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Pushing on ahead
A new year brings a sense of revitalised or even new energy. So much to get moving on, to refresh or renew, to drive ahead with, hopefully.
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A new year brings a sense of revitalised or even new energy. So much to get moving on, to refresh or renew, to drive ahead with, hopefully.
> read more
Preparing for what may be ahead
Over recent weeks and months, instances of extreme weather in some places call to mind – not that such should ever really be absent – that problems can and do occur.
Over recent weeks and months, instances of extreme weather in some places call to mind – not that such should ever really be absent – that problems can and do occur.
Weighty works
In this issue, the challenge of gauging what ground conditions most likely exist is examined in a paper based on research, tested in the field, that combines employs geostatistics to sampled borehole data to generate probabilities, especially of transitions in soil profiles.
In this issue, the challenge of gauging what ground conditions most likely exist is examined in a paper based on research, tested in the field, that combines employs geostatistics to sampled borehole data to generate probabilities, especially of transitions in soil profiles.
And the winner is…
It was a great honour and privilege to be asked by the ITA to represent T&T on the judging panel of the ITA Tunnelling and Underground Space Awards 2020. Like many events these days, they were held virtually with the online judging completed in November and the awards presented on December 4.
It was a great honour and privilege to be asked by the ITA to represent T&T on the judging panel of the ITA Tunnelling and Underground Space Awards 2020. Like many events these days, they were held virtually with the online judging completed in November and the awards presented on December 4.
Underground Movement
Tunnels and Tunnelling turns 50 this month. Here follows the magazine’s first ever editorial, reprinted in tribute to the founding editor:
Tunnels and Tunnelling turns 50 this month. Here follows the magazine’s first ever editorial, reprinted in tribute to the founding editor:
Records not worth breaking
In June the tunnelling industry will gather in Chicago for its annual conference, a city that has invested heavily in stormwater management.
In June the tunnelling industry will gather in Chicago for its annual conference, a city that has invested heavily in stormwater management.
Look back to look forward
January marked 200 years since Marc Brunel patented the first tunnelling shield. The cover of this issue shows just how far the industry has come since he tunnelled under London’s river Thames, and further in the features illustrate the strides the industry has made over the last decades.
January marked 200 years since Marc Brunel patented the first tunnelling shield. The cover of this issue shows just how far the industry has come since he tunnelled under London’s river Thames, and further in the features illustrate the strides the industry has made over the last decades.
Pipe dream?
At a presentation to a council meeting in the final week of January, Elon Musk’s tunnelling company presented plans to tunnel under western Los Angeles.
At a presentation to a council meeting in the final week of January, Elon Musk’s tunnelling company presented plans to tunnel under western Los Angeles.
Expanding Engagement
Montreal, home to miles of underground city amenities offering residents access to shopping, dinning, transit and entertainment, while connecting them to above ground buildings and facilities—a network especially appreciated during the harsh winter months—played a perfect host for Han Admiraal and Antonia Cornaro of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association’s Committee on Underground Space (ITACUS).
Montreal, home to miles of underground city amenities offering residents access to shopping, dinning, transit and entertainment, while connecting them to above ground buildings and facilities—a network especially appreciated during the harsh winter months—played a perfect host for Han Admiraal and Antonia Cornaro of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association’s Committee on Underground Space (ITACUS).
History Lessons
Historians contend their subject matter’s utility helps us understand ourselves and the societies in which we live. To borrow an idea from civil engineering—we must understand the foundation before we build upon it. Looking beyond the literal interpretations, in the tunnelling industry without history one cannot appreciate the (comparative) ease, comfort and safety of today’s work environment and modern equipment.
Historians contend their subject matter’s utility helps us understand ourselves and the societies in which we live. To borrow an idea from civil engineering—we must understand the foundation before we build upon it. Looking beyond the literal interpretations, in the tunnelling industry without history one cannot appreciate the (comparative) ease, comfort and safety of today’s work environment and modern equipment.
Magic Numbers
It is a completely arbitrary number, pleasing only because it plays into a base 10 counting system, but compound growth of 7% results in a doubling time of 10 years. That’s what the growth of the tunnelling industry currently stands at according to the International Tunnelling Association (ITA), 7% per year which is expected to continue for the near future. Or at least the next five to 10 years.
