The ITA Young Members’ Magazine

Issue 4 2018

Exploring the ITA’s Working Groups

Extreme Tunnelling in the Himalayas Tunnelling Trends Roundtable

Photo Competition Winner Revealed

Sponsored by

Breakthrough 1 18-03-14_007_ID18050_eAz_Hard Rock_ITAYM-Breakthrough_210x300_RZ2fo

Conquering

Connecting Norway by rail: 5 Herrenknecht Hard Rock TBMs are on the move for 45 km of new fi rst-class rail tubes at the New Ulrikentunnel and Follo Line projects. Toughest Biting its way through the Scandinavian stone, the TBMs are facing the absolute hardness test when dealing with up to 350 MPa rock strengths. Equipped with excavation tools for such a demanding mission, the Herrenknecht TBMs will complete all their tasks.

Hard Rock

Massive geologies call for experi- enced partners. Herrenknecht is making headway through hard rock – for over 822 km.

Contractors: Follo Line: Acciona Infraestructuras and Ghella ANS Ulrikentunnel: Skanska Strabag Ulriken ANS

Pioneering Underground Technologies

www.herrenknecht.com

2 Breakthrough

18-03-14_007_ID18050_eAz_Hard Rock_ITAYM-Breakthrough_210x300_RZ2fo.indd 1 14.03.18 16:02 18-03-14_007_ID18050_eAz_Hard Rock_ITAYM-Breakthrough_210x300_RZ2fo

Digital Edition Sponsor Welcome to ‘Breakthrough’

Dear Tunnellers,

On behalf of the ITAYM Steering Board it is a great pleasure to present the fourth edition of Breakthrough magazine, the official magazine of the International Tunnelling & Underground Space Association’s Young Members group (ITAYM). Breakthrough is made by, and for, people who work or have an interest in underground construction and aims to highlight the great future of the industry and the tremendous career opportunities Conquering available to young people in this field. In addition, we hope the magazine will help enthusiastic tunnellers around the world to tell their stories and explain why the they are Connecting Norway by rail: 5 Herrenknecht so dedicated to, and excited by, working in this industry. Hard Rock TBMs are on the move for 45 km of new fi rst-class rail tubes at the New Tunnels and underground solutions are great! They solve real challenges for our society, Ulrikentunnel and Follo Line projects. but you never see them. Tunnels and underground solutions help solve issues relating to transportation, water supply, utilities, wastewater treatment, parking and many others. Toughest However, they solve these challenges so effectively that people don’t even think about them. With the world’s cities growing so rapidly, the need for efficient transportation and infrastructure is ever-growing and underground solutions need to be utilized even more Biting its way through the Scandinavian stone, efficiently. This combined with new travel methods, stricter requirements on travel times, the TBMs are facing the absolute hardness test complex weather conditions and less restrictions in technology, etc. means that the when dealing with up to 350 MPa rock strengths. challenges for future tunnellers will be greater than ever and require solutions that might Equipped with excavation tools for such a not even exist today. I believe that the exchange of experiences and solutions across cities demanding mission, the Herrenknecht TBMs and national borders is an essential part of developing and utilizing such solutions! will complete all their tasks. This issue of the magazine marks the 5th anniversary of the ITAYM being formally approved by the ITA General Assembly at the World Tunnel Congress (WTC) in Iguazu Falls, Brazil. Since that time, the ITAYM movement has spread to tunnelling societies all over the world and we currently have more than thirty member nations that host domestic and regional events, which allow young tunnellers to gather in formal and informal settings, while sharing their activities through social media and connecting to other member nations. More importantly than the events themselves, these initiatives generate a common engagement in the tunnelling industry globally. This is mirrored in the increasing involvement by young people in the ITA’s activities and a steady increase in young participants at the WTCs.

This issue of Breakthrough and the recent WTC in Dubai also marks the end of an era, with the last of the initial members of the ITAYM steering committee closing out their terms of Hard Rock engagement. Over the last years, I have had the great pleasure of working with Jurij, Petr, Lasse and Nichole, as well as new committee members, through Skype meetings across Massive geologies call for experi- several time zones, only meeting face to face one or two times a year. Skype meetings enced partners. Herrenknecht at 23:00 on a Friday evening, and the sense of achievement we have had, has forged is making headway through hard friendships and connections that will last a lifetime. rock – for over 822 km. As this is my last editorial for Breakthrough, I would also like to thank the Tunnelling Journal team for their continuous support and help in generating this great magazine. It would never exist without the great efforts of Amanda, Dan, Kris, Gary and Tris. Thank you!

Even though the ITAYM has been very successful in setting up this organization and is now well-established as a group and within the ITA, the feeling of reunion at every WTC young members social event and the young engineers’ thrill at feeling welcome and Contractors: Front Cover engaged at their first WTC is the greatest achievement of the ITAYM! These friendships and Follo Line: Acciona Infraestructuras and Ghella ANS The winning entry of international networks is exactly what the global tunnelling industry needs to be able to Ulrikentunnel: Skanska Strabag Ulriken ANS Breakthrough’s 2017-2018 Photo accomplish the great challenges of the future! Competition (see p22), which is sponsored by Bekaert Maccaferri Keep tunnelling! Underground Solutions. The photo by Paul Challinor, a Project Manager with Joseph Gallagher, is titled “Reflection” and depicts Pioneering Underground Technologies Paul’s former boss, mentor and friend Dickie Dexter at the end of a particularly challenging project. Sindre Log Chair ITAYM (for the last time) www.herrenknecht.com

Breakthrough 3

18-03-14_007_ID18050_eAz_Hard Rock_ITAYM-Breakthrough_210x300_RZ2fo.indd 1 14.03.18 16:02 Contributing to Breakthrough If you would like to get involved in Breakthrough magazine by contributing an article, or suggesting potential content for future editions, we would be delighted to hear from you! Please feel free to contact Breakthrough’s editorial team or the ITAYM Young Members Committee (details below). Note to YM Member Nations All national Young Member (YM) groups are encouraged to get involved in Breakthrough magazine – we rely on your input. Please remember to document your country’s YM activities and take plenty of good quality photos at any YM events throughout the year so we can make the most of your reports in the next edition!

Editor Amanda Foley [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 7973 158 065

Contributing Editor Kristina Smith [email protected] Tel: + 44 (0) 7833 230 853

Sales Manager Daniel Lee-Billinghurst [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 7818 422 712

Art Editor Mike Hooker Technical Illustrator Pete Beach

Brought to you by the publishers of

ITA-AITES Secretariat c/o EPFL GC D 1 402 (Bât. GC) Station 18 CH - 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland TGS Media Ltd. The Old Library, Webster House Dudley Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1LE United Kingdom Tel: + 33 69 587 13 85 Fax: + 41 21 693 41 53 Tel: +44 (0) 1892 522585 www.tunnellingjournal.com E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ita-aites.org

Breakthrough is endorsed by the ITA The publishers, authors, associations, and groups mentioned cannot accept liability for errors or omissions. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior permission of the copyright holder, application for which should be made to the publisher, TGS Media Ltd. ISSN Breakthrough (Print) ISSN 2059-1241, Breakthrough (Online) ISSN 2059-125X.

4 Breakthrough Digital Edition Sponsor Meet the ITAYM Board The governing structure of the International Tunnelling & Underground Space Association’s (ITA) Young Members group (ITAYM) is a Steering Board made up of Chair, Vice-Chair, and a number of representatives selected by members of the Group. Steering Board members are elected for alternating periods to ensure continuity. The mandate is for two years.

After gaining his Masters in Civil Engineering Giuseppe graduated in 2005 and subsequently from the Norwegian University of Science & got his Masters in Geotechnical Engineering Technology (NTNU), Sindre started working for at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. While TBM manufacturer The Robbins Company. Having working with Geodata Engineering in Turin, he spent his first years with Robbins travelling to also gained the ITA-AITES Masters in Tunnelling Sindre Log TBM projects around the world, he now works Giuseppe at the Politecnico di Torino. more from the office on geological issues and Chair Gaspari He is founder and President of the Young market development. Sindre has been involved Member groups of the Italian Geotechnical in committee work for the Norwegian tunnelling society for the Association (AGI) and of the Italian Tunnelling Association last decade and was heavily involved in the foundation of both the (SIG) and plays an active role representing and boosting young Norwegian Young Members group and the ITAYM. members on the board of the Ontario chapter of the Tunnelling Sindre is fond of many outdoor activities such as skiing, fishing Association of Canada (TAC). Giuseppe is a passionate traveller and football, but now spends most of his free time running around and is addicted to a number of different sports. trying to keep his own future generation of tunnellers happy.

Jasmin gained her Bachelors and Masters Lasse graduated with a Masters in Building in Civil Engineering at the ETH Zurich, in Technology from the Technical University of Switzerland. From 2013 – 2018 she worked as Denmark. From 2012-2016 he worked as a Design a Tunnelling Engineer at Gähler & Partner AG. Engineer on the Fehmanbelt Fixed Link project Since 2018, she has been employed as a Junior and since 2016 he has been employed as a Tunnel Jasmin Project Manager at Amberg Engineering AG. Lasse Engineer for Rambøll, in Denmark. Amberg Jasmin is the founder and Chair of the Swiss Vester Lasse is the Past Chair of the Danish Tunnelling Tunnelling Society (STS) Young Members group. Society’s Young Members Committee and is heavily Outside of work, she likes cooking and spending time with her involved in his national tunnelling organisation. Outside of work he family and friends, when she’s not busy acting as a basketball is a bit of a foodie, and enjoys cooking for family and friends. He also coach or referee. spends as much time outdoors hiking or trekking as he can.

Doris graduated in 2012 at the Faculty of Nichole Boultbee completed her Bachelors and Civil and Geodetic Engineering, in Ljubljana, Masters degrees in the Earth Sciences department Slovenia. After completing her Masters, at Simon Fraser University, in BC, Canada, in 2005. she started working as a Tunnelling and She has experience in engineering investigation, Geotechnical Engineer at Elea iC. In the past design and construction for projects in Canada, Doris six years, she has gained experience from Nichole Australia, and Chile. projects in Slovenia, Austria and the UK. Doris She is registered as a professional geoscientist Frank Boultbee is an active member of the Slovenian Society with the Association of Professional Engineers and for Underground Structures, and is the founder and Chair of Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC), and is on the Board of the Slovenian Young Members group. In her free time, she likes Directors of the Tunnelling Association of Canada (TAC). spending time in the company of her friends and family. She also She loves her dogs, Kevin and Emma, who grew up in her office loves to travel, explore new places and other cultures. and now spend most of their time waiting for her to come home and chill out with them. Keith is an enthusiastic tunneller who never misses an opportunity to get his boots dirty. Joanne gained her Bachelors in Civil Engineering at Since graduating in 2008 with a Bachelor of Civil University College London. She has been working Engineering from the Queensland University of in the UK for London Bridge Associates since Technology (QUT) he has gained experience as a 2012 and is now an Assistant Project Manager on Keith designer, cost engineer, site engineer and most the Thames Tideway Project, in London. Joanne recently as part of a client delivery team. Bannerman Joanne was Chair of the British Tunnelling Society Young Keith has been an active member of the Members in 2013/14. Australian Tunnelling Society for over 10 years and is currently Sui When Joanne is not eating, she is a keen traveller the ATSym Chair, as well as sitting on the ATS Executive and enjoys spending time keeping active (snowboarding, skiing, Committee. When not wearing his high viz, you can usually find water skiing, scuba diving, etc!). him outdoors with his wife, kids and dog enjoying the sunshine.

Breakthrough 5 MSc Tunnelling and Underground Space

Do you want to gain specialist knowledge setting you apart from other civil engineers? Expand your career opportunities in a booming global industry where suitably trained engineers are in high demand.

You will learn from internationally recognised academics and This MSc degree can be industry experts on a course undertaken one year full-time or uniquely developed in partnership two years part-time. with the British Tunnelling Society. We will give you state-of-the-art Our MSc modules can also be knowledge, understanding and purchased individually as a skills to design and build the Continuing Professional underground infrastructure of Development (CPD) course, ideal the future. for those in full time employment. This degree is accredited as meeting the requirements for Modules School of Engineering Further Learning for Chartered University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL Engineer (CEng) status, if you +44 (0)24 7652 2046 have already acquired an - Geological Investigation and [email protected] accredited CEng (Partial) BEng Ground Characterisation (Hons) undergraduate first degree. - Underground Construction Methods warwick.ac.uk/tunnelling - Communication and Leadership Our distinctive course format - Rock Mechanics Accrediting Endorsed by institution means that approximately 20% of - Health, Safety and Environmental teaching is delivered by guest Considerations lecturers from industry, ensuring - Tunnel Design that the content remains relevant. - Finite Element Methods for Tunnelling Specialist subjects and case Recognising commitment to advancing - Construction Management women’s careers in STEMM (Science, studies are also presented by Technology, Engineering, Mathematics experts with first-hand experience. - Project and Medicine) academia. Images courtesy of Morgan Sindall 6 Breakthrough Digital Edition Sponsor Contents... ITA Young Member’s National News 08 Find out more about the initiatives and networking activities of young tunnelling groups around the world.

How to set-up a Young Members group 11 The ITAYM’s quick-fire guide on how to build a professional network with other young tunnellers in your country.

World Tunnelling Day and Young Member’s News 12 More news on the initiatives and networking activities of young tunnelling groups around the world.

Tunnelling Tomorrow: Five Trends 14 Breakthrough talks to industry leaders about emerging MSc Tunnelling and trends that young tunnellers will likely face in the future. Extreme Tunnelling in the Himalayas Underground Space 18 Nepal is employing its first Tunnel Boring Machine as the country works towards modernising its infrastructure.

Do you want to gain specialist knowledge 2018 Photo Competition 22 The winner and runners-up of the first annual Breakthrough setting you apart from other civil engineers? Photo Competition are revealed. Expand your career opportunities in a booming A Week in the Life global industry where suitably trained engineers 26 Hannah Dix documents a week in her life as a Cross are in high demand. Passage Tunnel Engineer on the Doha Metro Red Line.

Dates & Events You will learn from internationally 31 Keep your calendar up to date with Breakthrough’s guide to recognised academics and This MSc degree can be the years’ top tunnelling conferences and exhibitions. industry experts on a course undertaken one year full-time or uniquely developed in partnership two years part-time. Vietnam Adventure with the British Tunnelling Society. Students Ola Hobbelstad and Egil Johansen travelled to a We will give you state-of-the-art Our MSc modules can also be 32 remote Vietnamese tunnel project for their Masters theses. knowledge, understanding and purchased individually as a skills to design and build the Continuing Professional Extreme Tunnelling in Colombia underground infrastructure of Development (CPD) course, ideal the future. 34 With over 250km of tunnels planned in Colombia, young for those in full time employment. tunnellers need to be prepared for the challenges ahead. This degree is accredited as meeting the requirements for Modules School of Engineering Working Together Further Learning for Chartered University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL 38 The mission of the ITA’s Working Groups is to capture, define Engineer (CEng) status, if you and share best practice for the industry. +44 (0)24 7652 2046 have already acquired an - Geological Investigation and [email protected] accredited CEng (Partial) BEng Ground Characterisation WTC 2019 Naples (Hons) undergraduate first degree. - Underground Construction Methods warwick.ac.uk/tunnelling 40 A great conference, archaeology, architecture and art are - Communication and Leadership just some of the reasons to attend WTC 2019, in Italy. Our distinctive course format - Rock Mechanics Accrediting Endorsed by institution means that approximately 20% of - Health, Safety and Environmental 5 from Five teaching is delivered by guest Considerations 42 We spoke to five tunnellers who attended five institutions lecturers from industry, ensuring - Tunnel Design that offer specialist degrees to find out where they are now. that the content remains relevant. - Finite Element Methods for Tunnelling Specialist subjects and case Recognising commitment to advancing - Construction Management women’s careers in STEMM (Science, studies are also presented by Technology, Engineering, Mathematics experts with first-hand experience. - Project and Medicine) academia. Images courtesy of Morgan Sindall Breakthrough 7 YM MEMBER NATION NEWS British Young Members Celebrate 10th Anniversary

In the United Kingdom, 2018 marks an exciting year for Civil Engineering as the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) celebrates its 200th anniversary and the British Tunnelling Society Young Members (BTSYM) also celebrates its 10th anniversary. At the AGM, in November 2017, the year kicked off with a new starter tunnel to celebrate the topic of “Driving Infrastructure BTSYM Committee: 200th anniversary of the ICE. Forward”, to over 90 of their Chair, Nick McCrossan (Mott The BTSYM also hosted its industry peers. The event was MacDonald); Secretary, Graham first lecture of the New Year, a great success and would not a special 10th Anniversary Cooper (Atkins); Professional focussing on the Design and have been possible without Celebration, the details of Development Chair, Sam Build Experience of William the support of the following which will be released soon. For Huckle (Balfour Beatty); Media Thorpe (Morgan Sindall) at sponsors: Gold – BAM Nuttall; more details about the BTSYM, Chair, Chara Kalogeraki (Dr. Southam Quarry Tunnel. Silver – COWI, Bekaert please contact Nick McCrossan Sauer & Partners); Schools In March, the BTSYM held Maccaferri; and Bronze – Mott (nicholas.mccrossan@mottmac. & Universities Chair, Rashik their 5th Annual Conference, MacDonald, London Bridge com) or sign up to the BTSYM Bhanderi (London Bridge in London. The day was Associates and Gall Zeidler. mailing list and receive a copy Associates); and Midlands chaired by BTSYM Chair Nick Over the coming months, the of its newsletter, The Dirt, by Coordinator, Harold Brunton McCrossan, with 16 young BTSYM has an exciting schedule contacting Graham Cooper (AECOM). members presenting their of lectures, workshops and (Graham.Cooper@atkinsglobal. The 2018 aims of the BTSYM projects and experience on the socials arranged, including com). will include tailoring its calendar of events to provide more events outside London STUVA Forum for Young Engineering and include broader content to make professional development Professionals Officially Founded activities more accessible to apprentices and new graduates. The creation of the new Midlands Coordinator role is key to this as the High Speed 2 rail project ramps up in and around the Birmingham area. On December 7, the BTSYM celebrated the third National Tunnelling Day and marked the occasion by launching a new initiative called “#target1000”. Its goal for this initiative was In December 2017, the STUVA at the event and the meeting evaluated and scrutinized by to engage with 1000 young Forum for Young Engineering was a resounding success. young representatives through people on National Tunnelling Professionals (FYEP) was In an effort to maintain this presentations from science Day, providing a glimpse into officially founded. Headed momentum, on April 13, 2018, and practice. With just over one the world of subterranean up by young engineers the FYEP met for a workshop hundred participants, the event infrastructure to highlight Zdenek Zizka, Ivan Popovic, followed by a networking far exceeded expectations. its importance and also to Vojtech Ernst Gall, Peter event at the Ruhr University in With this seminar and encourage students to consider Hoffmann, Alena Conrads, Bochum. Alena Conrads led the many more to come, the tunnelling as a career choice. Sacha Freimann and Markus programme, which highlighted STUVA YEP hopes to provide In February, the BTSYM Scheffer, the group held recent developments in young tunnelling engineers joined forces with the British its first meeting at the “digitization in tunnelling”. in Germany with the contacts Geotechnical Association (BGA) 2017 STUVA Conference, The thematic centerpiece and perspectives they need and co-chaired a lecture on in Germany. Over 80 young was Building Information for a successful start in the the Lake Mead Intake No. 3 engineers were in attendance Modelling (BIM), which was tunnelling industry.

