Features Archive
Archive of features from the global tunnels industryFeatures By Date
September 2023
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Rental Solution in Stockholm
Working on two short-term subway tunnel and station projects in Stockholm, Sweden, the Italian construction company Itinera had the challenge of acquiring expensive mining equipment or find another solution. It did so through a rental deal with Sandvik that includes equipment, parts and a full-time service agreement, says Mikael Vallgren
Breakthroughs on Turkey Rail Project
A Robbins single shield machine recently successfully completed its second tunnel in challenging hard rock on the Bahçe-Nurdagi rail project, in Turkey
Updated Code on Risk Management
Earlier this year, the ITA and IMIA published the updated, 3rd edition of their Code of Practice for Risk Management in Tunnel Works
Stronger for the Next 50 Years
To help deliver on the ambitious agenda that got him elected barely 12 months ago, ITA President Arnold Dix has had a whirlwind year of near non-stop global travel. As promised to the organisation’s gathering on the occasion of the World Tunnel Congress (WTC), in September 2022, in Copenhagen, Dix planned to act fast and relentlessly in pursuit of the mission that got him elected, unopposed. Since then, he has built momentum for speedy delivery, barely stopping on the way. Here, he outlines for T&T readers what has been achieved so far and what is coming next
Helping to See the Way Ahead
Lighting technology has advanced in recent years to bring sufficient cost-effective, environmentally well-performing illumination to underground settings in support of health & safety as well as construction efficiency on projects. Darren Woodhouse, Lighting Director of LMXLED, discusses with T&T the developments and options of using LED systems in tunnel projects
AFTES 2023: Gather in Paris
Michel Deffayet, President of the French Tunnel and Underground Space Association (AFTES), outlines the key aspects and packed programme of the major tunnelling conference to be held in Paris, in early October
Extending Access Possibilities
Preassembled, needing only a small footprint and able to self-extend during shaft sinking as well as remain for permanent use afterward, XL Industries’ XE5 mechanised access lift system has worked on some major tunnel projects
Hydro Caverns
A review of the world’s hydropower caverns by Dr Klaus Hönisch of Fichtner GmbH’s Renewable Energies & Environment, Hydropower Department
From Gold Mine to Hydroelectricity – Kidston Pumped Storage Project
At the annual joint BTS and MinSouth meeting, held on 9 February at the Institution of Civil Engineers, in London, Clare Önal – a Principal Engineer with the tunnels team of Mott MacDonald – gave a presentation on the conversion of an abandoned gold mine at Kidston in Queensland, Australia, to a pumped storage hydroelectric (PSH) scheme. Andrew Hindmarch, Senior Principal Tunnel Engineer of Mott MacDonald was the rapporteur
August 2023
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Forecasting tunnelling progress using AI
The Harding Prize Competition is named after the founder of the British Tunnelling Society, Sir Harold Harding, and is for entrants under the age of 33. Shortlisted papers were presented to the BTS evening meeting on 13 April, at the Institution of Civil Engineers, in London. Jake Rankin, data scientist with J Murphy & Sons Ltd for this project, was voted winner of the 2023 Competition with a paper entitled ‘Artificial Intelligence for Forecasting Tunnelling Progress’. It is published here with the author’s permission
Boring for Silvertown
Silvertown road tunnel project features a huge, single TBM – and a U-turn for the machine – to complete the twin tube under the Thames, in London
Spalling Risk Reduction
Narrower diameter PP fibres where shown earlier this year in fire test to reduce concrete spalling risk, and for lower dosages of the new Ignis product. Adfil’s Jeroen Smet, Technical Director, discusses the R&D results
Fibre Optics for Measuring Temperature
Fibre optic cables plus powerful heat detection and evaluation systems can enable more rapid and focused response to fire incidents in tunnels. Report by Thomas Schmidt
Water-mist for fire suppression
Mario Flores, Manager of Mining & Tunnelling Segment at Fogmaker, discusses design approaches for water-mist fire suppression systems for rapid and reliable intervention on underground equipment
Designing in Fire Safety Through Simulation
Florian Michelin, Ventsim Manager, Howden, discusses approaches to simulating the complex variables at play in fire incidents in tunnels, and so help to design effective ventilation systems as part of fire safety measures
Grouting Focus in Stockholm
The second half of the year’s tunnelling industry events commence with the latest Nordic Grouting Symposium to be held in Stockholm, over two days and packing in a course plus site visits
BTS James Clark Medal Award: Andy Alder
Andy Alder has been awarded the James Clark Medal by the British Tunnelling Society for his service and leadership in the industry.
Smoke control in road tunnels
To minimise smoke propagation in tunnels, ventilation design has seen the distributed extraction approach give way to local extraction systems for new tunnels. Ingo Riess, of Riess Ingenieur-GmbH, in Zurich, Switzerland, discusses the change, its effectiveness, but also the challenges that come in the complexity of the new approach.
Drives in tunnels
Variable speed drives (VSDs) offer benefits to control ventilation fans and drainage pumps in tunnels, explains Josh Paikada, Strategic Business Development Manager, ABB.
July 2023
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Grey cast iron linings – new structural insights
The Harding Prize Competition is named after the founder of the British Tunnelling Society, Sir Harold Harding, and is for entrants under the age of 33. Shortlisted papers were presented to the BTS evening meeting on 13 April, at the Institution of Civil Engineers, in London. Agustín Ruiz López, postdoctoral researcher with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College, London, was a runner-up in this year’s Competition with a paper entitled ‘New insights into the structural behaviour of grey cast iron tunnel linings’. It is published here with the author’s permission
