases are easily compared.

 

  

leafMore advanced paths and train routes

  • New procedure for defining route paths, and heating and cooling pipes.
  • New procedure for defining path reports.
  • Trains can now change the direction (at platforms only), and pass the same location several times.
  • Paths can now be edited.

 

 

leaf New climate file download center

A new download center makes it easy to select the weather files and design data that you need. More than 3 000 worldwide weather files are now available for direct download and use in IDA Tunnel.

 

 

leaf Diagram functions

New features in the visualization kit:

  • Carpet plots (color-coded variables) support pattern recognition.
  • More options for the duration diagram, e.g. display time over or under a certain limit.

 

         

leaf Improved energy calculation

  • Improved energy reports.
  • New energy categories added: heating and cooling.
  • New diagram showing all variables contributing to the energy report.

 

 

leaf Improved models

  • Calculation of heat from fans is now possible.
  • A heat exchanger model has been added.
  • Small improvements in several other models.

 

 

leaf Emissions and heat

  • PIARC 2012 emission tables have been added.
  • Heat emission from road traffic has been added. 

 

 

leaf License improvements

  The Simulation Minute Tokens (found in previous IDA Tunnel versions) have been removed, allowing for unlimited simulation usage. Together with the new dormant license system (where the rental period can be paused, e.g. between projects), you can now make more efficient use of your IDA Tunnel license than before.

 

 

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IDA Road Tunnel

 

IDA Road Tunnel is a specialized simulation tool for the analysis and design of road tunnel systems. It is a dedicated subset of the full-featured IDA Tunnel platform, tailored for projects involving combustion-engine traffic, safety systems, and ventilation design in road tunnels.

 

Mapping sections and platforms

 

The software supports both longitudinal and transversal ventilation systems and can handle bi-directional multi-lane traffic. It includes detailed modeling of tunnel geometry, environmental conditions, emissions, and traffic behavior—offering powerful insights for engineers and planners.

 

Key Benefits at a Glance

  • Built specifically for road tunnel analysis

  • High-fidelity traffic and ventilation simulation

  • Intuitive modeling tools and a powerful control toolbox

  • Cost-efficient alternative for road-only projects

  • Seamless upgrade path to full IDA Tunnel

 

Core Features 


Tunnel Geometry and Input Data

Users define the tunnel by entering geometric data such as cross-sectional areas and height coordinates along each tunnel branch. Additional inputs include Ambient and portal wind conditions, Traffic inflow and direction, Vehicle emission characteristics and Friction and drag coefficients. PIARC and similar emission tables are built in and can be scaled using age, weight, and other factors.

 

Ventilation Systems

IDA Road Tunnel supports both longitudinal and transversal ventilation designs. For momentum jet fans, users define air velocity, efficiency, and cross-sectional area. Supply and exhaust terminal devices can be positioned and distributed along the tunnel as needed.

 

Advanced Traffic Modeling

Three traffic models are available; Standing flow, Moving flow and a Dynamic traffic model (capable of simulating real-world phenomena such as congestion, traffic control responses, vehicle interactions, and slope-dependent behavior in multi-lane environments)

 

Integrated 3D Tunnel Editor

Graphically construct complex tunnel geometries—curves, slopes, portals, cross‑sections—with visual editing that minimizes manual data entry and accelerates model creation.

 

Built-in Control Toolbox

Implement control logic, automation, and sensor-based interactions directly within the model. Model fan activation, dampers, alarms, and emergency ventilation scenarios using drag-and-drop tools.

 

Seamless Integration

IDA Road Tunnel fits easily into existing design workflows and supports import/export of geometry and system data. It shares the same architecture as IDA Tunnel, ensuring consistency and future-proof expansion.

 

rtv1

 

Product brochure

Read more about IDA Road Tunnel and its features.
Download PDF here

Road Tunnel Brochure front image  

 

 

  

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Rail and metro tunnels

IDA Tunnel addresses the main climate and safety issues in underground rail systems1, and it relies on a graphical user interface for definition of the tunnel model.

A schematic representation of computational components, such as tunnel sections, branches, platforms, fans, etc. are accompanied by a 3D view, where computed results and moving trains can be animated in the context of a full 3D representation of the tunnel network.

 

Mapping sections and platforms

 

IDA Tunnel permits long-term studies using measured climatic data, including moisture, and complex schedules. Train movement under normal traffic and emergency conditions are simulated, based on user-supplied acceleration, retardation, and maximum power and speed parameters. Stochastic traffic patterns may be described to avoid artificial train synchronization effects.

 

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1D (one-dimensional) air movement driven by train piston effect, buoyancy (stack effect) and wind pressure is modeled as well as air moisture with wall evaporation, condensation and ice build-up.

 

The following additional air properties are presently computed:

  • Age, i.e. total time spent underground.
  • Carbon dioxide - mostly generated by occupants.
  • Particle concentration, e.g. PM10 as generated by train movements.
  • Optical extinction coefficient of fire and diesel smoke.
  • CO, NOX and HC, as generated by diesel engines.

 

 

1 except pressure transient discomfort

 

 

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Road tunnels

IDA Tunnel handles air flows in road tunnels and related problem of pollution concentration due to emission from vehicles.

The user enters a geometrical description of the tunnel, i.e. height coordinates and cross‐sectional areas along the length of each tunnel branch. Other input data cover ambient conditions (including portal wind pressure), traffic inflow, emission characteristics and coefficients of drag and friction. PIARC and similar emission tables are also included. Tables can be linearly combined and scaled with suitable age, weight and other factors.

 

rtv1

 

Ventilation may be longitudinal or transversal, with airsupply and exhaust terminal devices distributed along thetunnel. For momentum jet fans the user specifies crosssectionalarea, efficiency and air velocity.

 

Mapping sections and platforms

 

Three road traffic models are available: standing, moving and dynamic. The dynamic traffic model is able to predict many of the phenomena associated with real traffic such as congestion, multi‐lane traffic, vehicle and slope dependent maximum speeds.

 

 

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