8 Breakthrough ATSym active at ATS 2017 Conference celebrations. Russell is a Slurry Shield Machines in Mixed Singapore-based Project Ground”. Engineer who has worked on The ATSym are also proud several technically challenging to announce that David Suter and complex tunnel projects (VIC) and Aaron Lippett (NSW) for John Holland across will join the team of young Australia and Singapore (see professionals heading up the p43). In 2013, Russell was ATSym. David and Aaron will join awarded the Hulme Prize ATSym Chair, Keith Bannerman, Award from the Tunnelling and and also Simon Brinkmann Underground Construction (NSW) and Monique Quirk (QLD). Society of Singapore To learn more about the (TUCSS) for a paper titled ATSym get in touch via ATS@ “Breakthrough and Burial of engineersaustralia.org.au with Tunnellers young and old came interest from senior tunnelling TBMs on the Brisbane Airport ATSym in the subject title. To together on Sydney Harbour figures to encourage initiatives Link Project”. His winning keep abreast of international to share a few stories, a few such as this. Thanks again to paper for 2017 is titled “The young member activities, visit drinks and a great view, during Major Sponsor MST Global, and Challenges of Tunnelling with the ITAym facebook page. the ATS 2017 conference, supporting sponsors Normet last November. The event’s and Pheonix. Without their Russel receives the Award from ATS President Ed Taylor and EA GM Greg Ewing tag line of “tunnelling across support events such as these generations” reflects a key are not possible. goal of the ATSym’s, namely In 2004, the Australasian to engage with experts to Tunnelling Society started encourage and mentor the next the David Sugden Award, to generation of underground encourage young engineers professionals. The strong to develop the art of technical turnout of over 300 reflects the writing. The Award was current strength of the industry presented to Russell Connors down-under and the genuine as part of the ATS 2017 Young Members Regional Event at Cutting Edge On November 13, more than 40 tunnelling two groups; with one group given a detailed The highly successful event was rounded engineers gathered for a Regional presentation on the project, while a second off with lunch in the project’s offices, Young Members Event, organised by The group toured the tunnel with mentors from sponsored by Mott MacDonald and Atkinson, Underground Construction Association the project team and the Cutting Edge providing the chance for further networking of SME (UCA of SME), The International conference 2017 Organising Committee. and discussion of the project. Tunnelling Association (ITA) and the Tunnelling Association of Canada (TAC), as part of the 2017 Cutting Edge Conference, in Seattle, Washington, USA. Young tunnellers based in Vancouver, Canada, had an early start to the day as they drove down to Seattle to join UCA of SME Young Members at the Downtown Bellevue Tunnel (E330), which is is a soft ground SEM/NATM tunnel currently under construction as part of Sound Transit’s 14- mile long East Link light rail extension. Hosted by Guy F. Atkinson, who was awarded the contract to construct the 11.6m diameter, 600m long, SEM tunnel in late 2015, young members were split into

Breakthrough 9 YM MEMBER NATION NEWS ACTOS-NGT Gets Established

After several years of receiving network to discuss professional e-mails and enquires from development and experiences, young engineers expressing both in Colombia and in other Currently, ACTOS-NGT their interest in becoming parts of the world. With the members are focused on The ITA’s ITACUS Committee part of ACTOS (the Colombian support of ACTOS, and several organising events to exchange Chair, Han Admiraal, joins Association of Tunnels and other important associations, knowledge, experience and ACTOS-NGT for a panel Underground Works), the government departments and technology among young discussion ACTOS Board decided to entities, this group of future professionals, students and create a Young Members group Colombian tunnelling talent experts. New ideas and concepts of underground in 2017. Paola Castillo and has quickly begun to formalize activities flourish during construction in an economic, Diana Diaz (see p34), were agreements and work each monthly meeting, social, environmental and appointed Chair and Vice-Chair strategies. always guided by the vision of international context, to boost respectively, and took up the To date, technical events making ACTOS-NGT that new decision-making capabilities in responsibility of setting up and have been held monthly, with generation of engineers that both the evaluation of projects leading the group. topics of national relevance in Colombia needs. Engineers and in their implementation. Named ACTOS-NGT (New the field of underground space capable of addressing the To find out more about Generation of Tunnellers), being discussed and analyzed, challenges of this new century; ACTOS-NGT connect with the the group’s main objective creating and strengthening setting criteria for design group via Facebook at www. is to reach out to young relationships between and construction in order to facebook.com/ACTOSCO/, professionals and students students, young professionals, guarantee the sustainability twitter: https://twitter.com/ with an interest in becoming companies and government of projects; developing the actostuneles or LinkedIn: involved in underground authorities in order to build a ability to understand and www.linkedin.com/company/ engineering, providing a stronger future for the industry. communicate the fundamental actoscolombia/ Sweden’s BYM Growing Rapidly Since WTC 2017 Sweden’s a look around, before the bus national Young Member-group, returned to the airport. Overall, called BYM, has developed two really good days. further and now has 220 During the Swedish Rock members (since the start Engineering Assocation’s 2016). This is encouraging symposium in Stockholm on when compared to its original March 20-21, 2018, BYM proudly goal of 70 members within two launched DevelopYM – a Young years. The BYM communicates Member’s Mentor Programme. through its Facebook-page This will be a 1-year programme “Svenska Berggruppen för where BYM will arrange a kick- Yngre Medlemmar” where off-event, a mid-term-event and everyone is welcome to post or In 2017, BYM arranged a This continued with a workshop a closing-event. highlight different events. 2-day study visit to Kiruna, and discussions about raising The Swedish Rock BYM has the goal of in October. The event was a awareness of the ITA and World Engineering Association, the arranging one or two big events cooperation with ITA Young Tunnel Day. A social event national member and Swedish per year, in addition to a few Members and gathered 35 rounded off the first day. secretariat for the ITA, has been smaller events. The purpose is Young Members from Sweden, On the second day going through some exciting to allow members to connect, Norway and Switzerland. Day 1 participants were picked up changes. As part of this change, exchange experiences and consisted of a mini-conference from their accommodation BYM has become an official develop the network. Events including presentations from and taken down to the LKAB permanent working group within may be lectures or study visits Nordic Projects, Atlas Copco mine visitor center. Here the association, helping the combined with a networking and from all the National and they listened to a technical BYM to develop and increase its activity. ITA Young Member-groups. presentation, had lunch and capacity further.

10 Breakthrough How to set-up a Young Members group

Contact your Member Visit www.ita-aites.org to Nation and ask if a check if your country is a Young Members Group Member Nation of the ITA already exists

YES NO Join up!

Send an email to NO [email protected] to see how your country Work with officials to see if could become an ITA it is possible to set one up Member Nation

SETTING UP A YM GROUP

1. 2. 3.

Arrange a gathering for those that are interested in contributing. Discuss what people would like to get out of the Young Members group, how to organise yourselves, Use your own network! Invite your etc. There are no requirements Contact your national tunnelling friends and colleagues to help for form or content – it is up to association about the idea of establish the group, spread the yourselves and your Member Nation establishing a Young Members group. word, and get publicity. officials to decide what you want.

6. 5. 4.

Set up a kick-off event where you The ITAYM Group can assist with Work with your Member Nation invite as many people as possible. by-laws or give examples from other on how to organize the board Invite an interesting speaker or give a countries. Cooperate with the ITAYM and the aims and objectives of presentation on a high profile project to Group to get contacts internationally. your group, prepare a simple set attract people. Encourage participants Contact Breakthrough magazine of by-laws and start working to to get involved. Organise a social to spread the word about your new organize events and bring young function afterwards to encourage group and to promote your activities! members together. networking within the group.

YOU NOW HAVE YOURSELF A YOUNG MEMBERS GROUP – ENJOY!

Breakthrough 11 YM MEMBER NATION NEWS World Tunnel Day 2017 Italian YM’s Set their

Following two incredibly place at Shaws Booksellers in successful campaigns and Blackfriars to toast St. Barbara Sights on Naples 2019 increasing international and to celebrate the BTSYM On December 1, 2017, the In the afternoon, activities involvement from Canada to proudly hitting their target by Italian tunnelling association that will be carried out by the Australia, National Tunnelling engaging over 1,040 students. (SIG) gathered in Naples to Group in the coming months Day returned in 2017 marking On social media, the celebrate the festival of Santa were discussed, highlighting both the third annual #TunnelDayUK campaign Barbara and deliver its annual what has already been done, #TunnelDayUK and the second was as strong as ever with degree award. The event what has to be done and #WorldTunnelDay. tunnellers and companies from took place at the first SIG refining the internal division across the country sharing their Young Members Workshop, of tasks and responsibilities. stories and projects with the held at the head offices of The following is a summary BTSYM and the wider world. Metropolitana di Napoli SpA. list of the activities in which Over 1.5 million people across The Workshop, which included the YMs Group has decided to the globe were reached, giving more than twenty young commit: Support the indexing the world an insight into leading members, was an important process of the SIG Journal projects such as Thames opportunity to take stock of “Gallerie e Grandi opera Tideway, Crossrail and the the Group’s activities in the sotterranee”; Organisation of Northern Line Extension. lead-up to the 2019 World a YMs Convention at the SAIE In 2018, #target1000 will Tunnel Congress, in Naples. in Bologna (17 to 20 October return in a bid to raise the bar Several Young Members also 2018); Management of Group set in 2017 and inspire the next presented and shared their Communication; Organisation In the UK, the day was generation of young tunnellers. experiences in the world of of the participation of YMs in marked by the launch of tunnelling. the Working Groups of SIG. the brand-new #target1000 In the introductory The second part of the initiative; The BTSYM’s goal was speeches, Coordinator Marco Workshop was dedicated to to engage with one thousand Ranieri, the Italian Tunnelling presentations on work done by young people across the UK Society and the YM Group were selected Young Members. throughout the week leading presented to new engineers Feedback from the Workshop up to National Tunnelling Day. as well as the issues dealt by was that the meeting was an Through a series of school the SIG Board of Directors, important milestone for the and university visits, BTSYM in particular with regard to Young Members and in general members provided a peek support requests made by the for the future growth of the SIG behind the hoarding into world Board to YMs. as a whole. of subterranean infrastructure and also highlighted the importance of underground space and an insight into Danish YM Group tunnelling as a career choice. These outreach events were gets new leadership supplemented by a site visit to the key Tideway Carnwath Road Late last year (2017) the Danish Tunnelling Riverside site, a launch site Society’s Young Members held their General for one of the project’s TBMs Assembly. In accordance with their by-laws no and guided walks along the chairman can sit for more than three proposed Tideway West, Central consecutive years and it was therefore time and East tunnel routes. In the for Lasse Vester to stand down as Chair after evening, the events continued three years in the position. A new Steering with Birmingham hosting a Committee was appointed, with Stine Kristensen of joint BTSYM and Midlands Ramboll as Chair and Ida Villumsen of Arup as Vice-chair. The new Geotechnical Society Lecture Steering Committee began 2018 by setting goals for the next two years, which focussing on the geological include more focus on students and collaboration with universities and promoting the use challenges of designing the of social media. At the 2018 WTC, in Dubai, the General Assembly voted Copenhagen as the host 25km Doha Lateral Interceptor city for the WTC in 2021. This will be a great opportunity for young tunnellers in Denmark to Sewer. In London, the annual highlight their activities and contributions in an international forum. Christmas Jumper Social took

12 Breakthrough Ramboll has contributed to approximately 60% of all the world’s immersed tunnels including the 18km Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link, which is set to become the world’s longest road and rail immersed tunnel. As lead consultant on Fehmarnbelt since 2009, Ramboll is assisting with the tunnel’s concept design, tender documents, approvals, and onshore works. The tunnel is a study in innovative thinking, as it challenges existing tunnel building standards. Italian YM’s Set their Sights on Naples 2019

BREAKING NEW GROUND (IN TUNNEL ENGINEERING)

Learn more at www.ramboll.com/tunnels

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Change is coming fast to Mark Johnson, Global Practice Manager for Tunnel and Earth Engineering, the tunnelling industry. Jacobs. Having acquired CH2M in December 2017, Jacobs provides a full That’s partly because the spectrum of services including scientific, technical, professional, number of tunnels we are construction management and program management for business, building is increasing at industrial, commercial, government and infrastructure sectors an unprecedented rate; Colin Lawrence, Global Tunnel Practice Leader, Mott MacDonald. populations are migrating to Mott MacDonald is a large, global multi-disciplinary engineering, infrastructure, management and international development consultant cities and, somehow, we must with a tunnelling heritage that stretches back over 125 years. find more space. Tom Melbye, Senior Adviser, Normet, previously CEO for eight years. There are other forces at work too. Lessons Describing itself as a ‘technology company’, Normet supplies chemicals and information move faster through and equipment to the tunnelling and mining sectors. social media and virtual networks. Digital construction promises to streamline processes and remove interfaces. Emerging Rob Muley, General Manager for Tunnelling, John Holland. materials and technologies could allow Owned by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), John us to build more with less. We asked four Holland is one of Australia’s leading construction companies, operating industry leaders what today’s technology in a wide variety of sectors in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. could bring tomorrow. Here are a few of their thoughts.

1. Ten times bigger

We are not talking diameters or length says Mark Johnson, Global Solutions here, we are talking money. Although it Director for Tunnel and Ground is the industry’s ability to build bigger Engineering, Jacobs. “And that leads to and deeper tunnels that has led to huge bigger and bigger projects, and larger and increases in contract sizes. larger teams.” “We are designing and building In Australia, the industry has been hit tunnels today that we wouldn’t even with a series of high-value tunnelling have attempted not too long ago,” says projects, says Rob Muley, General Colin Lawrence, Global Tunnel Practice Manager for Tunnelling at John Holland. Leader, Mott MacDonald. “It almost gets The Melbourne Metro, for example, is taken for granted by the public, because being let as one big project, rather than the technology looks very similar to being split into smaller contracts as was more risk, and there are fewer and prevailing techniques.” the case in Singapore or Hong Kong. fewer people who can take on these The industry has seen projects like “It becomes a challenge, first because jobs.” the deep-water intake from Lake Mead of programme and second, because of The result is more joint ventures, in the US, where the tunnel boring resources,” says Muley. “It’s putting a real multiple companies, often from multiple machine (TBM), with all its many parts, drain on resources.” disciplines joining forces to take on withstood 15 bars of pressure. Or the Tom Melbye, Senior Adviser at Normet, the scope and risk of these so-called 57km-long Gotthard Base Tunnel that sees the same challenge in his home mega-projects. But what we really need carries vehicles through the heart of the market of Norway. “Projects are ten times is a shift in the way all the different Swiss Alps. bigger than they used to be. It’s a booming contributors work together (see elite “It’s a trend that’s going to continue,” market. And with bigger projects comes teams on page 16).

14 Breakthrough 2. Everyone pays

For Johnson, the biggest hurdle faced stations into its deals. stage or boycott it once opened. by tomorrow’s tunnelling projects is Another way to share the cost of a Because PPP models mean that affordability. “The biggest challenge is tunnel would be to share its uses, says designer and contractor work in parallel, getting the money together in the first Lawrence, like the SMART tunnel in with input from the maintainers, the place,” he says. “Projects and clients Kuala Lumpur which switches from theory is that they produce better need to be as creative as possible in road tunnel to stormwater tunnel during pieces of infrastructure at a better cost. finding sources of funding.” Monsoon season to avoid flooding in the However, they tend to be more expensive Lawrence agrees: “There are many city’s central business district. Johnson – it always costs more for the private contracts in the concept or design references the Great Istanbul Tunnel, sector to borrow when compared to the stage that are just waiting for financing which crosses the Bosphorous strait with public sector. to be built,” he says. “As populations its triple decks accommodating both road “The demands from society in terms keep growing, the development of and rail. of what needs to be built need to be infrastructure is critical but how much Public Private Partnership deals – balanced against what it costs to provide financing can be provided realistically is shortened to PPP or 3P or P3, depending the infrastructure,” says Lawrence. “It a real challenge.” where in the world you are – offer a good puts pressure on trying to make projects Johnson cites the California Water Fix solution in some cases. Elizabeth River as cheap as possible and as useful as programme, involving 40 miles (64km) of Tunnels in Virginia, a programme which possible.” water tunnels, with an expected price tag included both new build and refurbished of $15bn. “It has to be paid for by water tunnels, was delivered by this route, rates and that involves pulling together a so too will be Melbourne Metro. coalition of different agencies along the In a PPP, private sector funders, route, which is a difficult job.” contractors and maintainers join Look to London, says Johnson, where forces to finance and build a tunnel authority Transport for London (TfL) and then operate it, taking tolls is working with the private sector on from the users. One huge caveat is over-station developments, factoring that there must be public support improvements such as new entrances for this option to be viable – or they’ll or step-free access for Underground de-rail the project at the planning

3. Bye, bye concrete

When it comes to crimes against the Polymer concrete has been used Since it was only discovered in 2004, environment, one of tunnelling’s most extensively in the chemical industry, and researchers are still finding out what often-used materials is one of the biggest for elements such as manholes in waste we can add it to, but graphene concrete offenders: cement. Experts say that the water systems. Geopolymer concrete is definitely on the list of possible cement industry produces 5 percent of makes use of industrial by-products such applications. global warming gases. “I believe that in as slag or fly ash. These new materials could change 10 years we will see concrete replaced Stronger than Portland cement concrete, the way we line a tunnel as the TBM by other materials, such as geopolymer,” concrete which uses a polymer binder advances. Currently precast segments says Melbye. “There has to be development instead of the cement, is faster curing, are installed to form a ring as the and innovation, though. Normet has done stronger and resistant to corrosion. It’s machine advances. “At some point, we quite a lot of work on that, although it’s also far more expensive. If its cost can be will be able to extrude a lining from the early days. reduced – or owners take into account the back of the TBM as it advances which will reduction in maintenance costs – it could reduce construction times and reduce become a contender for the cost,” says Johnson. “It’s something tunnel lining segments people have been looking at for some in aggressive time.” environments, such Environmental concerns will drive as sewers. changes in the way we power vehicles Then there’s underground, too, says Melbye. This wonder-material will also work well for longer tunnels, graphene (is where ventilation to remove diesel there anything fumes becomes technically difficult and it can’t do?). expensive.

Breakthrough 15 4. Digital connection

Digital technology is already making big communication. Engineers can mine The next step is to get all the improvements in underground design existing records such as surveys, borehole equipment to ‘talk’ to each other, says and construction, although we are a long data and even Google maps to produce Melbye. “We could have the drilling way from everything being seamlessly accurate pictures of the ground to be jumbos collecting data on the rock connected. tunnelled through. Difficult details and as they drill, then passing that data We can collect a huge amount of data, how they fit together can be rehearsed on the geology onto the spraying everything from the pressure inside digitally before projects are on site. robot. Machines have to be able to the cutting head of the machine to the Next steps will see BIM models calling communicate with each other. The movement of the ground above it to the off deliveries automatically. Driven by the industry has to work together on this. amount of metal that has been worn off need to reduce congestion and improve air If we pool our resources then the cost a cutting tool. quality in city centres, deliveries will come burden is less. It will happen but we do “We are getting better data out of the from specialist construction consolidation need to think differently.” machine than ever before which allows centres sending products and materials to us to analyse what is being done,” says site on electric vehicles. Muley. “With live data coming off the Robots are already a tool for tunnelling. machine, we can quickly analyse things Concrete spraying robots line tunnels like the slowest point of a cycle, or we every day, drones record progress and can spot signs that show a motor or take inspection footage. Contractor bearing going. Data reduces failures.” Bouygues has a snake-like inspection 3D models, with information attached robot which looks at the cutter head; TBM – sometimes called BIM (building manufacturers are working on robots that information modelling) – are helping can change the tools on a cutter head so with planning, visualisation and that humans don’t have to.

