>The vertical shaft sinking machine process is basically just an automated form of the old-school manual method of digging a well with men and shovels.
Yes, and the whole staff seems a lot more theorical than the rest, the approach can only work in a subset of terrains and for relatively short shafts (if you exceed certain lengths or in many terrains the attrition between the shaft walls and terrain will stop the sinking).
Usually in tunneling projects ventilation shafts are dug "traditionally" (if rather short) or by "raise boring" (if longish).
Yes, and the whole staff seems a lot more theorical than the rest, the approach can only work in a subset of terrains and for relatively short shafts (if you exceed certain lengths or in many terrains the attrition between the shaft walls and terrain will stop the sinking).
Usually in tunneling projects ventilation shafts are dug "traditionally" (if rather short) or by "raise boring" (if longish).
Some related videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2oWTk4khvg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QueB4GCQww