Tunnels and Tunnelling Blog - Page 3
Stay up to date with the latest Tunnels and Tunnelling Blog updates from the global tunnelling industry
Show, don't tell
The National Center for Education Statistics recently released results for US students on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), a program testing maths and science every couple years at grades four and eight over the past decade and a half.
The National Center for Education Statistics recently released results for US students on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), a program testing maths and science every couple years at grades four and eight over the past decade and a half.
150 years of the London underground
Railway construction in Great Britain began in the early 19th Century. A network of lines crisscrossed over the country and six terminals were built on the outskirts of London’s city centre. Permission to build a central terminal was refused and just one terminal, Fenchurch Street, serving the counties east of London, was ever built within the city limits.
Railway construction in Great Britain began in the early 19th Century. A network of lines crisscrossed over the country and six terminals were built on the outskirts of London’s city centre. Permission to build a central terminal was refused and just one terminal, Fenchurch Street, serving the counties east of London, was ever built within the city limits.
Over The Hill
This October marked the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, legislation enacted to regulate the discharge of pollutants into the waters in the US and establish water quality standards. It made it unlawful to discharge any pollutant into navigable waters without a permit. As a nation we’re much better off, with cleaner lakes, rivers and other waters, as an industry, underground construction has fared well, too. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) roughly 772 cities across the US have combined sewer systems and therefore combined sewer overflows (CSOs), and are expected to clean up their act.
This October marked the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, legislation enacted to regulate the discharge of pollutants into the waters in the US and establish water quality standards. It made it unlawful to discharge any pollutant into navigable waters without a permit. As a nation we’re much better off, with cleaner lakes, rivers and other waters, as an industry, underground construction has fared well, too. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) roughly 772 cities across the US have combined sewer systems and therefore combined sewer overflows (CSOs), and are expected to clean up their act.
Look back to move forward
Last month the world’s oldest working digital computer was rebooted after three years of painstaking rebuilding. The machine was found in a storeroom where it had been left abandoned for 15 years. In its prime in the 1950s the computer had been used by the UK’s atomic energy research programme. The 2.5t machine will now take pride of place at Bletchley Park, the site of the English code breaking efforts during World War II.
Last month the world’s oldest working digital computer was rebooted after three years of painstaking rebuilding. The machine was found in a storeroom where it had been left abandoned for 15 years. In its prime in the 1950s the computer had been used by the UK’s atomic energy research programme. The 2.5t machine will now take pride of place at Bletchley Park, the site of the English code breaking efforts during World War II.
Time to take charge
Tunnels North America editor Nicole Robinson this month looks at the booming Canadian tunnelling market and the mega projects of the US. Last month’s sell out Tunnelling Association of Canada’s conference was a clear indicator of interest in the country and the numerous upcoming hydropower and transport works.
Tunnels North America editor Nicole Robinson this month looks at the booming Canadian tunnelling market and the mega projects of the US. Last month’s sell out Tunnelling Association of Canada’s conference was a clear indicator of interest in the country and the numerous upcoming hydropower and transport works.
Getting involved
While the Gregorian calendar may mark the start of the New Year in January, for many the autumn signi¬fies the beginning of a new venture as students go back to school. Here in the northern hemisphere especially, this season is traditionally a time to reflect on the successes and hard work of the harvest, and to be thankful for the bounty in our lives.
While the Gregorian calendar may mark the start of the New Year in January, for many the autumn signi¬fies the beginning of a new venture as students go back to school. Here in the northern hemisphere especially, this season is traditionally a time to reflect on the successes and hard work of the harvest, and to be thankful for the bounty in our lives.
Getting the girls
Autumn is upon us, the morning rush hour is once again full of SUVs on the school run and summer researchers are beginning to report back their ¬findings. The most outstanding of which is the revelation that nearly half of England’s state schools do not send any girls on to study physics at a higher level.
Autumn is upon us, the morning rush hour is once again full of SUVs on the school run and summer researchers are beginning to report back their ¬findings. The most outstanding of which is the revelation that nearly half of England’s state schools do not send any girls on to study physics at a higher level.