5. Elite teams

Increasing technological challenges, selling materials to a project. Instead it communication is missing,” says Melbye. bigger and more complex projects, greater would take responsibility for the whole “We have to try to solve problems risk, the need to engage new funders. All sprayed concrete lining, for instance, together, rather than waiting until the end these aspects mean that we need the very perhaps charging on a cost per metre of a project to put in claims. When the best people and companies to be working basis. lawyers get involved, you are not sure if on our projects. One big question: are “Today I see too often the client on one the right people are winning.” there enough great people to go round? side, the contractor on the other and Digital construction could play its part Johnson thinks not. “Complex projects the consultant somewhere in between. here. Johnson remarks that current require huge teams of people to do There are claims and problems because working and contractual practices don’t preliminary engineering and produce fit well with BIM. A collaborative way of tender documents. These go out to eight working, where those involved or 10 contractors, who then go out to in supplying all the constituent subcontractors and designers. Pretty parts of a tunnel feed into the soon, we run out of firms who are capable design and model early would of doing these very large projects.” work far better. The answer, suggests Melbye, is to It is the next generation of move away from the lowest-price-wins engineers coming up through method of procurement. “Traditional the industry who will drive procurement is very unlikely to be the this change. “The good news cheapest and the best solution because about the increasing number you are procuring on the wrong criteria: of tunnelling projects is that how fast can you go from A to B. if you they are providing invaluable have more performance-related criteria, experience to those working then all parties take a part of the risk, and on them,” says Lawrence. “All all parties have an interest in doing the that experience will come to best job they can.” bear in the future. We have never Melbye would like to see a situation seen that before on this scale where a supplier like Normet wasn’t just around the world.”

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Break Through_Young Members_210_297_cmyk_Ad.indd 1 28.05.2018 13:24:46 Extreme Tunnelling in the Himalayas Missy Isaman, Project Engineer for The Robbins Company, has traveled to Japan, China, Turkey, and Germany through her work. But her most intriguing travels have been to Nepal, where an emerging economy is working to modernize its infrastructure and heal from a massive earthquake in 2015. Her work in Nepal for the Bheri Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project (BBDMP) represents the first-ever use of a TBM in the country. A 5.06m diameter Robbins Double Shield is boring the BBDMP--it is currently 2.7km into its 12.2km bore.

18 Breakthrough At the start of the Bheri Babai project, making process, project officials toured back in 2016, I was lucky enough to be other jobsites around the world to get a able to travel to the capitol city of Nepal, sense of what a tunneling project could Kathmandu. Although the flight was very accomplish. These same officials made long, getting to see a place like this is such the bold decision to choose a TBM despite an amazing opportunity. My role in the widespread criticism in the government project is to manage the design engineering over the decision. portion of the project. This also involved While planning was underway, a final attending project design meetings with the design review was held. In the end, in order owner and the contractor (the Nepalese to best combat the extreme terrain, the government being the owner). machine was equipped with a probe drill for The Nepalese people couldn’t have been ground investigation and a stepped shield, more welcoming. This project had been in to help navigate through possible squeezing the planning stages for years. I could tell ground. For extra measures, we also added that this was much more than just a job to ports in the forward shield for the possible them. Being the first TBM in the country, addition of forepoling or hand drilling, and this project was a major point of pride to radially spaced ports in the rear shield for the team. The team hopes the success of lubricating the shield in squeezing ground. this venture will prove to the public and the I could see in this meeting that they were industry that TBMs are a very viable option The 5.06m diameter Robbins Double Shield excited about the progress and where this over the drill and blast method. It will help would lead their country in the future. to open the doors for the TBM industry in is to divert water from a larger river (Bheri This tunnel is a major way to revitalize the Nepal. River) in one valley and divert some of economy. The visit I took to Nepal was about a the flow to a starved river (Babai River) in I am so proud to be a part of a project year after Nepal’s devastating earthquake, the next valley over. This will have a huge that will positively impact so many people. measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale. impact on the agricultural production and A project of this magnitude has sparked the There was a lot of trauma to the city even hydropower in this region. In order to do interest of the government, academics and at this time. Many of the city’s historic this, the tunnel will have to go through a the public. The jobsite alone has already monuments and architectural treasures mountain to bridge the valleys. This tunnel presented opportunities. Locals have set were permanently damaged. Most of the design did not allow for additional adits or up tea and snack shops and restaurants to city was in a state of repair. multiple excavation faces. A drill a blast accommodate the influx of workers in the Because of the government’s recovering plan, for this project, would have taken an area. Tourism has also benefitted from this economy, the project took much more time estimated 12 years to complete. venture. Since this jobsite is in a wildlife and effort for the team to make happen. Our Robbins project team, including our preserve, it has become a stopping point With their continued determination, the local office in Nepal and president Lok on tours through the area, giving everyone planning, approval and procurement Home, had multiple meetings with the the opportunity to learn more about the process ended up taking five years to reach Nepalese government, including the Project site and the great benefits that are being fruition. The main reason that the owner Office to the Ministry of Water Resources, accomplished. I am lucky to be a part of a and contractor opted for the TBM method the Ministry of Finance, and the Office of project that will change a region like this for was the geology. The plan for this tunnel the Prime Minister. To help in the decision- the better.

Breakthrough 19 is also seen as an opportunity Moving Water to Aid Nepal’s Economy to prove the viability of the method in the notoriously The BBDMP is one of Nepal’s difficult Himalayan geology. 11 National Pride Projects-- The success of the BBDMP, prioritized plans sanctioned a national pride project, is by the Government of Nepal paramount for the country as to further develop the mostly well as the TBM industry. It rural country. This project is expected to help aide the will irrigate 60,000 hectares food crisis in the mid-western of land in the southern region region of Nepal by increasing of Nepal, benefitting an agricultural yields and estimated 30,000 households. invigorating socio-economic It will divert 40 cubic meters Nepal Branch (COVEC Nepal requiring a TBM that can development in the region. of water per second from Branch), represented by China withstand squeezing ground, Even though the project is only Bheri River to Babai River Railway No.2 Engineering rock instability, possibly high about 20 percent complete under a head of 150 m using Co., Ltd Chengtong Branch, is ingress of water and fault to date, the government is a 15 m tall dam, providing responsible for the headrace zones. Maximum cover above planning more TBM projects. year-round irrigation in the tunnel and prepared for the the tunnel is 820 m. More than 100 km of tunneling surrounding Banke and Bardia challenges associated with The project owner, the planned are planned for Nepal districts. The water will also tunneling in the tough geology Government of Nepal’s in the next five years, of which be used for hydroelectricity, of the Siwalik Range, part Ministry of Irrigation (MOI), more than 50% is considered with a generating capacity of of the Southern Himalayan has chosen a TBM over feasible for TBM excavation. 48 MW benefiting the country Mountains, with procurement the traditional method of Many projects that would with NPR 2 billion (20 million of a custom-designed Double Drill &Blast due to the previously have recommended USD) annually. Shield TBM. The Siwalik range faster mobilization and Drill & Blast only are now Contractor China Overseas consists of mainly sandstone, rate of advance offered by considering TBMs as an Engineering Group Co. Ltd. mudstone and conglomerate, mechanized mining. The TBM option.

A Jobsite inside Nepal’s Largest Wildlife Reserve The Bheri Babai jobsite is 56 km from Nepalgunj, which is the nearest town as well as one of the largest business hubs in western Nepal. It also is home to the nearest airport—about an hour’s drive away from the jobsite. Even though the tunnel is being excavated through Himalayan rock, the elevation is not too high. The tunnel portal is located in a river basin valley between 700 and 1000 m above sea level. The project site is a crossroads to highways that lead to much higher Himalayan towns and villages rainy season, but overall the shelters Royal Bengal Tigers, spotted a tiger. The reserve popular among trekkers and weather is sub-tropical and two types of Asian Rhinos, is guarded by the Nepalese mountain climbers. The quite warm in the winter, as it Elephants, Asian Black Bears Army and there are many roads and bridges in the area, is close to the Indian border. and many other types of check-posts along the capable of handling heavy One of the most intriguing vulnerable flora and fauna. highway—anyone traveling loads, were a very important aspects of the jobsite is that Monkeys and foxes are an through the reserve or to factor when considering a it is in the middle of Nepal’s everyday occurrence around the jobsite that is not a local TBM for the project. The area largest wildlife reserve - the jobsite, as well as colorful must show valid paperwork is prone to flooding during the Bardia Wildlife Reserve birds—laborers have even to pass through.

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Breakthrough 21

180104_DSI_Breakthrough_2018.indd 1 07.02.2018 14:03:07 55 2018 WINNER

Reflection by Paul Challinor PHOTO COMPETITION Breakthrough is delighted to announce the winner of its If you would like to take part in the 2018/19 Competition, first annual photo competition! send us an eye-catching image that highlights tunnelling or underground construction. If you’ve captured something

KOD E100SW The prize went to Paul Challinor, a Project Manager with inspiring, beautiful, fascinating, intriguing, amusing, or UK specialist tunnelling subcontractor Joseph Gallagher possibly all of these things, we want to see it! The winning Limited, for his entry ‘Reflection’. “The man in the photo photo will feature on the cover of the Spring 2019 edition, is my former boss, mentor and friend Dickie Dexter,” as well as Breakthrough’s Flickr site, social media and said Paul. ‘The photo was taken when we handed over a more – there will also be a prize from our sponsor Bekaert completed tunnel. It was a hard project; the ground was Maccaferri Underground Solutions. bad, the price was tight and our relationship with the client was occasionally strained. The project took a lot out of us The full list of entries are hosted on our Fickr page at: and the picture shows a humbled man reflecting on all that www.flickr.com/people/breakthrough_magazine/ has gone on. We delivered the tunnel and were not beaten, but we felt like we left a small part of ourselves behind.” The judging panel loved both the photo and the story

54 behind it and sends its congratulations to Paul once again!

22 Breakthrough KOD E100SW

Antwerp Premetrosystem by Erwin Joris

Crossrail - Liverpool St. Station - Escalator by Eleanor Sillerico

Shieldhall by Clarence Michel

Teaching an old dog new tricks by George Stevens Grenland bridge and a sky full of stars by Anne-Line Ferstad

Breakthrough 23 NorwegiaN TuNNelliNg SocieTy WG TUNNELPublica SEALINGTioN No. 27 COMPLETE WATERPROOFING SYSTEM FOR ANY CAVERNS, SHAFTS AND KOD E100SW OTHER UNDERGROUND FACILITIES 55

The Old and the New by Ray Kryhul

TBM (S-719) disassembly at Farringdon, Crossrail by Robert Pyne

High Noon by Jennifer Day

If you’d like to enter the 2018/19 competition, the rules are as follows: n Photographs should be submitted by email to [email protected] or using a free large file WG TUNNEL SEALING IS A COST- Examples of where WG Tunnelsealing is installed: transfer service such as Dropbox. EFFECTIVE METHOD TO PROVIDE • Water treatment facilities KOD E100SW n You must include a caption to explain your picture. A PERMANENT SEALING OF ROCK • Parking facilities n There is no limit to the number of photographs that you may WALLS AND CAVERNS. • Sewage treatment plant enter (within reason). If you are trying to choose between • Storage facilities several possible entries, then please just enter them all and let the judges decide. • Sporting facilities Key features with WG Tunnel Sealing: • Power plants n The photograph should be of good print quality, at least 300 • Patented solution with extensive experience pixels per inch, and a reasonable size. • Cable tunnels • Tailored for each individual project and facility n Make no assumptions about the photograph we are seeking, • Valve chambers because the winning photograph could be of a: laboratory, • Can be uses in all types of underground facilities • Technical rooms project team, computer simulation, tunnel breakthrough, • Life span minimum 50 years • Access tunnels engineers in the field, miners in a mantrip, etc. If it’s an • The fabric is self-extingishing and will never interesting image, we want to see it! • Military installations and hospital spread or maintain a fi re n • Mines

54 Photographers retain full copyright of their images, but in submitting an entry give the ITA-AITES, ITAYM and • Avoid risk caused by dripping water and humidity • Drop protection in road tunnels Breakthrough the right to use that image for marketing and communications purposes. Light at the end of the tunnel by Diego Sebastiani

W. Giertsen Tunnel18 AS Nygårdsviken 1, N-5165 Laksevåg-Bergen, Norway www.giertsentunnel.no I [email protected] I +47 5594 3030 24 Breakthrough NorwegiaN TuNNelliNg SocieTy WG TUNNELPublica SEALINGTioN No. 27 COMPLETE WATERPROOFING SYSTEM FOR ANY CAVERNS, SHAFTS AND OTHER UNDERGROUND FACILITIES

WG TUNNEL SEALING IS A COST- Examples of where WG Tunnelsealing is installed: EFFECTIVE METHOD TO PROVIDE • Water treatment facilities A PERMANENT SEALING OF ROCK • Parking facilities WALLS AND CAVERNS. • Sewage treatment plant • Storage facilities • Sporting facilities Key features with WG Tunnel Sealing: • Power plants • Patented solution with extensive experience • Cable tunnels • Tailored for each individual project and facility • Valve chambers • Can be uses in all types of underground facilities • Technical rooms • Life span minimum 50 years • Access tunnels • The fabric is self-extingishing and will never • Military installations and hospital spread or maintain a fi re • Mines • Avoid risk caused by dripping water and humidity • Drop protection in road tunnels

W. Giertsen Tunnel18 AS Nygårdsviken 1, N-5165 Laksevåg-Bergen, Norway www.giertsentunnel.no I [email protected] I +47 5594 3030 Breakthrough 25 A week in my life

Hannah Dix worked as a Cross Passage Saturday diversity sometimes offers Tunnel Engineer on the Doha Metro Red communication challenges, Saturday marks the beginning but with patience we have been Line South Joint Venture (RSJV) project, of a new week on the Cross able to become better and have with QDVC, in Qatar. She has experience Passage (CP) Excavation Team. all learned some new words. working with traditional excavation This morning I woke up to my As the meeting continues it routine 4:30am alarm, got appears that we have another methods in cross-passages as well as final dressed in my site gear and busy day ahead of us. lining. Hannah previously worked on the made my way to work, ready for I make sure to collect all the the 6:00am hand over meeting. details about the excavation Crossrail project, in London, UK; as well as These meetings are held at progress from the night shift as an open-cut coal mine, in rural Australia. both 6am and 6pm with the day well as which Cross Passages She is currently working on the West Gate and night shift supervisors and (CPs) have shotcrete orders for engineers. These meetings are today. I then determine which Tunnel Project in Melbourne, Australia, crucial for the smooth running CPs will require shotcrete for with the CPBJH Joint Venture. of each shift as the handover tomorrow. As our meeting team is updated about what progresses we are greeted by activities have occurred over another bright pink sunrise the previous shift, how much that forms a silhouette behind progress was made and if we the site cranes, ready for faced any challenges. another day. We all prepare for the hand over meeting by grabbing our morning coffee and gathering Sunday in the site office. As we all listen to the updates from After the completion of this the previous shift, I notice morning’s hand over meeting I FUJI 501 how effective we have all write up the shotcrete requests 3 become at communicating. for tomorrow and send them

FUJI RVP Between the 10 of us we through to the concrete represent nationalities from batching plant. I then head the Philippines, France, over to join this morning’s start Spain, Chile, Romania, briefing with the site teams. UK and Australia. Our Each morning we conduct a safety meeting, followed by a short informal fitness session, FU JI RVP 3 FUJI 501

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3A 26 Breakthrough Construction site for the new metro line at Doha city centre.

to help get everybody excited at 10am, before then however for the day’s work. Often the excavation profile must DOHA RED LINE DATA our fitness sessions end in be checked to ensure night Start Date: June 2013 laughter over our enthusiastic shift has not missed any tight Completion Date: 2018 exercising and today is no spots. The teams gather all Client: Qatar Rail Company exception. After our morning their materials and make their fitness class the supervisors way to the Alimak lift, ready QDVC 55%, GS E&C 25% & Al Darwish Engineering 20% describe the activities for the to head down into the shaft. DOHA RED LINE IN BRIEF day and our key priorities for In the queue, we all greet n 5 Tunnel Boring Machines the shift. The various teams each other before boarding n 5 Underground stations then head off into the tunnel. the lift. The Alimak operator n 5 Switchboxes Today, we are excavating at secures all the doors before n 4 Emergency exits one of the CPs. Using the he rings the bell and starts n 35 cross passages n tunnel checker, I help check the descent. In the beginning, 32km of tunnels the tunnel profile to ensure the sudden drop used to catch that the excavator operator and me off guard, but now it’s just quickly and efficiently. We then used to the temperature now surveyor are excavating to the part of the morning trip. At the barricade off the CP and leave with wet sweaty handshakes correct profile. I find that we bottom of the shaft I put my the lining cure. mandatory, but can be are on track and progressing ID tag onto the “in” side of the optionally swapped with a fist to our target. The excavation of tally board and begin the 2km bump. Welcome to the Arabian the current advance should be journey through the tunnel Tuesday summer. Today, in addition to ready to shotcrete in the next towards the CP. After I reach the regular morning meeting, shift. the CP, I check the final profile This morning the Safety team we conduct a pre-works and discover there are no tight has indicated that it is cool meeting in preparation for spots. The team then sets enough for the day shift works the opening of a new CP. Monday up the shotcrete pump and to start. It is not uncommon This meeting consists of sprayer ready for the arrival that the relative temperature the Site Geologist, Methods This morning is another busy of the shotcrete. After the gets above 54˚C, due to the Engineer, and Shift Engineer, morning in production. We are shotcrete arrives the team are high humidity and is too hot to to discuss the conditions at preparing to shotcrete a CP able to complete the spraying commence work. Everyone is the CP, taking into account

Breakthrough 27 FUJI RVP

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FUJI 501 all the design and geological Thursday factors. With all technical information, logistic concerns Today is the last day of the six and safety aspects taken into working-day week. After my consideration the excavation regular morning activities, permit is put in place, ready to today we are conducting begin excavation later in the drilling at the newly approved week. Following the meeting, I CP. The new CP requires head down the tunnel, making the drilling of dewatering my way through the heat holes to locate and relieve to the CPs to check on the any water pressure in one of teams. the lower geological layers 2A before we open the segment. We prepare the drilling team, 3 Wednesday plant and equipment at the Team BBQ CP and then begin drilling. 3A One can never be too After drilling to the required complete with BBQs ready comfortable with routine. depth, with guidance from for the celebration. Closer to During today’s activities the geologist, we discover dinner time the food arrives Qatar is in a desert, much of it one of the site teams has that the water pressure is and the BBQs start grilling. As is rocky with little sand. Here discovered a large hive of lower than anticipated and it is Ramadan, we wait until we let out some air from our bees have decided to make the CP can be opened safely. after the final prayer of the day tires to begin dune trekking. themselves at home in the Following the completion of so all our team can join us to Our two-car convoy makes station box. This has caused the drilling, it is time to help celebrate and enjoy the BBQ its way over the sand dunes some concern due to the with the setup of the end of together. with the vast sandy space inherit noise and movement year team BBQ! The Excavation around us. Eventually we find within this environment, which Team have been making great ourselves at our destination, may cause the bees to swarm. progress on the project and Friday where the desert meets the After spending some time with the end deadline in sight Persian Gulf. It is a beautiful ringing around all the local we have decided to celebrate. Today is my day off and I site with the sand dunes bee keepers, a bee removalist At change of shift tonight we have decided to share it with literally meeting the water’s is found. Thankfully, the are holding a dinner BBQ for a group of friends on an edge and rolling into the bee keeper is able to safely both day and night shifts to adventure to the desert. We sea. We enjoy a BBQ lunch remove and relocate the bee celebrate our team’s progress meet early in the morning to on the shore relaxing in the hive off site and site activities and efforts on the project. We get a head start on the heat of landscape. At the end of the are able to return to normal. set up all the tables and chairs the day and begin our drive out day we pack up and begin our into the desert. After several drive home. This isn’t a day I hours of navigating will forget any time soon. The Sunday Cross Passage team our way to the sand FUJI 501 dunes we see our 3 first glimpses of FUJI RVP sand. Though

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28 Breakthrough Breakthrough 29 AWARDS 2018 November 5-7, 2018 | Chuzhou-Nanjing, China

Since 2015, the ITA Tunnelling Awards has sought to reward ground-breaking innovations and outstanding projects in the tunnelling and underground space industry. The 2018 Awards will take place on 7 November, in Chuzhou-Nanjing during the 20th Chinese Tunnel and Underground works Conference (CTUC), which runs from the 5 to 6 November. Following successful events in Switzerland, Singapore and Paris, the fourth ITA Tunnelling Awards will return to Asia for 2018. The three previous Awards events received more than 240 entries and 110 nominations, rewarded 30 projects and personalities and gathered more than 750 attendees. Nominations for the following categories must contain projects for which the major civil engineering work was completed between 1st January 2016 and 1st April 2018. The Young Tunneller of the Year rewards an individual born after 1st January 1984 and who has brought an outstanding contribution to tunnelling.

