ATS to establish design practice guidelines

9 May 2019


Australia – Due to many developments in tunnel design in Australia over a period of many years, the Australian Tunnelling Society (ATS) has recognised the requirement to establish a guideline of tunnel design practice in Australia.

During the Tunnel Design Short Course in 2018 held in Melbourne, the ATS Young Members recognised this deficiency and suggested a Working Group to develop a best practice guideline for Australian tunnel design. This group is supported by the ATS executive committee with the the Young Members intending to deliver this guideline through the year 2019.

This design guideline will:

  • Define the principles that need to be understood in tunnel design including differences between soft-ground and hard-rock tunnelling and the relevance of the construction stage as a part of the design process
  • Describe the common approaches used in industry and outline best practice
  • Generate a forum for continued discussion and improvement in tunnel design
  • Supplement Australian Standards and other design guides where tunnel discipline items specific to Australian tunnel design are required.