London crawling
As T&TI goes to press in its London offices, and the world watches the city prepare for the Olympics, locals are bemused at the prospect of inviting 5.3 million guests from all over the world to fight for a seat on the aging, and massively over-capacity infrastructure in the UK capital.
As T&TI goes to press in its London offices, and the world watches the city prepare for the Olympics, locals are bemused at the prospect of inviting 5.3 million guests from all over the world to fight for a seat on the aging, and massively over-capacity infrastructure in the UK capital.
Perspectives in place
In the June issue I covered the heinous video released in response to a subway project running under Beverly Hills. If you still haven’t watched the video, it’s still there on YouTube by the name of “No Subway Under BHHS.” I needn’t explain more about how dangerous this scare-mongering is, and the role the tunnel industry plays in preventing behavior like that.
In the June issue I covered the heinous video released in response to a subway project running under Beverly Hills. If you still haven’t watched the video, it’s still there on YouTube by the name of “No Subway Under BHHS.” I needn’t explain more about how dangerous this scare-mongering is, and the role the tunnel industry plays in preventing behavior like that.
Battle: LA
Los Angeles has seen a showdown over a subway extension for more than a year now. In October 2010 the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) approved the draft environmental impact report for the Westside Subway Extension on the city’s Purple Line.
Los Angeles has seen a showdown over a subway extension for more than a year now. In October 2010 the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) approved the draft environmental impact report for the Westside Subway Extension on the city’s Purple Line.
The only thing we have to fear...
Some 60m under Zhanjiang Bay in southern China, and about a kilometer from the tunnel entrance, this editor breaks for water with the project manager and the chief engineer.
Some 60m under Zhanjiang Bay in southern China, and about a kilometer from the tunnel entrance, this editor breaks for water with the project manager and the chief engineer.
Chance on Thailand
Many, including the World Bank, consider Thailand to be one of the great development success stories, with sustained strong growth and impressive poverty reduction. The Thai economy was one of the world’s fastest growing in the decade ending 1995, with an average rate of eight to nine per cent a year, according to the World Bank. Following the Asian Crisis of 1997-98 the country managed a growth rate of around five per cent a year.
Many, including the World Bank, consider Thailand to be one of the great development success stories, with sustained strong growth and impressive poverty reduction. The Thai economy was one of the world’s fastest growing in the decade ending 1995, with an average rate of eight to nine per cent a year, according to the World Bank. Following the Asian Crisis of 1997-98 the country managed a growth rate of around five per cent a year.
Talking tunnels
In ‘his’ first appearance for some years Drifter, the old T&T favourite, returns on page 58 to urge tunnellers to be more talkative. He calls for everyone to become more vocal in his or her support of the industry and in educating others on the importance of underground infrastructure. In a similar vein, the incoming and outgoing chairs of the British Tunnelling Society (BTS) argue the importance of raising tunnelling awareness with politicians and clients. Damian McGirr and Bob Ibell argue that a steady future workload can be achieved by ensuring each city planner has the use of underground space firmly on the agenda. McGirr says the BTS will be central in making this happen.
In ‘his’ first appearance for some years Drifter, the old T&T favourite, returns on page 58 to urge tunnellers to be more talkative. He calls for everyone to become more vocal in his or her support of the industry and in educating others on the importance of underground infrastructure. In a similar vein, the incoming and outgoing chairs of the British Tunnelling Society (BTS) argue the importance of raising tunnelling awareness with politicians and clients. Damian McGirr and Bob Ibell argue that a steady future workload can be achieved by ensuring each city planner has the use of underground space firmly on the agenda. McGirr says the BTS will be central in making this happen.
HAVS: the nature and reality of the problem
Stances and attitudes to the perceived hazards of hand mining vary greatly throughout the tunneling industry. Although, as in much of tunnelling, there are many possible dangers such as inadequate support, trips and falls, none has caused as much controversy as hard-arm vibration syndrome, or HAVS for short. Alex Conacher interviewed some of those involved to check on current opinion
Stances and attitudes to the perceived hazards of hand mining vary greatly throughout the tunneling industry. Although, as in much of tunnelling, there are many possible dangers such as inadequate support, trips and falls, none has caused as much controversy as hard-arm vibration syndrome, or HAVS for short. Alex Conacher interviewed some of those involved to check on current opinion