Major Project of the Year - more than €500 million Project of the Year - between €50 million and €500 million Project of the Year (Inc. Renovation) - up to €50 million Technical Project Innovation of the Year Join Tunnelling Journal Technical Product/Equipment Innovation of the Year on Social Media Innovative Underground Space Concept of the Year Safety Initiative of the Year Twitter: https://twitter.com/tunnel_journal Sustainability Initiative of the Year

Facebook: Young Tunneller of the Year https://www.facebook.com/TunnellingJournal/ Nominations for the nine award categories, including Young Instagram: Tunneller of the Year, will be announced by mid-July 2018, https://www.instagram.com/tunnelling_journal/ through the ITA’s dedicated Awards website: https://awards.ita-aites.org Or follow the ITA Tunnelling Awards on twitter @itaAward www.tunnellingjournal.com

30 Breakthrough Dates Events

24-27 June 15-18 October 2018 North American Tunneling Conference Tunneling Fundamentals, Practice, and Innovations Washington D.C., USA Annual Short Course Event website: www.natconference.com/ Colorado School of Mines, Denver, USA The UCA of SME’s NAT Conference is a premier biennial Event website: http://csmspace.com/events/ event. The four-day conference provides a programme tunneling/ focused on current tunnelling projects, challenges CSM’s annual short course for industry professionals and successes in North America. A Young Members’ provides a comprehensive overview of tunnel planning, networking event will take place in the evening on June 25. design and construction across all applications and all types of geology. 13-14 September 29-31 October Underground Excavation Symposium and Exhibition Istanbul, Turkey 2018 Cutting Edge Conference Event website: www.uyak.org.tr/ Atlanta, GA, USA There are 11 metro projects currently ongoing in Istanbul Event website: http://ucaofsmecuttingedge.com/ alone. Organised by the Chamber of Mining Engineers of Organised by the UCA of SME and Tunnelling Journal, Turkey and the Turkish Tunneling Society, this two-day Cutting Edge is an annual conference that hand picks symposium will attract a large number of domestic and speakers to discuss the latest trends and developments international attendees to discuss the growing demand for in tunnelling technology. The 2018 event also features a underground infrastructure. dedicated young members session.

18-21 September 5-7 November InnoTrans 2018 ITA Awards 2018 & The 20th China Tunnel Conference Berlin, Germany Chuzhou-Nanjing, China Event website: www.innotrans.de/en/ Event website: https://awards.ita-aites.org/ InnoTrans is a leading international trade fair for The 2018 ITA Awards will be held in conjunction with the transport technology and takes places every two years in bi-annual CUTC event. The biggest and most important Berlin. The InnoTrans Convention, a top-level supporting tunnelling conference in China, the CUTC is organised conference programme, complements the trade fair. by the Chinese Tunnel and Underground Works Society.

9-10 October 3-9 May 2019 British Tunnelling Society Conference & Exhibition WTC 2019 QEII Conference Centre, London, UK Naples, Italy Event website: www.btsconference.com/ Event website: http://www.wtc2019.com/ The BTS 2018 Conference and Exhibition is the largest Organised by the Società Italiana Gallerie (SIG), the gathering of tunnelling professionals in the UK. The event 2019 World Tunnel Congress and the 45th ITA-AITES is an essential meeting point for everyone involved in the General Assembly will be held at the famous “Mostra design, construction and operation/maintenance of today’s D’Oltremare”, one of the main conference hubs in Italy. underground infrastructure. The Congress theme is “Tunnels and Underground Cities: Engineering and Innovation meet Archaeology, 10-13 October Architecture and Art”.

Austrian Tunnel Day & Geomechanics Colloquium 15-21 May 2020 Salzburg, Austria Event website: www.oegg.at/en/ WTC 2020 The 11th Austrian Tunnel Day will be held on October 10, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia prior to the 67th Geomechanics Colloquium organised Event website: www.seacetus2017.com/4/443/ by the Austrian Society for Geomechanics (OeGG). Topics welcome-to-malaysia/ include: Geotechnical problems, TBM selection, model The 2020 ITA-AITES World Tunnel Congress and 46th selection and new developments in tunnel support. General Assembly will be held in Kuala Lumpur.

Breakthrough 31 Vietnam Adventure

On February 17, two adventurous Ola Hobbelstad and Egil Johansen Norwegian Civil Engineering students, Ola and Egil, got a plane from Oslo to Vietnam in order to conduct field surveys as a part of their Masters theses. Arriving in the coastal A couple days later, we set our course city of Da Nang, in central Vietnam, with towards the project site, which is located temperatures in the mid-twenties, long six hours south-west of Da Nang, up in beautiful beaches and cheap beer, was a the central highlands of Vietnam. The stark contrast to the Norwegian mid-winter area itself is very beautiful, with its scenic input required for the models involved with its freezing temperatures. Having nature and steep river-dug valleys and mapping completed sections of the tunnel, travelled around the world to another hills all covered by vegetation. The tunnel in accordance with the rock fracture country and continent, we had exploit the of interest was part of the Upper Kon Tum class system and the Q-Value, conducting opportunity to check out the Da Nang area Hydroelectric Power Plant, which will have penetration tests with the TBM, and taking for a couple of days before traveling out to 350MW of installed capacity and an annual core samples for Drilling Rate Index (DRI) the project site. The ancient city of Hoi Ann, production of 1 TWh when completed. and Cutter Life Index (CLI) testing back the Marble Caves and a massive statue About 10 kilometers of this tunnel is being at NTNU and at the SINTEF Foundation of “Lady Buddha” were among the main excavated with a Tunnel Boring Machine for Scientific and Industrial Research, attractions Da Nang had to offer, in addition (TBM), which was why the project was of which is also located in Trondheim. Ola’s to relaxing on the beach. interest to us. The tunnelling is being done thesis focuses on rock support, mainly the using a 4.5m diameter Main Beam TBM difference in rock support used between from Robbins, who is also contracted to TBM bored and blasted tunnels – both when operate the machine. it comes to measures to cope with unstable The purpose of our stay in Vietnam was ground and the amount of rock support to collect data for our Masters theses, needed to secure stability. Fieldwork which have to be completed to graduate conducted for this purpose was geological from the Norwegian University of Science mapping of a section of the TBM-excavated and Technology (NTNU), which is located tunnel as well as mapping of the drill and in Trondheim. Egil’s thesis is focused on blast excavated portal. While the theoretical comparing actual TBM performance with framework for the thesis consists of both estimations generated by the NTNU and the Q-System and the RMR-System of rock the QTBM TBM prediction models. The mass classification.

Hoi An ancient city

32 Breakthrough Working in a place like Vietnam is very Doing field studies as a student is highly building something, which is impossible different to the highly regulated and safety- recommended if you get the opportunity. It to learn from a university course. As focused construction industry in Norway. enlightens you to all the practical aspects tunneling is a highly practical form of work, The project site itself has a permanent of construction, such as logistics, work you cannot get around spending extensive population of chicken and hens, cattle, environment, communication, safety and periods of time in the field if you truly want stray dogs and an occasional pig or two other issues that affect the process of to become an expert. wandering around. The work inside the tunnel is affected by the high temperature Further Reading and humidity, giving us more of sauna experiences in a week than an average n “Using the Q-System”, a handbook published by the Norwegian Geotechnical Finnish person gets in a year! The work Institute (NGI), is available to download free at www.ngi.no environment is also very different, with n A complete description of the RMR System is given in Bieniwaski’s book workers coming from all over the world, “Engineering Rock Mass Classifications: A Complete Manual for Engineers and and only a few able to speak fluent English Geologists in Mining, Civil and Petroleum Engineering”, published in 1989. or communicate easily with one another. n One should also read the article “Use and Misuse of Rock Mass Classification Another interesting sight was the large Systems with Particular Reference to the Q-System” by Palmstrøm and number of locals engaged in shoveling the Broch, in Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, Volume 21, Issue 6, tunnel floor of muck to allow the water to November 2006. flow out. Thuong Kon Tum Hydroelectric Project

The 17.4km Thuong Kon Tum thus far are massive granitic them, which include water a near standstill at 15 percent Hydroelectric project will be rock tested at 300MPa UCS gushing from fault zones at the project completion to 85 the country’s longest tunnel or more (with averages in the rate of 600 liters per second. percent complete. More fault once complete, drawing water 270 to 290MPa range). Very In less than two years, the zones are expected, but despite from the Dak Nghe River little fracturing and jointing is highly skilled personnel at the challenges tunneling is to supply electricity to the present, but there are several the site have taken the 4.5m planned to be complete by the Central Vietnam region. A 4.5m major fault zones along the diameter Main Beam TBM from end of 2018. diameter Robbins Main Beam tunnel alignment. TBM and continuous conveyor Originally launched in 2012, system were supplied to bore commercial circumstances the tunnel. for the original contractor, The project is located in combined with incredibly Vietnam’s mountainous interior difficult geology, left the project region, in dense rainforest at a standstill. In 2016, the more than six hours away from revitalized project and its new the nearest city. Geological contractor called on Robbins conditions were originally to lead the refurbishment expected to consist of softer and operation of the TBM. rock with some fault zones, The results are no less than but 75 to 80 percent of the remarkable given the gauntlet rock conditions encountered of challenges set in front of

The project area Hoi An ancient city

Breakthrough 33 Extreme Tunnelling in

ColombiaLa Linea tunnel Daza tunnel

Occidente Tunnel

The history of underground works in metamorphic rocks, in addition to the high Importance of tunnelling in Colombia Colombia is older than one might imagine. rainfall rates that are observed. The 4th Generation Toll Road Concession Tunnels for hydropower and irrigation, A great number of tunnelling projects Programme is one of the most ambitious rail tunnels, urban drainage tunnels and are needed to successfully interconnect projects in the history of Colombia’s road tunnels all currently exist. However, regions, to reduce the distance, time and infrastructure, consisting of 40 projects when Colombia launched its ‘Infrastructure cost of transporting people and goods, as that will comprise 8,000km of toll Master Plan 2015-2035’, in 2015, tunnel well as to reduce trade barriers. However, roads, including 159 tunnels with a total engineering gained a much higher profile, due to the conditions mentioned above, investment of around US$18 billion. due to the challenges that engineers will Colombian engineers, academics, national The 4G Program is expected to reduce face to execute the plan. and international firms are facing tunnelling unemployment, creating more than 180,000 Following a decades-long gap in challenges, not only at the design phase but jobs. This is when young engineers must infrastructure development, Colombia also during construction. The role of young enter the labour market, meeting the needs will heavily invest in upgrading highway engineers will be crucial in the development of the country. Unfortunately, the number infrastructure in a bid to develop the of such projects, which will contribute to a of tunnels in design and construction country’s economy. Many reasons can brighter future for Colombia. phases is greater than the number of young be listed for the infrastructure gap, but regardless, it is important to note that in Longest Tunnels in Colombia terms of geology and topographic formation there is a predominant difference between Tunnel Name Function Year of Location Length (m) the east and the west of the country. Completion The former displays sparse mountainous Via Guateque Tunnel Road Tunnel 1966 Western ranges 1600 relief formed by ancient rock, while the latter is characterized by imposing young El Boqueron Tunnel Road Tunnel 1999 Central range 2405 rocks of the Andean mountain ranges. Buenavista Tunnel Road Tunnel 2002 Western ranges 4519 Colombia is the only country that hosts three subdivisions of the Andes (western, Occidente Tunnel Road Tunnel 2005 Eastern ranges 4603 central and eastern), presenting great Tunnel del Sumapaz Road Tunnel 2010 Eastern ranges 4200 differences between rock formations in terms of age and petrographic type. This Toyo Tunnel Road Tunnel 2025 Expected Western ranges 9840 results in a varied and complex geology La Linea Tunnel Road Tunnel 2019 Expected Central range 8600 encompassing igneous, sedimentary and

34 Breakthrough ACTOS’s (the Colombian Association of Tunnels & Underground Space) New Colombia Generation of Tunnellers (NGT) gather at one of their regular meetings

Helicoidal Tunnel

professionals and national companies at engineers need to analyse and make the moment, it will be difficult to face these good use of all the information gained tasks created by tunnelling works that are during the geotechnical research. It is key for the development (with a total length our responsibility to classify and process of approximately 250km in tunnels). the results in order to properly asses the Tunnels, especially in Colombia, are analysis and ensure accurate results. considered an environmental solution as they negate the need for deforestation Noteworthy Projects in Colombia: El Toyo and erosion of hillsides. However, such and La Linea tunnel projects call for rigorous design In order to understand the importance of and construction at the same time, and tunnelling in Colombia, the Toyo Tunnel an effective monitoring is also required project can be taken as a reference. It in order to reduce risks by controlling will cross the western part of the Andean water in-flows to obviate environmental mountain ranges in the region of Antioquia, damage. Therefore, one of the three key and will be the longest road tunnel in Paola Castillo at work in Colombia conclusions at the XII Andean Seminar of South America with a length of 9.84km, Tunnels and Underground Works, held in cutting travel time by more than half from November, 2017 was the importance of Antioquia to Cañasgordas and reducing century later that the guild of infrastructure having competent engineering graduates the distance by approximately 300km. warned governmental authorities of a who are able to develop the operation The El Toyo tunnel will contribute to the high degree of uncertainty and possible and maintenance of the coming tunnels interconnection of Colombian regions, main geological risk in the central mountain projects. cities and ports, leading to a better future range, leading to the start of excavation Henceforth, it is essential for the and solving the issue of regional isolation. works for a pilot tunnel, with the aim of new generation of graduates to be well Another relevant undergoing project is determining the geological conditions and prepared, particularly in the use of La Linea Tunnel, which dates back to the thus minimizing future construction risks. computer tools. Over the last few years of 1920’s, when it was first proposed as a rail Today, the central tunnel of the La Linea tunnelling experience in Colombia (Table tunnel to connect the pacific and central Project is projected to be 8.6km in length. 1), it has been analysed that in tunnel railway. Individuals began hand excavation For the total project completion, 25 bridges design, with the advancing of computers, of the tunnel portals, but unfortunately and 20 tunnels are required. It will reduce the required design parameters also this did not last for long and the visionary congestion and travel time, allowing daily demand great care. That is why our young idea was left behind. It was almost a savings of approximately 4 billion COP for

Breakthrough 35 Paola Castillo and Diana Diaz transporters, represented by gasoline, sustainability during construction and Cisneros-Loboguerrero Highway equipment wear and time. operation, and in all stages of development Unfortunately, the La Linea Tunnel and operation of tunnels. Project has had contractual problems Again, ethics and good engineering from the beginning in 2008. Since the last practices are of fundamental value and contract, the project has been delayed should be promoted along with the by two years and is currently expected sustainable development of tunnelling to complete by the end of 2019. ACTOS- projects. Last, but not least, regarding NGT Chair, Paola Castillo, supported the political situation of Colombia, poor the arbitration of this project. The main management of resources is an evident problems encountered are: contractor’s factor in inadequate development of budget problems, unsuitable machinery civil infrastructure. The lack of political or machinery in poor condition, and participation of civil engineers also contractual disorganization. In addition to demonstrating good tunnelling knowledge, restrains our decision-making contributions the geotechnical challenges encountered which integrates geotechnical, engineering both in evaluation of projects and during the during construction such as rock bursts, geology, hydrogeology, tunnel design, implementation of them. high overburden (over 830m), water structural design, traffic engineering, Governmental authorities need to clearly ingress and rock squeezing, there ventilation, fire hazard control and other identify the benefits and risks of such was also a problem in the rock mass disciplines relevant to the design and projects. They also need to put forward classification, which led to cost overruns. construction of tunnels. regulations, policies and standards that Notwithstanding, if the project cannot be In addition, the essential skills a good guarantee sustainable underground completed, it will bring about 400 billion engineer must have includes teamwork, construction with very few environmental COP of losses per year. and above all ethical behaviour both impacts. personally and professionally. Therefore, This is the reason why the new Prospects of Tunnelling in Colombia colleges and universities need to recognize generation of tunnellers need to strive to The challenges faced by young civil the importance of identifying, developing, be able to achieve active participation in engineers in Colombia consist of three main and providing opportunities that bring about political processes and it is supposed to be pillars: i) sustainable construction, ii) QHSE adequate improvement in the competence the next challenge that must be approached management, and iii) improve society’s of our engineering graduates. from different perspectives with key tools, quality of life. The tunnel industry also plays an and this will contribute to the continuous At this point, Colombia is calling for a important role in the future of Colombia. learning and the training of young civil new generation of engineers capable of It is important to embrace concepts on engineers. Authors: Paola Castillo and Diana Diaz

Paola Castillo is a 21-year- appointed Paola to establish old Civil Engineer, who and lead a Young Members graduated from the Pontificia group, named ACTOS- Universidad Javeriana, in NGT (New Generation of Bogotá, Colombia. In April Tunnellers). 2017, Paola was given This experience has the opportunity to do an awakened her interest in the internship with a tunnel exciting field of tunnelling consulting company and as a and has provided more value result was hired as a Junior than she could have imagined. Tunnel Engineer once her Working in this field has Paola Castillo Diana Diaz internship was completed. allowed her to develop her Research Group, where she Diana developed her During this time, Paola got academic knowledge into has contributed to the “One passion for tunnels and actively involved in ACTOS abilities applicable to her Belt, One Road” project and underground engineering (the Colombian Association career. the “China-Nepal Trans- during an internship with of Tunnels and Underground Himalaya Railway Link”; she one of the biggest design Works), helping to organise Diana Diaz is a Masters has also taken part in research institutes in China (SMEDI), seminars, congresses and candidate in Tunnel and on sustainable underground where she was given forums on roads, mining, Underground Engineering at space development. Since drawings and specifications hydraulic and water supply Tongji University, in Shanghai, 2017, she has worked with for a new metro line that was tunnels, both at a national China. Diana is 24 and is part ACTOS helping to lead the built to connect Shanghai and international level. In of Prof. Yun Bai’s (a former Young Members group ACTOS- Disney World to the existing July 2017, the ACTOS Board Vice-President of the ITA) NGT with Paola. metro system.

36 Breakthrough Discover emerging innovations in tunneling TUNNELING methods, materials and technology through classroom instruction and hands-on labs and demonstrations. Learn key design and FUNDAMENTALS, construction principles applicable to all types of ground and across all excavation methods.

PRACTICE AND Who should attend? Industry professionals including owners, planners, designers, INNOVATIONS contractors, consultants and suppliers involved in the planning and construction of A COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES underground, tunneling and mining projects. professional short course Space is limited.

OCTOBER 15-18, 2018 Early-bird registration rates are available GOLDEN, COLORADO through Aug. 31, 2018.