It is a completely arbitrary number, pleasing only because it plays into a base 10 counting system, but compound growth of 7% results in a doubling time of 10 years. That’s what the growth of the tunnelling industry currently stands at according to the International Tunnelling Association (ITA), 7% per year which is expected to continue for the near future. Or at least the next five to 10 years.
All the way up, all the way down
More rumblings from California as a SpaceX employee has posted a photo of Elon Musk’s newly acquired TBM to Instagram – before swiftly removing it. Before moving on, a quick glossary: SpaceX is the packleader of several companies that are vying to commercialise and reduce the cost of space travel; Elon Musk is its eccentric South African billionaire owner and Instagram is a social media platform for photographs that boasts 700 million users.
More rumblings from California as a SpaceX employee has posted a photo of Elon Musk’s newly acquired TBM to Instagram – before swiftly removing it. Before moving on, a quick glossary: SpaceX is the packleader of several companies that are vying to commercialise and reduce the cost of space travel; Elon Musk is its eccentric South African billionaire owner and Instagram is a social media platform for photographs that boasts 700 million users.
Approaching the age gap
Two-thirds of job openings for engineers in Canada are related to retirement replacement, according to a report released by the association Engineers Canada.
Two-thirds of job openings for engineers in Canada are related to retirement replacement, according to a report released by the association Engineers Canada.
Confidence in conferences
Parallel technical sessions seem to irritate conference goers, with particularly awkward setups being remembered and discussed for years after the event.
Parallel technical sessions seem to irritate conference goers, with particularly awkward setups being remembered and discussed for years after the event.
Stonehenge sold short?
The Stonehenge Tunnel has reared its head once again. New plans have been green-lit by the government and it appears the shorter tunnel option, a 2.9km bore, is the favourite.
The Stonehenge Tunnel has reared its head once again. New plans have been green-lit by the government and it appears the shorter tunnel option, a 2.9km bore, is the favourite.
Dust to dust
No matter, the type of infrastructure, going underground is preferable in most cases, but really the choice is made due to limited or costly surface space. The choice to go underground is a necessity to meet the demands of a growing population.
No matter, the type of infrastructure, going underground is preferable in most cases, but really the choice is made due to limited or costly surface space. The choice to go underground is a necessity to meet the demands of a growing population.
For example
sales volume in the US, overall, was down 0.2 per cent in 2015. However, the sales volume for craft beer was up 12.8 per cent in the same period. It shouldn’t be much of a surprise to anyone—prolific growth across the US for microbreweries, brew pubs, tap rooms and even home brewing has been a hallmark of the last decade.
sales volume in the US, overall, was down 0.2 per cent in 2015. However, the sales volume for craft beer was up 12.8 per cent in the same period. It shouldn’t be much of a surprise to anyone—prolific growth across the US for microbreweries, brew pubs, tap rooms and even home brewing has been a hallmark of the last decade.
Easy come easy go
Relief was probably the general reaction when Seattle Tunnel Partners had been given permission to resume tunnelling by the Washington State Department of Transport.
Relief was probably the general reaction when Seattle Tunnel Partners had been given permission to resume tunnelling by the Washington State Department of Transport.
Woodhead Pass Tunnel
The UK is contemplating the pros and cons of constructing the world’s longest road tunnel. Not yet named, it would be an improvement of the A628 connection between Sheffield and Manchester, located in the Peak District, a hilly National Park in the North of England.
The UK is contemplating the pros and cons of constructing the world’s longest road tunnel. Not yet named, it would be an improvement of the A628 connection between Sheffield and Manchester, located in the Peak District, a hilly National Park in the North of England.
Another hurdle
In a trip to China, the UK’s chancellor George Osborne has been trying to spark interest in High Speed Two (HS2) investment opportunities. Some GBP 24bn (USD 36.5bn) was laid out for the consideration of potential spenders at an event in Chengdu, the capital of Southwest China’s Sichuan province. Osborne tweeted from the event: “Today we open bidding process for HS2 construction with contracts worth 11.8bn. A milestone in a project key to Britain's future.”
In a trip to China, the UK’s chancellor George Osborne has been trying to spark interest in High Speed Two (HS2) investment opportunities. Some GBP 24bn (USD 36.5bn) was laid out for the consideration of potential spenders at an event in Chengdu, the capital of Southwest China’s Sichuan province. Osborne tweeted from the event: “Today we open bidding process for HS2 construction with contracts worth 11.8bn. A milestone in a project key to Britain's future.”