Colorado School of Mines has a long-standing tradition of hosting world-class short courses in underground construction and tunneling. Upon successful completion of the course, 2.3 CEUs may be earned through the Mines OŽ ce of Continuing Education. Learn more and register online at underground.mines.edu.

Breakthrough 37 Working Together From figuring out how to re-use muck from tunnel excavations to mapping out the new technology skills engineers need today, the mission of the ITA’s Working Groups is to capture, define and share best practice. Kristina Smith reports.

A video of the very first Alstom train on a Commitment Groups. One is for people to be proposed trial run through the new Metro Line 1, in There are usually around 13 or 14 working by their country’s tunnelling association. Chennai, India, posted on LinkedIn earlier groups active at any one time. The ITA’s Another is to turn up and volunteer, this year received opposing responses. ruling body, the Executive Council, although Vion and Working Group leaders Some people offered congratulations on oversees and approves the creation of new note that they need ongoing commitment, the progress made while others criticised groups. A recent addition was Working rather than one-off appearances at a the untidiness of the site. Group 22, chaired by former ITA Young meeting.” The video is a reminder of how hugely Members’ Chair, Jurij Karlovsek, from the All the Working Group ‘Animateurs’ say working practices on tunnelling University of Queensland, which that they would welcome more involvement projects around the world will look at information in from young tunnellers. “Listen, put your vary, and that can be for a tunnelling. hand up, get involved,” says Brian Fulcher, whole variety of reasons. Every group meets Principal Tunnel Engineer at McMillen Some countries have at least once a year at Jacobs Associates, who chairs WG14 on years of tunnelling the World Tunnelling Mechanical Tunnelling. “If young people practice behind them, Congress (WTC), this year show up, we take a very special interest in others are just starting in Dubai. Many of them that and there is often more dialogue and out. Skills and resources have a second face-to-face excitement. Young ITA members are quick Olivier Vion vary, as do politics and legal meeting somewhere else to get involved and make a difference.” frameworks. part-way through the year. The Rohde says that his research has been There isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ number of people in the groups boosted by contributions from students approach. But it is possible to transfer has been growing steadily, says at the Warsaw University of knowledge and experiences gained from Vion, so whereas they used to Technology, Poland, led by projects in one region to others. And that be between 10 and 25-strong, the Working Group’s tutor, is what the International Tunnelling & there can now be up to 40 Professor Anna Sieminska- Underground Space Association (ITA- people. Lewandowska. AITES) aims to do through its Working The outputs from the Fulcher acknowledges Groups. working groups are that it is difficult for “The aim of the Working Groups is guidance documents that are people to persuade their to go into a topic in depth and provide published on the ITA-AITES Brian Fulcher companies that they should information on what is state-of-the-art,” website and presented at the have the time and budget to explains Olivier Vion, ITA-AITES’ Executive WTC each year. The findings from attend events such as the WTC, Director. “We produce guidelines the Groups also help inform some of particularly if they work for a contractor. rather than standards, but they the training courses offered and He himself attends in his vacation, are recognised and respected approved by the ITA-AITES. alongside his wife who is a tunnel design around the world. We see One of the problems faced engineer. them used in tenders or by all the Working Groups He urges young people to make a case to help inform dispute is that they are all made to their employers for attendance: propose resolution.” up of volunteers, and de-briefing sessions with peers after the Some of the subjects often volunteers with very event, emphasise the values of technology currently being explored by busy day jobs. “Trying to and information exchange, networking and Working Groups include what Jan Rohde collect all the information is learning social skills. “Large, complex, skills tunnelling engineers a time-consuming process,” jobs need people with these types of and others require to work in an says Jan Rohde, a Senior skills,” says Fulcher. “Companies are age of digital technology; a new form of Advisor at Sweco Norge, who heads up WG looking to employ their A-Team on these contract which could revolutionise the 15 Environment. “People are enthusiastic jobs. Young people should take every way risk is shared on tunnelling projects; at the meetings, but once they get back to opportunity they can if they want to get and how we could make better use of the their normal work situation, they have to onto that A-Team by developing essential muck excavated from new tunnels (see focus on other things.” skills beyond a solid base of technical opposite). There are two routes into the Working knowledge.”

38 Breakthrough Here’s a taster of some of the new guidance we can expect soon from ITA’s many Working Groups:

WG3, Contractual Practices is producing the WG5 Health & Safety is updating important world’s first tunnelling-specific contract, guidance it published in partnership with working with the International Federation of the British Tunnelling Society (BTS) relating Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) whose contracts to high-pressure compressed air working. are recognised and used globally. Tunnelling Working under high pressures involves the use contracts often overrun on time and cost of non-air breathing mixtures and occasionally because owners try to transfer all the risk onto the use of saturation exposure techniques the contractors. along with transfers under pressure.

“For the first time, employers, contractors, “High-Pressure Compressed Air (HPCA) work designers and engineers will have a clear- is a high-risk tunnelling activity which has cut definition of a balanced allocation of developed rapidly over the past 10 years,” the risk related to the sub-surface says Dr Donald Lamont, leader of WG5 and conditions at their fingertips,” says a world expert on the subject. “The Matthias Neuenschwander, of ITA/British Tunnelling Society Neuenschwander Consulting guidance has been the only Engineers, who heads up Working Groups internationally available the Working Group. “This guidance on the topic will lead to cheaper Research and has already been projects, better cost Contractual Practices used as the basis for stability and less need Health & Safety enforcement by one for disputes.” Maintenance & Repair national regulator.” Seismic Effects Immersed & Floating Tunnels Use of Sprayed Concrete Information Modelling in Tunnelling WG14 Mechanised Mechanized Tunnelling WG15 Environment Tunnelling has set Underground Works & Environment is compiling case up four sub-groups Long Tunnels at Great Depth studies of projects that tasked with finding out Conventional Tunnelling have been able to use Urban Problems, Underground Solutions the latest information the excavated muck that Lifetime Cycle Asset Management about tunnels, related comes out of tunnels for equipment technology, other purposes – rather than new materials and training for it being dumped somewhere and operators, engineers and managers. landscaped. It is also working on joint projects with a Working Group 15 Animateur, Jan Rohde, number of other Working Groups. has many examples from his own company’s The skills of a tunnel engineer are definitely tunnelling projects and is seeking further case changing, says Fulcher. “Shaft engineers and histories from elsewhere. “We are looking heading engineers tend to be quite general, around the world to find out how people are but the role now is very techy. There is lots of dealing with the opportunities and challenges instrumentation and data collection, but some of using tunnel muck as a construction of them have little idea about the data that they material,” he says. are collecting and the often-critical benefits that come from that data.”

Breakthrough 39 WTC – NAPLES 2018 ITALY Italy welcomes you to WTC 2019

Italy hosts some of the longest and deepest tunnels in the world. It is also one of the best learning grounds for tunnel engineers, as in a quite restricted territory it is possible to face challenges such as intense rock swelling, active tectonic faults, huge gas pockets and marine/fluvial inconsistent deposits. Nowadays, the Italian tunnelling market is as give an overview of why Italy active as ever with several in general and Naples in new investments supporting particular makes a such a great tunneling projects and venue for tunneling and why attracting new energies and you should start planning your players worldwide. Tunneling trip to the WTC in May 2019. activities are ongoing in the Alpine Base Tunnels, including The Italian Tunneling: the record breaking 55km-long over 2000 years of Brenner Basis Tunnel and experience! the Turin – Lyon, Mont Cenis The tunnelling sector base tunnel, which includes in Italy sinks its routes two 57.5km long tubes, 45km deep into the past, as the on the French side and 12km Romans were some of the on the Italian side. The top- most amazing and innovative Borbonico”, an underground of-the-line Italian High-Speed Engineers in History. The viaduct built in 1853 that, and innovation. All of this railway project is continuously groundbreaking underground passing under Monte Echia, combined with some unusual expanding with the Milano- project was probably the joined the Royal Palace with topics suggested by the true Genova route 37km tunnels Cloaca Maxima, a massive Piazza Vittoria, near the sea Italian trademarks, such as and the Napoli-Bari 6 billion € wastewater system, partly still and the barracks with two history (Archaeology), design sections mainly underground. in use, constituted by tunnels parallel tunnels, one for (Architecture) and genius & Not only railway, but also ranging from 1.5m to 8m carriages and the other one creativity (Art). highway: the Bologna-Florence internal diameter connecting for pedestrians. We do suggest The special Triple “A” Highway A1 “Variante di Valico” all major monuments of Rome you visit it when in Naples! Sessions and Technical Visits consists of 66.6km with about underground. Not only urban will be unique opportunities to 50% of the alignment excavated tunneling, but also important WTC 2019 in Naples appreciate how either in both by TBM or conventional milestones in the long and deep Therefore, we are delighted ancient and new underground tunneling, while “Gronda di tunnels were achieved by the to invite you to the next World infrastructures, history, design Ponente”, in Genoa, foresees Romans, like the Fucino Lake Tunnel Congress, which will and creativity (Archaeology, the construction of over 70km drainage tunnel, the longest be held in Naples, Italy, from Architecture and Art) are of road, of which 53km are in world tunnel up to the Frejus May 3 to May 9, 2019, hosted integrated in the Neapolitan tunnels, along the existing A10. Tunnel completion in 1871. by the International Tunnelling underground space, leaving Last but not least, the metro Naples is the perfect venue to and Underground Space the delegates astonished and tunnels, the most interesting blend modern tunneling and Association (ITA-AITES) and fascinated! of which will be Naples Metro history, thanks to its unique the Italian Tunnelling Society Italy, the country of Leonardo Lines 1 and 6, with 93km of underground network that (SIG). da Vinci, will complete the WTC track and a further 30km of goes back to the Roman age The conference will offer offer. Technical and cultural new light rail connecting 114 but has been widely expanded the traditional topics on visits are planned, including stations together, Rome Metro and modernized in the 19th design and construction of the Rome’s new Metro C line C and Milan M4. Century: the most amazing and underground works, focusing and the Brenner Base Tunnel, If not enough yet, here we exciting is the so called “Tunnel on tunnelling, engineering in the charming Alps mountain,

40 Breakthrough that will be the longest railway underground connection in the world. Even the great social program we are working on – we are sure – will leave participants astonished and will be an opportunity to experience the beauties of Naples and its surroundings.

The Young Member Involvement The Young Member Group of the Italian Tunnelling Society (SIG) is actively working within the WTC 2019 Organizing members will have their own 2019 in Naples is therefore a point for the Italian trade show Committee in order to plan exhibition stand, which will be unique opportunity to overlook site. Mostra d’Oltremare also dedicated initiatives for young a natural gathering point for the Mediterranean basin with hosts a small but priceless professionals. Have a large young professionals during the all its history, culture and archaeological site with a number of YM attending the conference. art, where past and traditions short stretch of the “Via WTC in Naples as well as giving are blend with innovation and Antiniana” (an ancient Roman them the opportunity to actively Why Naples? future. road), and provides several participate and build network The choice of this city is not Mostra d’Oltremare is charming locations which is definitively a main goal of the by chance, Naples represents the main conference hub in will turn your attendance Italian Tunnelling Society (SIG) the ‘Italian lifestyle’ with the South of Italy. Its size, into a glamorous, unique and and of the WTC 2019 Organizing Archaeology, Architecture, Art, architectural features and unforgettable experience. Committee. The Italian Young its touristic attractions and, of services make it a large multi- Naples is the place to be in members group and ITA young course, Tunnelling. The WTC purpose centre, a reference 2019!

Breakthrough 41 Aspiring tunnellers can get a head start on their peers by studying one of the specialist undergraduate or postgraduate tunnelling degrees around the world. Breakthrough spoke to five young tunnellers to ask them why they chose the course they did and where it has taken them. Kristina Smith reports...

University, Canada. Paraskevopoulou had Aiming high to inspire met Mark Diederichs, an eminent rock engineering professor at Queen’s, during the next generation a field trip in Greece, shared between Dr Chrysothemis Paraskevopoulou students from NTUA and Queen’s. Paraskevopoulou’s PhD looked at n Lecturer (assistant professor) at the time-dependency of rocks and the University of Leeds implications associated with tunnelling, n MEng in Mining and Metallurgical working on a project for Canada’s Engineering and MSc in Design and Nuclear Waste Management Organisation Construction of underground works, (NWMO). Two of the five years were spent National Technical University of doing laboratory testing at ETH, the Athens (NTUA), Greece; PhD, Queen’s Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, in University, Kingston, Canada Zurich. “I travelled a lot during my PhD,” she In February 2017, at the age of 29, Dr recalls. “Professor Diederichs gave me Chrysothemis Paraskevopoulou was the opportunity to participate in lots of appointed lecturer (assistant professor) If you are an engineer, events. If you have good social skills, or at the University of Leeds in the UK, you have to love what you you are willing to develop them, you can teaching BSc and MSc level courses do. This isn’t a nine-to-five establish a good network in our industry. in rock mechanics and tunnelling I feel lucky to have met in person all engineering. The competition was stiff; job. Every day you put the the ’big’ names, these legends whose she was pitted against people with more theory and background work you have read, studied and applied, experience and higher qualifications. that you have learned and (emeritus) professors like Evert Hoek, “I knew the chances of getting the job Charles Fairhurst, Richard Goodman, were limited due to the competition, but I studied into practice. That’s Nick Barton, Paul Marinos, Mark believed in myself and I aimed high,” says what excites me about Diederichs.” Paraskevopoulou. Looking back on her engineering. PhD in hand, Dr. Paraskevopoulou’s path to Leeds, aiming high is a common next move was to look for a position in theme. NTUA, a five-year professional degree Europe, either in academia or industry as Paraskevopoulou was inspired to (MEng), Paraskevopoulou decided to she had worked for the public and private become an engineer by her parents, who continue her postgraduate studies at the sector while studying at NTUA. Hence her were both civil engineers. “If you are same university attending a two-year application to Leeds. an engineer, you have to love what you Masters in Design and Construction As well as teaching at MSc and BSc do,” she says. “This isn’t a nine-to-five of Underground Works. Her NTUA level, her role at Leeds includes running job. Every day you put the theory and professors, many of whom have been a research laboratory, collaborating background that you have learned and actively involved in Greek’s infrastructure internationally with other universities studied into practice. That’s what excites and internationally the last quarter of a and organisations and carrying me about engineering.” century, helped grow her enthusiasm for out consultancy at a national and Living in Athens in Greece, she wanted engineering: international level. to go to the National Technical University “If I had not been taught by such great “I now teach the course that I was of Athens (NTUA). Competition for places minds and inspiring professors, I am not inspired by as a student, and I am is very strong and most people have sure I would have followed this path of consulting too, the best of both worlds,” additional tutoring, but Paraskevopoulou tunnelling and geomechanics,” she says. she says. “As my professors were a wanted to test herself, refusing tutoring Hard-working as ever, she decided to personal inspiration for my career path, and working hard to win a place. complete the two-year MSc in one year, I hope to become an inspiration to my Having studied Mining Engineering at so that could pursue a PhD at Queen’s students.”

42 Breakthrough New horizons in Singapore Russell Connors n Project engineer, John Holland Group n Studied BEng Civil Engineering and Infrastructure, RMIT University, Melbourne

Tunnelling, for me, is a career that I sort of fell in to!” says Russell Connors, a project engineer for John Holland Group, now based in Singapore. Had it not been for a career guidance councillor at school, he would never even have thought of civil engineering. “At the time it was more likely that I would take up a trade”, says Russell, who is now 31 “When the letter of an offer came back from the university, I was Tunnelling, for all its challenges, the various hesitant and nervous at first, however my family was very supportive and I stuck it personalities, the heartache and the stress, is out for four years. Fast forward to now addictive! There is no greater feeling of a sense of and I have enjoyed every minute of it!” pride, accomplishment and teamwork after a successful Russell studied civil engineering and infrastructure at Melbourne’s RMIT breakthrough. University, focussing on geotechnical and structural engineering with elements made the move and has since worked working on tunnel boring machines of construction management and on two major projects in Singapore, (TBMs), Russell thinks that would-be hydrogeology. Downtown Line 3 and Thomson East tunnel engineers would benefit from an “The course had a very hands-on Coast Line. understanding of the Programmable Logic approach with an emphasis on industry Currently he is part of a team working Controller (PLC) which is the ‘brain’ of the exposure, and the ability to adapt and on a tender for another Singapore TBM. This would mean that the engineer work effectively in small teams,” says contract: “I am enjoying applying my could work with the PLC technician to Russell. “It was well suited to those who knowledge of the industry and past diagnose faults faster and thus reduce either wanted to focus on one or more of experiences in the hope that we can put downtime. the sub-disciplines of civil engineering, or forward a successful bid,” says Russell. TBMs are only going to become more for those wanting a broader approach.” His course at RMIT prepared complicated, says Russell, as automation Russell came to tunnelling through a him well for the industry, he says. increases. Robotics, already being trialled six-month placement with John Holland “Communication in tunnelling is critical. by some contractors, will become more Group, working as a student engineer of You must be able to work effectively and widely used increasing efficiency and the Melbourne Main Sewer Replacement efficiently within small teams to deliver reducing the risk of accidents. project, a 2km segmentally-lined tunnel. results,” he says. “I also learnt during Russell advice to young engineers is When he graduated from RMIT, he my studies that it is important be able to to make sure to get time underground, continued with John Holland, working on adapt, learn and overcome the constant learning tunnelling methods first- a number tunnelling projects including challenges that tunnelling throws at you. hand. But he issues this warning: the Northern Sewerage Project in A good tunnel engineer is compelled “Tunnelling, for all its challenges, the Melbourne and the Brisbane Airport Link. to evaluate what has happened, so that various personalities, the heartache In 2013 Russell had a big decision they can apply what they have learned. and the stress, is addictive! There is to make: did he want to re-locate to Underground, we got to push it. That’s no greater feeling of a sense of pride, Singapore? After some thought, and with our job.” accomplishment and teamwork after a encouragement from his family, Russell With the benefit of many hours spent successful breakthrough.”

Breakthrough 43 Tunnel love began at 17 Daniela Herzig

n Project manager, Gähler and Partner n MSc and Bsc in civil engineering, ETH, Zurich

Daniela Herzig’s first thoughts about civil engineering came during a school visit to the Zurich western bypass, close to her home city. Part of this project was the 4.4km-long Uetliberg Tunnel. “I got my first impressions of a tunnelling project,” she says. “I didn’t know anything about civil engineering. That was the beginning for me.” Herzig was lucky to be able to study civil engineering at ETH in Zurich, although she admits that its location and the chance to be near her friends was more important to her than its good reputation at the time. Looking back, one of the best things that her ETH picture. It’s important to understand cost As a young engineer, education gave her was the ability to and how the contract works and to find you have a new approach to solve problems: the best technical solution within those “At ETH, they don’t just focus on the constraints,” she says. “Knowledge about projects. Tell people about technical subjects, they teach you how to contracts would have been great. We are your ideas, and always ask. think and solve problems,” says Herzig. “I engineers but we are also lawyers, in a People think that asking learnt logical thinking and how to identify way.” problems, how to distinguish between After visiting a careers fair at ETH, questions is a sign of what’s important and what’s irrelevant.” Herzig sent her CV off to a few firms and, weakness, but it’s a sign of After gaining her Bachelor of Science following on from some interviews, had weakness if you don’t ask, degree, she worked on a number of four job offers to choose from. “It was traineeships to help her decide what pretty easy to find a job,” she admits. especially as an engineer. specialisms to choose for her Master’s Herzig chose Gähler and Partner, degree. Among these was four months starting as a project engineer working tunnelling industry ahead, as it adapts spent in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, on various infrastructure projects around to changing modes of transport. “In with Bilfinger and Berger subsidiary Switzerland. Now, age 32, she is a Switzerland most tunnels are part of the Julius Berger. project manager in the tunnelling team, railway or highway network. What about For the Master’s course at ETH, responsible for two big projects; the logistics tunnels? Mobility will change. students choose two specialisms – Albula Tunnel in Southern Switzerland There will be self-driving cars so we may Herzig chose geotechnical and water and the Ruckhalde Tunnel near the city not need the same kinds of tunnels.” engineering – and can then study a of St Gallen. True to her ETH grounding, Herzig wide range of other courses, including “It is the variety I enjoy the most,” says that the most important thing for economics, developing countries and says Herzig. “I work with lots of different young engineers is to ask questions. languages. The only subject that Herzig people, on different subjects and on “As a young engineer, you have a new wishes she could have studied in more different projects. There are always new approach to projects. Tell people about depth is law, which was only a small challenges. Take the Albula Tunnel. It’s your ideas, and always ask. People module. close to a UNESCO World Heritage Site think that asking questions is a sign of “Once you are working, you learn that and there is the risk of avalanches.” weakness, but it’s a sign of weakness if technical solutions are only part of the Herzig sees big changes for the you don’t ask, especially as an engineer.”

44 Breakthrough The best thing about my job is that you get challenged every day. I have to take care of the excavation of the dam and the advance of the tunnels. Right now, in a moment there were 10 or 15 tunnels advancing at the same time. You have to be involved in everything and always be prepared to resolve things. I like that.

Cordova airport in Rionegro. Seeing Colombia’s Then came something completely different: working in Integral’s office monster hydro project in Peru for a year-and-a-half. Here, coming to life Herrera learnt new skills. “Until then I had only worked on design and in Juan David Herrera Caicedo the field, I hadn’t had any commercial experience,” he says. “In Peru, I looked n Geological and geotechnical co- after our clients, made presentations, ordinator, Integral, on Ituango Project got to understand the commercial side n BSc in civil engineering, Universidad of the business.” Nacional de Colombia; MEng in rock Back on the Ituango project, there mechanics, Universidad Escuela is a huge amount of work underway. de Administración y Finanzas y There are more than 12 km of tunnels Tecnologías – EAFIT, Medellin in the main works, says Herrera, but another 10 km are needed to get to The US$2.8bn Ituango Hydroelectric energy, infrastructure and mining those tunnels. Project will be Colombia’s biggest every projects, and he started work for them “The best thing about my job is that power station, generating up to 2,456 in 2005. you get challenged every day,” he says. megawatts of electricity for this growing It wasn’t until 2008 that Herrera “I have to take care of the excavation nation. Juan David Herrera Caicedo started his Master’s degree, doing it of the dam and the advance of the knows this mega-project well: he first alongside his day job. It was hard work, tunnels. Right now, in a moment there worked on feasibility studies for it back he admits, but he had the advantage of were 10 or 15 tunnels advancing at the in 2006, soon after he joined Integral, already having worked in the field and so same time. You have to be involved in returning to oversee construction back had a better understanding of what was everything and always be prepared to in 2012. being taught. resolve things. I like that.” “I always wanted to create things, to “I always recommend to younger Herrera wishes that his civil be able to see my work materialise,” people that they get a Bachelor’s degree engineering course at university had says Herrera. “I am really enjoying first and then work a little bit and try to contained at least some information seeing the drawings and designs that we work out what they want to do, rather on tunnelling. One of the best ways to worked on actually being put in place. than going straight from a Bachelor’s learn and gain new information is by It’s so different when you are in the field degree to a Masters,” he says. “At least, making contact with other tunnelling compared to when you are at your design that is what I think works best here in professionals, says Herrera who is desk. Things that you think might be Colombia.” involved with Colombia’s tunnelling easy on paper, are sometimes not so Herrera’s first two years with Integral society, the ITA and in setting up a new easy.” were spent working on a range of young members’ group in Colombia. Herrera studied civil engineering at the geotechnical projects in Medellin “There’s a lot of knowledge out National University of Colombia in his including building foundations, ground there if you are in touch with the right home town of Medellin, one of the best investigation and slope stability. After people,” he says. “Be confident about places to learn civil engineering, he says. working on Ituango’s feasibility planning, your own knowledge but also respect In the final year of his Bachelor’s degree, he was sent to another huge tunnelling the fact that other people have a huge one of his professors introduced him to project: the 8.2km Oriente Tunnel which amount of experience that you can Integral, which designs and supervises will connect Medellin to the José María learn from.”

Breakthrough 45 What I like best about Thinking beyond my job is the variety of engineering to make tasks, being able to work on metros do more different projects. With Egis Nicolas Ziv I have done so many things: developed tools, worked on n PhD Candidate at Egis projects, worked with R&D n Bacherlor’s degree, Classes Preparatoires aux Grandes teams and participated in Ecoles, Janson de Sailly ; MSc civil conferences. engineering, Ecole special des Travaux publics, du Batiment et de l’Industrie; communication skills are vital too, he Cycle in International Management, says, to break down invisible barriers: Ecole des Ponts Business School; often different parts of the same Masters in transportation/mobility organisation never communicate with management, Ecole Nationale des each other Ponts Chausses; PhD civil engineering “In my view, tunnelling projects will get at Universite Paris-Est more and more complex, although not necessarily bigger and bigger,” he says. Tunnelling engineers are often accused “With environmental constraints and of being too focussed on their tunnels. many different uses, it will become more They think about how to build them complex to design new infrastructure. faster, cheaper, but forget to look above “You cannot design a complex system ground to see how tunnels interact with with existing methods and tools, you the cities and communities they serve. need new materials, new methods and Nicolas Ziv certainly can’t be accused new ways to manage projects.” Part of that. His extensive studies have of Ziv’s PhD is a new tool and method: included a Masters in transportation software to help organise and manage and urban planning and a Cycle in complex projects. International Management (CIM) which While working for Egis, Ziv has had the encompassed politics, economics, chance to test his ideas and tools on live business, human resources and projects including metro lines in Medina, marketing. Saudi Arabia, Line 16 in Paris and a “In my day-to-day job, I need a general planned metro in Lyon. Prior to working understanding of civil engineering, but Ziv has been working for Egis Rail at Egis, his studies included stints I don’t need to go very deep into the since 2015 on a training-through- in Cape Town looking at stakeholder field,” says Ziv, who is 27. “But I do need research contract (CIFRE). He is in the issues on a Bus Rapid Transit project, the bigger picture - economy, politics, final stages of a PhD which has seen four months tunnelling in Turin and a finance, urban planning – which is very him explore how tunnels can be used for transportation project in the historic city useful in helping me understand how to more than one purpose, how projects are of Korçë in Albania. integrate innovative concepts for cities.” becoming more and more complex and “What I like best about my job is the how that complexity can be managed. variety of tasks, being able to work on During an initial six-month internship different projects,” he says. “With Egis at Egis, set up through links between the I have done so many things: developed company and his engineering school, tools, worked on projects, worked Ziv was asked to research how metro with R&D teams and participated in tunnels could be built more cheaply. conferences.” That work led to another question: how Ziv’s advice to would-be tunnelling can we share the cost of building new engineers is to arm themselves with tunnels by using them for other services an understanding that goes beyond such as communications, utilities and the underground. “Don’t just study transportation of goods? tunnelling and structural engineering, Involving more parties means more have a broader view of what is tunnelling complexity, so Ziv has also developed is and why we build tunnels. Are there new methods and software to help possibilities other than tunnels to deliver manage these complexities on large, those functions? Why are we building multi-stakeholder projects. People and these tunnels?”

46 Breakthrough SUPPORTING YOUNG TUNNELERS

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48 Breakthrough Breakthrough 2018 Digital Edition Sponsor

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Break Through_Young Members_210_297_cmyk_Ad.indd 1 28.05.2018 13:24:46

Breakthrough 49 The ITA Young Members’ Magazine

Issue 4 2018

Exploring the ITA’s Working Groups

Extreme Tunnelling in the Himalayas Tunnelling Trends Roundtable

Photo Competition Winner Revealed

Sponsored by

Breakthrough 1 18-03-14_007_ID18050_eAz_Hard Rock_ITAYM-Breakthrough_210x300_RZ2fo

Conquering

Connecting Norway by rail: 5 Herrenknecht Hard Rock TBMs are on the move for 45 km of new fi rst-class rail tubes at the New Ulrikentunnel and Follo Line projects. Toughest Biting its way through the Scandinavian stone, the TBMs are facing the absolute hardness test when dealing with up to 350 MPa rock strengths. Equipped with excavation tools for such a demanding mission, the Herrenknecht TBMs will complete all their tasks.

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2 Breakthrough

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Digital Edition Sponsor Welcome to ‘Breakthrough’

Dear Tunnellers,

On behalf of the ITAYM Steering Board it is a great pleasure to present the fourth edition of Breakthrough magazine, the official magazine of the International Tunnelling & Underground Space Association’s Young Members group (ITAYM). Breakthrough is made by, and for, people who work or have an interest in underground construction and aims to highlight the great future of the industry and the tremendous career opportunities Conquering available to young people in this field. In addition, we hope the magazine will help enthusiastic tunnellers around the world to tell their stories and explain why the they are Connecting Norway by rail: 5 Herrenknecht so dedicated to, and excited by, working in this industry. Hard Rock TBMs are on the move for 45 km of new fi rst-class rail tubes at the New Tunnels and underground solutions are great! They solve real challenges for our society, Ulrikentunnel and Follo Line projects. but you never see them. Tunnels and underground solutions help solve issues relating to transportation, water supply, utilities, wastewater treatment, parking and many others. Toughest However, they solve these challenges so effectively that people don’t even think about them. With the world’s cities growing so rapidly, the need for efficient transportation and infrastructure is ever-growing and underground solutions need to be utilized even more Biting its way through the Scandinavian stone, efficiently. This combined with new travel methods, stricter requirements on travel times, the TBMs are facing the absolute hardness test complex weather conditions and less restrictions in technology, etc. means that the when dealing with up to 350 MPa rock strengths. challenges for future tunnellers will be greater than ever and require solutions that might Equipped with excavation tools for such a not even exist today. I believe that the exchange of experiences and solutions across cities demanding mission, the Herrenknecht TBMs and national borders is an essential part of developing and utilizing such solutions! will complete all their tasks. This issue of the magazine marks the 5th anniversary of the ITAYM being formally approved by the ITA General Assembly at the World Tunnel Congress (WTC) in Iguazu Falls, Brazil. Since that time, the ITAYM movement has spread to tunnelling societies all over the world and we currently have more than thirty member nations that host domestic and regional events, which allow young tunnellers to gather in formal and informal settings, while sharing their activities through social media and connecting to other member nations. More importantly than the events themselves, these initiatives generate a common engagement in the tunnelling industry globally. This is mirrored in the increasing involvement by young people in the ITA’s activities and a steady increase in young participants at the WTCs.

This issue of Breakthrough and the recent WTC in Dubai also marks the end of an era, with the last of the initial members of the ITAYM steering committee closing out their terms of Hard Rock engagement. Over the last years, I have had the great pleasure of working with Jurij, Petr, Lasse and Nichole, as well as new committee members, through Skype meetings across Massive geologies call for experi- several time zones, only meeting face to face one or two times a year. Skype meetings enced partners. Herrenknecht at 23:00 on a Friday evening, and the sense of achievement we have had, has forged is making headway through hard friendships and connections that will last a lifetime. rock – for over 822 km. As this is my last editorial for Breakthrough, I would also like to thank the Tunnelling Journal team for their continuous support and help in generating this great magazine. It would never exist without the great efforts of Amanda, Dan, Kris, Gary and Tris. Thank you!

Even though the ITAYM has been very successful in setting up this organization and is now well-established as a group and within the ITA, the feeling of reunion at every WTC young members social event and the young engineers’ thrill at feeling welcome and Contractors: Front Cover engaged at their first WTC is the greatest achievement of the ITAYM! These friendships and Follo Line: Acciona Infraestructuras and Ghella ANS The winning entry of international networks is exactly what the global tunnelling industry needs to be able to Ulrikentunnel: Skanska Strabag Ulriken ANS Breakthrough’s 2017-2018 Photo accomplish the great challenges of the future! Competition (see p22), which is sponsored by Bekaert Maccaferri Keep tunnelling! Underground Solutions. The photo by Paul Challinor, a Project Manager with Joseph Gallagher, is titled “Reflection” and depicts Pioneering Underground Technologies Paul’s former boss, mentor and friend Dickie Dexter at the end of a particularly challenging project. Sindre Log Chair ITAYM (for the last time) www.herrenknecht.com

Breakthrough 3

18-03-14_007_ID18050_eAz_Hard Rock_ITAYM-Breakthrough_210x300_RZ2fo.indd 1 14.03.18 16:02 Contributing to Breakthrough If you would like to get involved in Breakthrough magazine by contributing an article, or suggesting potential content for future editions, we would be delighted to hear from you! Please feel free to contact Breakthrough’s editorial team or the ITAYM Young Members Committee (details below). Note to YM Member Nations All national Young Member (YM) groups are encouraged to get involved in Breakthrough magazine – we rely on your input. Please remember to document your country’s YM activities and take plenty of good quality photos at any YM events throughout the year so we can make the most of your reports in the next edition!

Editor Amanda Foley [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 7973 158 065

Contributing Editor Kristina Smith [email protected] Tel: + 44 (0) 7833 230 853

Sales Manager Daniel Lee-Billinghurst [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 7818 422 712

Art Editor Mike Hooker Technical Illustrator Pete Beach

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Breakthrough is endorsed by the ITA The publishers, authors, associations, and groups mentioned cannot accept liability for errors or omissions. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior permission of the copyright holder, application for which should be made to the publisher, TGS Media Ltd. ISSN Breakthrough (Print) ISSN 2059-1241, Breakthrough (Online) ISSN 2059-125X.

4 Breakthrough Digital Edition Sponsor Meet the ITAYM Board The governing structure of the International Tunnelling & Underground Space Association’s (ITA) Young Members group (ITAYM) is a Steering Board made up of Chair, Vice-Chair, and a number of representatives selected by members of the Group. Steering Board members are elected for alternating periods to ensure continuity. The mandate is for two years.

After gaining his Masters in Civil Engineering Giuseppe graduated in 2005 and subsequently from the Norwegian University of Science & got his Masters in Geotechnical Engineering Technology (NTNU), Sindre started working for at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. While TBM manufacturer The Robbins Company. Having working with Geodata Engineering in Turin, he spent his first years with Robbins travelling to also gained the ITA-AITES Masters in Tunnelling Sindre Log TBM projects around the world, he now works Giuseppe at the Politecnico di Torino. more from the office on geological issues and Chair Gaspari He is founder and President of the Young market development. Sindre has been involved Member groups of the Italian Geotechnical in committee work for the Norwegian tunnelling society for the Association (AGI) and of the Italian Tunnelling Association last decade and was heavily involved in the foundation of both the (SIG) and plays an active role representing and boosting young Norwegian Young Members group and the ITAYM. members on the board of the Ontario chapter of the Tunnelling Sindre is fond of many outdoor activities such as skiing, fishing Association of Canada (TAC). Giuseppe is a passionate traveller and football, but now spends most of his free time running around and is addicted to a number of different sports. trying to keep his own future generation of tunnellers happy.

Jasmin gained her Bachelors and Masters Lasse graduated with a Masters in Building in Civil Engineering at the ETH Zurich, in Technology from the Technical University of Switzerland. From 2013 – 2018 she worked as Denmark. From 2012-2016 he worked as a Design a Tunnelling Engineer at Gähler & Partner AG. Engineer on the Fehmanbelt Fixed Link project Since 2018, she has been employed as a Junior and since 2016 he has been employed as a Tunnel Jasmin Project Manager at Amberg Engineering AG. Lasse Engineer for Rambøll, in Denmark. Amberg Jasmin is the founder and Chair of the Swiss Vester Lasse is the Past Chair of the Danish Tunnelling Tunnelling Society (STS) Young Members group. Society’s Young Members Committee and is heavily Outside of work, she likes cooking and spending time with her involved in his national tunnelling organisation. Outside of work he family and friends, when she’s not busy acting as a basketball is a bit of a foodie, and enjoys cooking for family and friends. He also coach or referee. spends as much time outdoors hiking or trekking as he can.

Doris graduated in 2012 at the Faculty of Nichole Boultbee completed her Bachelors and Civil and Geodetic Engineering, in Ljubljana, Masters degrees in the Earth Sciences department Slovenia. After completing her Masters, at Simon Fraser University, in BC, Canada, in 2005. she started working as a Tunnelling and She has experience in engineering investigation, Geotechnical Engineer at Elea iC. In the past design and construction for projects in Canada, Doris six years, she has gained experience from Nichole Australia, and Chile. projects in Slovenia, Austria and the UK. Doris She is registered as a professional geoscientist Frank Boultbee is an active member of the Slovenian Society with the Association of Professional Engineers and for Underground Structures, and is the founder and Chair of Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC), and is on the Board of the Slovenian Young Members group. In her free time, she likes Directors of the Tunnelling Association of Canada (TAC). spending time in the company of her friends and family. She also She loves her dogs, Kevin and Emma, who grew up in her office loves to travel, explore new places and other cultures. and now spend most of their time waiting for her to come home and chill out with them. Keith is an enthusiastic tunneller who never misses an opportunity to get his boots dirty. Joanne gained her Bachelors in Civil Engineering at Since graduating in 2008 with a Bachelor of Civil University College London. She has been working Engineering from the Queensland University of in the UK for London Bridge Associates since Technology (QUT) he has gained experience as a 2012 and is now an Assistant Project Manager on Keith designer, cost engineer, site engineer and most the Thames Tideway Project, in London. Joanne recently as part of a client delivery team. Bannerman Joanne was Chair of the British Tunnelling Society Young Keith has been an active member of the Members in 2013/14. Australian Tunnelling Society for over 10 years and is currently Sui When Joanne is not eating, she is a keen traveller the ATSym Chair, as well as sitting on the ATS Executive and enjoys spending time keeping active (snowboarding, skiing, Committee. When not wearing his high viz, you can usually find water skiing, scuba diving, etc!). him outdoors with his wife, kids and dog enjoying the sunshine.

Breakthrough 5 MSc Tunnelling and Underground Space

Do you want to gain specialist knowledge setting you apart from other civil engineers? Expand your career opportunities in a booming global industry where suitably trained engineers are in high demand.

You will learn from internationally recognised academics and This MSc degree can be industry experts on a course undertaken one year full-time or uniquely developed in partnership two years part-time. with the British Tunnelling Society. We will give you state-of-the-art Our MSc modules can also be knowledge, understanding and purchased individually as a skills to design and build the Continuing Professional underground infrastructure of Development (CPD) course, ideal the future. for those in full time employment. This degree is accredited as meeting the requirements for Modules School of Engineering Further Learning for Chartered University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL Engineer (CEng) status, if you +44 (0)24 7652 2046 have already acquired an - Geological Investigation and [email protected] accredited CEng (Partial) BEng Ground Characterisation (Hons) undergraduate first degree. - Underground Construction Methods warwick.ac.uk/tunnelling - Communication and Leadership Our distinctive course format - Rock Mechanics Accrediting Endorsed by institution means that approximately 20% of - Health, Safety and Environmental teaching is delivered by guest Considerations lecturers from industry, ensuring - Tunnel Design that the content remains relevant. - Finite Element Methods for Tunnelling Specialist subjects and case Recognising commitment to advancing - Construction Management women’s careers in STEMM (Science, studies are also presented by Technology, Engineering, Mathematics experts with first-hand experience. - Project and Medicine) academia. Images courtesy of Morgan Sindall 6 Breakthrough Digital Edition Sponsor Contents... ITA Young Member’s National News 08 Find out more about the initiatives and networking activities of young tunnelling groups around the world.

How to set-up a Young Members group 11 The ITAYM’s quick-fire guide on how to build a professional network with other young tunnellers in your country.

World Tunnelling Day and Young Member’s News 12 More news on the initiatives and networking activities of young tunnelling groups around the world.

Tunnelling Tomorrow: Five Trends 14 Breakthrough talks to industry leaders about emerging MSc Tunnelling and trends that young tunnellers will likely face in the future. Extreme Tunnelling in the Himalayas Underground Space 18 Nepal is employing its first Tunnel Boring Machine as the country works towards modernising its infrastructure.

Do you want to gain specialist knowledge 2018 Photo Competition 22 The winner and runners-up of the first annual Breakthrough setting you apart from other civil engineers? Photo Competition are revealed. Expand your career opportunities in a booming A Week in the Life global industry where suitably trained engineers 26 Hannah Dix documents a week in her life as a Cross are in high demand. Passage Tunnel Engineer on the Doha Metro Red Line.

Dates & Events You will learn from internationally 31 Keep your calendar up to date with Breakthrough’s guide to recognised academics and This MSc degree can be the years’ top tunnelling conferences and exhibitions. industry experts on a course undertaken one year full-time or uniquely developed in partnership two years part-time. Vietnam Adventure with the British Tunnelling Society. Students Ola Hobbelstad and Egil Johansen travelled to a We will give you state-of-the-art Our MSc modules can also be 32 remote Vietnamese tunnel project for their Masters theses. knowledge, understanding and purchased individually as a skills to design and build the Continuing Professional Extreme Tunnelling in Colombia underground infrastructure of Development (CPD) course, ideal the future. 34 With over 250km of tunnels planned in Colombia, young for those in full time employment. tunnellers need to be prepared for the challenges ahead. This degree is accredited as meeting the requirements for Modules School of Engineering Working Together Further Learning for Chartered University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL 38 The mission of the ITA’s Working Groups is to capture, define Engineer (CEng) status, if you and share best practice for the industry. +44 (0)24 7652 2046 have already acquired an - Geological Investigation and [email protected] accredited CEng (Partial) BEng Ground Characterisation WTC 2019 Naples (Hons) undergraduate first degree. - Underground Construction Methods warwick.ac.uk/tunnelling 40 A great conference, archaeology, architecture and art are - Communication and Leadership just some of the reasons to attend WTC 2019, in Italy. Our distinctive course format - Rock Mechanics Accrediting Endorsed by institution means that approximately 20% of - Health, Safety and Environmental 5 from Five teaching is delivered by guest Considerations 42 We spoke to five tunnellers who attended five institutions lecturers from industry, ensuring - Tunnel Design that offer specialist degrees to find out where they are now. that the content remains relevant. - Finite Element Methods for Tunnelling Specialist subjects and case Recognising commitment to advancing - Construction Management women’s careers in STEMM (Science, studies are also presented by Technology, Engineering, Mathematics experts with first-hand experience. - Project and Medicine) academia. Images courtesy of Morgan Sindall Breakthrough 7 YM MEMBER NATION NEWS British Young Members Celebrate 10th Anniversary

In the United Kingdom, 2018 marks an exciting year for Civil Engineering as the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) celebrates its 200th anniversary and the British Tunnelling Society Young Members (BTSYM) also celebrates its 10th anniversary. At the AGM, in November 2017, the year kicked off with a new starter tunnel to celebrate the topic of “Driving Infrastructure BTSYM Committee: 200th anniversary of the ICE. Forward”, to over 90 of their Chair, Nick McCrossan (Mott The BTSYM also hosted its industry peers. The event was MacDonald); Secretary, Graham first lecture of the New Year, a great success and would not a special 10th Anniversary Cooper (Atkins); Professional focussing on the Design and have been possible without Celebration, the details of Development Chair, Sam Build Experience of William the support of the following which will be released soon. For Huckle (Balfour Beatty); Media Thorpe (Morgan Sindall) at sponsors: Gold – BAM Nuttall; more details about the BTSYM, Chair, Chara Kalogeraki (Dr. Southam Quarry Tunnel. Silver – COWI, Bekaert please contact Nick McCrossan Sauer & Partners); Schools In March, the BTSYM held Maccaferri; and Bronze – Mott (nicholas.mccrossan@mottmac. & Universities Chair, Rashik their 5th Annual Conference, MacDonald, London Bridge com) or sign up to the BTSYM Bhanderi (London Bridge in London. The day was Associates and Gall Zeidler. mailing list and receive a copy Associates); and Midlands chaired by BTSYM Chair Nick Over the coming months, the of its newsletter, The Dirt, by Coordinator, Harold Brunton McCrossan, with 16 young BTSYM has an exciting schedule contacting Graham Cooper (AECOM). members presenting their of lectures, workshops and (Graham.Cooper@atkinsglobal. The 2018 aims of the BTSYM projects and experience on the socials arranged, including com). will include tailoring its calendar of events to provide more events outside London STUVA Forum for Young Engineering and include broader content to make professional development Professionals Officially Founded activities more accessible to apprentices and new graduates. The creation of the new Midlands Coordinator role is key to this as the High Speed 2 rail project ramps up in and around the Birmingham area. On December 7, the BTSYM celebrated the third National Tunnelling Day and marked the occasion by launching a new initiative called “#target1000”. Its goal for this initiative was In December 2017, the STUVA at the event and the meeting evaluated and scrutinized by to engage with 1000 young Forum for Young Engineering was a resounding success. young representatives through people on National Tunnelling Professionals (FYEP) was In an effort to maintain this presentations from science Day, providing a glimpse into officially founded. Headed momentum, on April 13, 2018, and practice. With just over one the world of subterranean up by young engineers the FYEP met for a workshop hundred participants, the event infrastructure to highlight Zdenek Zizka, Ivan Popovic, followed by a networking far exceeded expectations. its importance and also to Vojtech Ernst Gall, Peter event at the Ruhr University in With this seminar and encourage students to consider Hoffmann, Alena Conrads, Bochum. Alena Conrads led the many more to come, the tunnelling as a career choice. Sacha Freimann and Markus programme, which highlighted STUVA YEP hopes to provide In February, the BTSYM Scheffer, the group held recent developments in young tunnelling engineers joined forces with the British its first meeting at the “digitization in tunnelling”. in Germany with the contacts Geotechnical Association (BGA) 2017 STUVA Conference, The thematic centerpiece and perspectives they need and co-chaired a lecture on in Germany. Over 80 young was Building Information for a successful start in the the Lake Mead Intake No. 3 engineers were in attendance Modelling (BIM), which was tunnelling industry.

8 Breakthrough ATSym active at ATS 2017 Conference celebrations. Russell is a Slurry Shield Machines in Mixed Singapore-based Project Ground”. Engineer who has worked on The ATSym are also proud several technically challenging to announce that David Suter and complex tunnel projects (VIC) and Aaron Lippett (NSW) for John Holland across will join the team of young Australia and Singapore (see professionals heading up the p43). In 2013, Russell was ATSym. David and Aaron will join awarded the Hulme Prize ATSym Chair, Keith Bannerman, Award from the Tunnelling and and also Simon Brinkmann Underground Construction (NSW) and Monique Quirk (QLD). Society of Singapore To learn more about the (TUCSS) for a paper titled ATSym get in touch via ATS@ “Breakthrough and Burial of engineersaustralia.org.au with Tunnellers young and old came interest from senior tunnelling TBMs on the Brisbane Airport ATSym in the subject title. To together on Sydney Harbour figures to encourage initiatives Link Project”. His winning keep abreast of international to share a few stories, a few such as this. Thanks again to paper for 2017 is titled “The young member activities, visit drinks and a great view, during Major Sponsor MST Global, and Challenges of Tunnelling with the ITAym facebook page. the ATS 2017 conference, supporting sponsors Normet last November. The event’s and Pheonix. Without their Russel receives the Award from ATS President Ed Taylor and EA GM Greg Ewing tag line of “tunnelling across support events such as these generations” reflects a key are not possible. goal of the ATSym’s, namely In 2004, the Australasian to engage with experts to Tunnelling Society started encourage and mentor the next the David Sugden Award, to generation of underground encourage young engineers professionals. The strong to develop the art of technical turnout of over 300 reflects the writing. The Award was current strength of the industry presented to Russell Connors down-under and the genuine as part of the ATS 2017 Young Members Regional Event at Cutting Edge On November 13, more than 40 tunnelling two groups; with one group given a detailed The highly successful event was rounded engineers gathered for a Regional presentation on the project, while a second off with lunch in the project’s offices, Young Members Event, organised by The group toured the tunnel with mentors from sponsored by Mott MacDonald and Atkinson, Underground Construction Association the project team and the Cutting Edge providing the chance for further networking of SME (UCA of SME), The International conference 2017 Organising Committee. and discussion of the project. Tunnelling Association (ITA) and the Tunnelling Association of Canada (TAC), as part of the 2017 Cutting Edge Conference, in Seattle, Washington, USA. Young tunnellers based in Vancouver, Canada, had an early start to the day as they drove down to Seattle to join UCA of SME Young Members at the Downtown Bellevue Tunnel (E330), which is is a soft ground SEM/NATM tunnel currently under construction as part of Sound Transit’s 14- mile long East Link light rail extension. Hosted by Guy F. Atkinson, who was awarded the contract to construct the 11.6m diameter, 600m long, SEM tunnel in late 2015, young members were split into

Breakthrough 9 YM MEMBER NATION NEWS ACTOS-NGT Gets Established

After several years of receiving network to discuss professional e-mails and enquires from development and experiences, young engineers expressing both in Colombia and in other Currently, ACTOS-NGT their interest in becoming parts of the world. With the members are focused on The ITA’s ITACUS Committee part of ACTOS (the Colombian support of ACTOS, and several organising events to exchange Chair, Han Admiraal, joins Association of Tunnels and other important associations, knowledge, experience and ACTOS-NGT for a panel Underground Works), the government departments and technology among young discussion ACTOS Board decided to entities, this group of future professionals, students and create a Young Members group Colombian tunnelling talent experts. New ideas and concepts of underground in 2017. Paola Castillo and has quickly begun to formalize activities flourish during construction in an economic, Diana Diaz (see p34), were agreements and work each monthly meeting, social, environmental and appointed Chair and Vice-Chair strategies. always guided by the vision of international context, to boost respectively, and took up the To date, technical events making ACTOS-NGT that new decision-making capabilities in responsibility of setting up and have been held monthly, with generation of engineers that both the evaluation of projects leading the group. topics of national relevance in Colombia needs. Engineers and in their implementation. Named ACTOS-NGT (New the field of underground space capable of addressing the To find out more about Generation of Tunnellers), being discussed and analyzed, challenges of this new century; ACTOS-NGT connect with the the group’s main objective creating and strengthening setting criteria for design group via Facebook at www. is to reach out to young relationships between and construction in order to facebook.com/ACTOSCO/, professionals and students students, young professionals, guarantee the sustainability twitter: https://twitter.com/ with an interest in becoming companies and government of projects; developing the actostuneles or LinkedIn: involved in underground authorities in order to build a ability to understand and www.linkedin.com/company/ engineering, providing a stronger future for the industry. communicate the fundamental actoscolombia/ Sweden’s BYM Growing Rapidly Since WTC 2017 Sweden’s a look around, before the bus national Young Member-group, returned to the airport. Overall, called BYM, has developed two really good days. further and now has 220 During the Swedish Rock members (since the start Engineering Assocation’s 2016). This is encouraging symposium in Stockholm on when compared to its original March 20-21, 2018, BYM proudly goal of 70 members within two launched DevelopYM – a Young years. The BYM communicates Member’s Mentor Programme. through its Facebook-page This will be a 1-year programme “Svenska Berggruppen för where BYM will arrange a kick- Yngre Medlemmar” where off-event, a mid-term-event and everyone is welcome to post or In 2017, BYM arranged a This continued with a workshop a closing-event. highlight different events. 2-day study visit to Kiruna, and discussions about raising The Swedish Rock BYM has the goal of in October. The event was a awareness of the ITA and World Engineering Association, the arranging one or two big events cooperation with ITA Young Tunnel Day. A social event national member and Swedish per year, in addition to a few Members and gathered 35 rounded off the first day. secretariat for the ITA, has been smaller events. The purpose is Young Members from Sweden, On the second day going through some exciting to allow members to connect, Norway and Switzerland. Day 1 participants were picked up changes. As part of this change, exchange experiences and consisted of a mini-conference from their accommodation BYM has become an official develop the network. Events including presentations from and taken down to the LKAB permanent working group within may be lectures or study visits Nordic Projects, Atlas Copco mine visitor center. Here the association, helping the combined with a networking and from all the National and they listened to a technical BYM to develop and increase its activity. ITA Young Member-groups. presentation, had lunch and capacity further.

10 Breakthrough How to set-up a Young Members group

Contact your Member Visit www.ita-aites.org to Nation and ask if a check if your country is a Young Members Group Member Nation of the ITA already exists

YES NO Join up!

Send an email to NO [email protected] to see how your country Work with officials to see if could become an ITA it is possible to set one up Member Nation

SETTING UP A YM GROUP

1. 2. 3.

Arrange a gathering for those that are interested in contributing. Discuss what people would like to get out of the Young Members group, how to organise yourselves, Use your own network! Invite your etc. There are no requirements Contact your national tunnelling friends and colleagues to help for form or content – it is up to association about the idea of establish the group, spread the yourselves and your Member Nation establishing a Young Members group. word, and get publicity. officials to decide what you want.

6. 5. 4.

Set up a kick-off event where you The ITAYM Group can assist with Work with your Member Nation invite as many people as possible. by-laws or give examples from other on how to organize the board Invite an interesting speaker or give a countries. Cooperate with the ITAYM and the aims and objectives of presentation on a high profile project to Group to get contacts internationally. your group, prepare a simple set attract people. Encourage participants Contact Breakthrough magazine of by-laws and start working to to get involved. Organise a social to spread the word about your new organize events and bring young function afterwards to encourage group and to promote your activities! members together. networking within the group.

YOU NOW HAVE YOURSELF A YOUNG MEMBERS GROUP – ENJOY!

Breakthrough 11 YM MEMBER NATION NEWS World Tunnel Day 2017 Italian YM’s Set their

Following two incredibly place at Shaws Booksellers in successful campaigns and Blackfriars to toast St. Barbara Sights on Naples 2019 increasing international and to celebrate the BTSYM On December 1, 2017, the In the afternoon, activities involvement from Canada to proudly hitting their target by Italian tunnelling association that will be carried out by the Australia, National Tunnelling engaging over 1,040 students. (SIG) gathered in Naples to Group in the coming months Day returned in 2017 marking On social media, the celebrate the festival of Santa were discussed, highlighting both the third annual #TunnelDayUK campaign Barbara and deliver its annual what has already been done, #TunnelDayUK and the second was as strong as ever with degree award. The event what has to be done and #WorldTunnelDay. tunnellers and companies from took place at the first SIG refining the internal division across the country sharing their Young Members Workshop, of tasks and responsibilities. stories and projects with the held at the head offices of The following is a summary BTSYM and the wider world. Metropolitana di Napoli SpA. list of the activities in which Over 1.5 million people across The Workshop, which included the YMs Group has decided to the globe were reached, giving more than twenty young commit: Support the indexing the world an insight into leading members, was an important process of the SIG Journal projects such as Thames opportunity to take stock of “Gallerie e Grandi opera Tideway, Crossrail and the the Group’s activities in the sotterranee”; Organisation of Northern Line Extension. lead-up to the 2019 World a YMs Convention at the SAIE In 2018, #target1000 will Tunnel Congress, in Naples. in Bologna (17 to 20 October return in a bid to raise the bar Several Young Members also 2018); Management of Group set in 2017 and inspire the next presented and shared their Communication; Organisation In the UK, the day was generation of young tunnellers. experiences in the world of of the participation of YMs in marked by the launch of tunnelling. the Working Groups of SIG. the brand-new #target1000 In the introductory The second part of the initiative; The BTSYM’s goal was speeches, Coordinator Marco Workshop was dedicated to to engage with one thousand Ranieri, the Italian Tunnelling presentations on work done by young people across the UK Society and the YM Group were selected Young Members. throughout the week leading presented to new engineers Feedback from the Workshop up to National Tunnelling Day. as well as the issues dealt by was that the meeting was an Through a series of school the SIG Board of Directors, important milestone for the and university visits, BTSYM in particular with regard to Young Members and in general members provided a peek support requests made by the for the future growth of the SIG behind the hoarding into world Board to YMs. as a whole. of subterranean infrastructure and also highlighted the importance of underground space and an insight into Danish YM Group tunnelling as a career choice. These outreach events were gets new leadership supplemented by a site visit to the key Tideway Carnwath Road Late last year (2017) the Danish Tunnelling Riverside site, a launch site Society’s Young Members held their General for one of the project’s TBMs Assembly. In accordance with their by-laws no and guided walks along the chairman can sit for more than three proposed Tideway West, Central consecutive years and it was therefore time and East tunnel routes. In the for Lasse Vester to stand down as Chair after evening, the events continued three years in the position. A new Steering with Birmingham hosting a Committee was appointed, with Stine Kristensen of joint BTSYM and Midlands Ramboll as Chair and Ida Villumsen of Arup as Vice-chair. The new Geotechnical Society Lecture Steering Committee began 2018 by setting goals for the next two years, which focussing on the geological include more focus on students and collaboration with universities and promoting the use challenges of designing the of social media. At the 2018 WTC, in Dubai, the General Assembly voted Copenhagen as the host 25km Doha Lateral Interceptor city for the WTC in 2021. This will be a great opportunity for young tunnellers in Denmark to Sewer. In London, the annual highlight their activities and contributions in an international forum. Christmas Jumper Social took

12 Breakthrough Ramboll has contributed to approximately 60% of all the world’s immersed tunnels including the 18km Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link, which is set to become the world’s longest road and rail immersed tunnel. As lead consultant on Fehmarnbelt since 2009, Ramboll is assisting with the tunnel’s concept design, tender documents, approvals, and onshore works. The tunnel is a study in innovative thinking, as it challenges existing tunnel building standards. Italian YM’s Set their Sights on Naples 2019

BREAKING NEW GROUND (IN TUNNEL ENGINEERING)

Learn more at www.ramboll.com/tunnels

WITH 13,000 ENGINEERS, DESIGNERS AND CONSULTANTS, WE CREATE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS WITHIN BUILDINGS, TRANSPORT, PLANNING & URBAN DESIGN, WATER, ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH, ENERGY, OIL & GAS AND MANAGEMENT CONSULTING. Breakthrough 13 Tunnelling tomorrow: Five trends

Change is coming fast to Mark Johnson, Global Practice Manager for Tunnel and Earth Engineering, the tunnelling industry. Jacobs. Having acquired CH2M in December 2017, Jacobs provides a full That’s partly because the spectrum of services including scientific, technical, professional, number of tunnels we are construction management and program management for business, building is increasing at industrial, commercial, government and infrastructure sectors an unprecedented rate; Colin Lawrence, Global Tunnel Practice Leader, Mott MacDonald. populations are migrating to Mott MacDonald is a large, global multi-disciplinary engineering, infrastructure, management and international development consultant cities and, somehow, we must with a tunnelling heritage that stretches back over 125 years. find more space. Tom Melbye, Senior Adviser, Normet, previously CEO for eight years. There are other forces at work too. Lessons Describing itself as a ‘technology company’, Normet supplies chemicals and information move faster through and equipment to the tunnelling and mining sectors. social media and virtual networks. Digital construction promises to streamline processes and remove interfaces. Emerging Rob Muley, General Manager for Tunnelling, John Holland. materials and technologies could allow Owned by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), John us to build more with less. We asked four Holland is one of Australia’s leading construction companies, operating industry leaders what today’s technology in a wide variety of sectors in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. could bring tomorrow. Here are a few of their thoughts.

1. Ten times bigger

We are not talking diameters or length says Mark Johnson, Global Solutions here, we are talking money. Although it Director for Tunnel and Ground is the industry’s ability to build bigger Engineering, Jacobs. “And that leads to and deeper tunnels that has led to huge bigger and bigger projects, and larger and increases in contract sizes. larger teams.” “We are designing and building In Australia, the industry has been hit tunnels today that we wouldn’t even with a series of high-value tunnelling have attempted not too long ago,” says projects, says Rob Muley, General Colin Lawrence, Global Tunnel Practice Manager for Tunnelling at John Holland. Leader, Mott MacDonald. “It almost gets The Melbourne Metro, for example, is taken for granted by the public, because being let as one big project, rather than the technology looks very similar to being split into smaller contracts as was more risk, and there are fewer and prevailing techniques.” the case in Singapore or Hong Kong. fewer people who can take on these The industry has seen projects like “It becomes a challenge, first because jobs.” the deep-water intake from Lake Mead of programme and second, because of The result is more joint ventures, in the US, where the tunnel boring resources,” says Muley. “It’s putting a real multiple companies, often from multiple machine (TBM), with all its many parts, drain on resources.” disciplines joining forces to take on withstood 15 bars of pressure. Or the Tom Melbye, Senior Adviser at Normet, the scope and risk of these so-called 57km-long Gotthard Base Tunnel that sees the same challenge in his home mega-projects. But what we really need carries vehicles through the heart of the market of Norway. “Projects are ten times is a shift in the way all the different Swiss Alps. bigger than they used to be. It’s a booming contributors work together (see elite “It’s a trend that’s going to continue,” market. And with bigger projects comes teams on page 16).

14 Breakthrough 2. Everyone pays

For Johnson, the biggest hurdle faced stations into its deals. stage or boycott it once opened. by tomorrow’s tunnelling projects is Another way to share the cost of a Because PPP models mean that affordability. “The biggest challenge is tunnel would be to share its uses, says designer and contractor work in parallel, getting the money together in the first Lawrence, like the SMART tunnel in with input from the maintainers, the place,” he says. “Projects and clients Kuala Lumpur which switches from theory is that they produce better need to be as creative as possible in road tunnel to stormwater tunnel during pieces of infrastructure at a better cost. finding sources of funding.” Monsoon season to avoid flooding in the However, they tend to be more expensive Lawrence agrees: “There are many city’s central business district. Johnson – it always costs more for the private contracts in the concept or design references the Great Istanbul Tunnel, sector to borrow when compared to the stage that are just waiting for financing which crosses the Bosphorous strait with public sector. to be built,” he says. “As populations its triple decks accommodating both road “The demands from society in terms keep growing, the development of and rail. of what needs to be built need to be infrastructure is critical but how much Public Private Partnership deals – balanced against what it costs to provide financing can be provided realistically is shortened to PPP or 3P or P3, depending the infrastructure,” says Lawrence. “It a real challenge.” where in the world you are – offer a good puts pressure on trying to make projects Johnson cites the California Water Fix solution in some cases. Elizabeth River as cheap as possible and as useful as programme, involving 40 miles (64km) of Tunnels in Virginia, a programme which possible.” water tunnels, with an expected price tag included both new build and refurbished of $15bn. “It has to be paid for by water tunnels, was delivered by this route, rates and that involves pulling together a so too will be Melbourne Metro. coalition of different agencies along the In a PPP, private sector funders, route, which is a difficult job.” contractors and maintainers join Look to London, says Johnson, where forces to finance and build a tunnel authority Transport for London (TfL) and then operate it, taking tolls is working with the private sector on from the users. One huge caveat is over-station developments, factoring that there must be public support improvements such as new entrances for this option to be viable – or they’ll or step-free access for Underground de-rail the project at the planning

3. Bye, bye concrete

When it comes to crimes against the Polymer concrete has been used Since it was only discovered in 2004, environment, one of tunnelling’s most extensively in the chemical industry, and researchers are still finding out what often-used materials is one of the biggest for elements such as manholes in waste we can add it to, but graphene concrete offenders: cement. Experts say that the water systems. Geopolymer concrete is definitely on the list of possible cement industry produces 5 percent of makes use of industrial by-products such applications. global warming gases. “I believe that in as slag or fly ash. These new materials could change 10 years we will see concrete replaced Stronger than Portland cement concrete, the way we line a tunnel as the TBM by other materials, such as geopolymer,” concrete which uses a polymer binder advances. Currently precast segments says Melbye. “There has to be development instead of the cement, is faster curing, are installed to form a ring as the and innovation, though. Normet has done stronger and resistant to corrosion. It’s machine advances. “At some point, we quite a lot of work on that, although it’s also far more expensive. If its cost can be will be able to extrude a lining from the early days. reduced – or owners take into account the back of the TBM as it advances which will reduction in maintenance costs – it could reduce construction times and reduce become a contender for the cost,” says Johnson. “It’s something tunnel lining segments people have been looking at for some in aggressive time.” environments, such Environmental concerns will drive as sewers. changes in the way we power vehicles Then there’s underground, too, says Melbye. This wonder-material will also work well for longer tunnels, graphene (is where ventilation to remove diesel there anything fumes becomes technically difficult and it can’t do?). expensive.

Breakthrough 15 4. Digital connection

Digital technology is already making big communication. Engineers can mine The next step is to get all the improvements in underground design existing records such as surveys, borehole equipment to ‘talk’ to each other, says and construction, although we are a long data and even Google maps to produce Melbye. “We could have the drilling way from everything being seamlessly accurate pictures of the ground to be jumbos collecting data on the rock connected. tunnelled through. Difficult details and as they drill, then passing that data We can collect a huge amount of data, how they fit together can be rehearsed on the geology onto the spraying everything from the pressure inside digitally before projects are on site. robot. Machines have to be able to the cutting head of the machine to the Next steps will see BIM models calling communicate with each other. The movement of the ground above it to the off deliveries automatically. Driven by the industry has to work together on this. amount of metal that has been worn off need to reduce congestion and improve air If we pool our resources then the cost a cutting tool. quality in city centres, deliveries will come burden is less. It will happen but we do “We are getting better data out of the from specialist construction consolidation need to think differently.” machine than ever before which allows centres sending products and materials to us to analyse what is being done,” says site on electric vehicles. Muley. “With live data coming off the Robots are already a tool for tunnelling. machine, we can quickly analyse things Concrete spraying robots line tunnels like the slowest point of a cycle, or we every day, drones record progress and can spot signs that show a motor or take inspection footage. Contractor bearing going. Data reduces failures.” Bouygues has a snake-like inspection 3D models, with information attached robot which looks at the cutter head; TBM – sometimes called BIM (building manufacturers are working on robots that information modelling) – are helping can change the tools on a cutter head so with planning, visualisation and that humans don’t have to.

5. Elite teams

Increasing technological challenges, selling materials to a project. Instead it communication is missing,” says Melbye. bigger and more complex projects, greater would take responsibility for the whole “We have to try to solve problems risk, the need to engage new funders. All sprayed concrete lining, for instance, together, rather than waiting until the end these aspects mean that we need the very perhaps charging on a cost per metre of a project to put in claims. When the best people and companies to be working basis. lawyers get involved, you are not sure if on our projects. One big question: are “Today I see too often the client on one the right people are winning.” there enough great people to go round? side, the contractor on the other and Digital construction could play its part Johnson thinks not. “Complex projects the consultant somewhere in between. here. Johnson remarks that current require huge teams of people to do There are claims and problems because working and contractual practices don’t preliminary engineering and produce fit well with BIM. A collaborative way of tender documents. These go out to eight working, where those involved or 10 contractors, who then go out to in supplying all the constituent subcontractors and designers. Pretty parts of a tunnel feed into the soon, we run out of firms who are capable design and model early would of doing these very large projects.” work far better. The answer, suggests Melbye, is to It is the next generation of move away from the lowest-price-wins engineers coming up through method of procurement. “Traditional the industry who will drive procurement is very unlikely to be the this change. “The good news cheapest and the best solution because about the increasing number you are procuring on the wrong criteria: of tunnelling projects is that how fast can you go from A to B. if you they are providing invaluable have more performance-related criteria, experience to those working then all parties take a part of the risk, and on them,” says Lawrence. “All all parties have an interest in doing the that experience will come to best job they can.” bear in the future. We have never Melbye would like to see a situation seen that before on this scale where a supplier like Normet wasn’t just around the world.”

16 Breakthrough CONTRIBUTING TO A SMART USE OF SPACE

In a more and more urbanized world the Amberg Group contributes to a more sustainable built environment by providing unique competence in the combined usage of underground and above ground space.

The exciting international working environment of the Amberg Group offers excellent development oppor- tunities and future prospects.

www.amberggroup.com

WE ARE AMBERG. AMBERG ENGINEERING AMBERG LOGLAY AMBERG TECHNOLOGIES HAGERBACH TEST GALLERY Breakthrough 17

Break Through_Young Members_210_297_cmyk_Ad.indd 1 28.05.2018 13:24:46 Extreme Tunnelling in the Himalayas Missy Isaman, Project Engineer for The Robbins Company, has traveled to Japan, China, Turkey, and Germany through her work. But her most intriguing travels have been to Nepal, where an emerging economy is working to modernize its infrastructure and heal from a massive earthquake in 2015. Her work in Nepal for the Bheri Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project (BBDMP) represents the first-ever use of a TBM in the country. A 5.06m diameter Robbins Double Shield is boring the BBDMP--it is currently 2.7km into its 12.2km bore.

18 Breakthrough At the start of the Bheri Babai project, making process, project officials toured back in 2016, I was lucky enough to be other jobsites around the world to get a able to travel to the capitol city of Nepal, sense of what a tunneling project could Kathmandu. Although the flight was very accomplish. These same officials made long, getting to see a place like this is such the bold decision to choose a TBM despite an amazing opportunity. My role in the widespread criticism in the government project is to manage the design engineering over the decision. portion of the project. This also involved While planning was underway, a final attending project design meetings with the design review was held. In the end, in order owner and the contractor (the Nepalese to best combat the extreme terrain, the government being the owner). machine was equipped with a probe drill for The Nepalese people couldn’t have been ground investigation and a stepped shield, more welcoming. This project had been in to help navigate through possible squeezing the planning stages for years. I could tell ground. For extra measures, we also added that this was much more than just a job to ports in the forward shield for the possible them. Being the first TBM in the country, addition of forepoling or hand drilling, and this project was a major point of pride to radially spaced ports in the rear shield for the team. The team hopes the success of lubricating the shield in squeezing ground. this venture will prove to the public and the I could see in this meeting that they were industry that TBMs are a very viable option The 5.06m diameter Robbins Double Shield excited about the progress and where this over the drill and blast method. It will help would lead their country in the future. to open the doors for the TBM industry in is to divert water from a larger river (Bheri This tunnel is a major way to revitalize the Nepal. River) in one valley and divert some of economy. The visit I took to Nepal was about a the flow to a starved river (Babai River) in I am so proud to be a part of a project year after Nepal’s devastating earthquake, the next valley over. This will have a huge that will positively impact so many people. measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale. impact on the agricultural production and A project of this magnitude has sparked the There was a lot of trauma to the city even hydropower in this region. In order to do interest of the government, academics and at this time. Many of the city’s historic this, the tunnel will have to go through a the public. The jobsite alone has already monuments and architectural treasures mountain to bridge the valleys. This tunnel presented opportunities. Locals have set were permanently damaged. Most of the design did not allow for additional adits or up tea and snack shops and restaurants to city was in a state of repair. multiple excavation faces. A drill a blast accommodate the influx of workers in the Because of the government’s recovering plan, for this project, would have taken an area. Tourism has also benefitted from this economy, the project took much more time estimated 12 years to complete. venture. Since this jobsite is in a wildlife and effort for the team to make happen. Our Robbins project team, including our preserve, it has become a stopping point With their continued determination, the local office in Nepal and president Lok on tours through the area, giving everyone planning, approval and procurement Home, had multiple meetings with the the opportunity to learn more about the process ended up taking five years to reach Nepalese government, including the Project site and the great benefits that are being fruition. The main reason that the owner Office to the Ministry of Water Resources, accomplished. I am lucky to be a part of a and contractor opted for the TBM method the Ministry of Finance, and the Office of project that will change a region like this for was the geology. The plan for this tunnel the Prime Minister. To help in the decision- the better.

Breakthrough 19 is also seen as an opportunity Moving Water to Aid Nepal’s Economy to prove the viability of the method in the notoriously The BBDMP is one of Nepal’s difficult Himalayan geology. 11 National Pride Projects-- The success of the BBDMP, prioritized plans sanctioned a national pride project, is by the Government of Nepal paramount for the country as to further develop the mostly well as the TBM industry. It rural country. This project is expected to help aide the will irrigate 60,000 hectares food crisis in the mid-western of land in the southern region region of Nepal by increasing of Nepal, benefitting an agricultural yields and estimated 30,000 households. invigorating socio-economic It will divert 40 cubic meters Nepal Branch (COVEC Nepal requiring a TBM that can development in the region. of water per second from Branch), represented by China withstand squeezing ground, Even though the project is only Bheri River to Babai River Railway No.2 Engineering rock instability, possibly high about 20 percent complete under a head of 150 m using Co., Ltd Chengtong Branch, is ingress of water and fault to date, the government is a 15 m tall dam, providing responsible for the headrace zones. Maximum cover above planning more TBM projects. year-round irrigation in the tunnel and prepared for the the tunnel is 820 m. More than 100 km of tunneling surrounding Banke and Bardia challenges associated with The project owner, the planned are planned for Nepal districts. The water will also tunneling in the tough geology Government of Nepal’s in the next five years, of which be used for hydroelectricity, of the Siwalik Range, part Ministry of Irrigation (MOI), more than 50% is considered with a generating capacity of of the Southern Himalayan has chosen a TBM over feasible for TBM excavation. 48 MW benefiting the country Mountains, with procurement the traditional method of Many projects that would with NPR 2 billion (20 million of a custom-designed Double Drill &Blast due to the previously have recommended USD) annually. Shield TBM. The Siwalik range faster mobilization and Drill & Blast only are now Contractor China Overseas consists of mainly sandstone, rate of advance offered by considering TBMs as an Engineering Group Co. Ltd. mudstone and conglomerate, mechanized mining. The TBM option.

A Jobsite inside Nepal’s Largest Wildlife Reserve The Bheri Babai jobsite is 56 km from Nepalgunj, which is the nearest town as well as one of the largest business hubs in western Nepal. It also is home to the nearest airport—about an hour’s drive away from the jobsite. Even though the tunnel is being excavated through Himalayan rock, the elevation is not too high. The tunnel portal is located in a river basin valley between 700 and 1000 m above sea level. The project site is a crossroads to highways that lead to much higher Himalayan towns and villages rainy season, but overall the shelters Royal Bengal Tigers, spotted a tiger. The reserve popular among trekkers and weather is sub-tropical and two types of Asian Rhinos, is guarded by the Nepalese mountain climbers. The quite warm in the winter, as it Elephants, Asian Black Bears Army and there are many roads and bridges in the area, is close to the Indian border. and many other types of check-posts along the capable of handling heavy One of the most intriguing vulnerable flora and fauna. highway—anyone traveling loads, were a very important aspects of the jobsite is that Monkeys and foxes are an through the reserve or to factor when considering a it is in the middle of Nepal’s everyday occurrence around the jobsite that is not a local TBM for the project. The area largest wildlife reserve - the jobsite, as well as colorful must show valid paperwork is prone to flooding during the Bardia Wildlife Reserve birds—laborers have even to pass through.

20 Breakthrough DSI Supplies Safety

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Breakthrough 21

180104_DSI_Breakthrough_2018.indd 1 07.02.2018 14:03:07 55 2018 WINNER

Reflection by Paul Challinor PHOTO COMPETITION Breakthrough is delighted to announce the winner of its If you would like to take part in the 2018/19 Competition, first annual photo competition! send us an eye-catching image that highlights tunnelling or underground construction. If you’ve captured something

KOD E100SW The prize went to Paul Challinor, a Project Manager with inspiring, beautiful, fascinating, intriguing, amusing, or UK specialist tunnelling subcontractor Joseph Gallagher possibly all of these things, we want to see it! The winning Limited, for his entry ‘Reflection’. “The man in the photo photo will feature on the cover of the Spring 2019 edition, is my former boss, mentor and friend Dickie Dexter,” as well as Breakthrough’s Flickr site, social media and said Paul. ‘The photo was taken when we handed over a more – there will also be a prize from our sponsor Bekaert completed tunnel. It was a hard project; the ground was Maccaferri Underground Solutions. bad, the price was tight and our relationship with the client was occasionally strained. The project took a lot out of us The full list of entries are hosted on our Fickr page at: and the picture shows a humbled man reflecting on all that www.flickr.com/people/breakthrough_magazine/ has gone on. We delivered the tunnel and were not beaten, but we felt like we left a small part of ourselves behind.” The judging panel loved both the photo and the story

54 behind it and sends its congratulations to Paul once again!

22 Breakthrough KOD E100SW

Antwerp Premetrosystem by Erwin Joris

Crossrail - Liverpool St. Station - Escalator by Eleanor Sillerico

Shieldhall by Clarence Michel

Teaching an old dog new tricks by George Stevens Grenland bridge and a sky full of stars by Anne-Line Ferstad

Breakthrough 23 NorwegiaN TuNNelliNg SocieTy WG TUNNELPublica SEALINGTioN No. 27 COMPLETE WATERPROOFING SYSTEM FOR ANY CAVERNS, SHAFTS AND KOD E100SW OTHER UNDERGROUND FACILITIES 55

The Old and the New by Ray Kryhul

TBM (S-719) disassembly at Farringdon, Crossrail by Robert Pyne

High Noon by Jennifer Day

If you’d like to enter the 2018/19 competition, the rules are as follows: n Photographs should be submitted by email to [email protected] or using a free large file WG TUNNEL SEALING IS A COST- Examples of where WG Tunnelsealing is installed: transfer service such as Dropbox. EFFECTIVE METHOD TO PROVIDE • Water treatment facilities KOD E100SW n You must include a caption to explain your picture. A PERMANENT SEALING OF ROCK • Parking facilities n There is no limit to the number of photographs that you may WALLS AND CAVERNS. • Sewage treatment plant enter (within reason). If you are trying to choose between • Storage facilities several possible entries, then please just enter them all and let the judges decide. • Sporting facilities Key features with WG Tunnel Sealing: • Power plants n The photograph should be of good print quality, at least 300 • Patented solution with extensive experience pixels per inch, and a reasonable size. • Cable tunnels • Tailored for each individual project and facility n Make no assumptions about the photograph we are seeking, • Valve chambers because the winning photograph could be of a: laboratory, • Can be uses in all types of underground facilities • Technical rooms project team, computer simulation, tunnel breakthrough, • Life span minimum 50 years • Access tunnels engineers in the field, miners in a mantrip, etc. If it’s an • The fabric is self-extingishing and will never interesting image, we want to see it! • Military installations and hospital spread or maintain a fi re n • Mines

54 Photographers retain full copyright of their images, but in submitting an entry give the ITA-AITES, ITAYM and • Avoid risk caused by dripping water and humidity • Drop protection in road tunnels Breakthrough the right to use that image for marketing and communications purposes. Light at the end of the tunnel by Diego Sebastiani

W. Giertsen Tunnel18 AS Nygårdsviken 1, N-5165 Laksevåg-Bergen, Norway www.giertsentunnel.no I [email protected] I +47 5594 3030 24 Breakthrough NorwegiaN TuNNelliNg SocieTy WG TUNNELPublica SEALINGTioN No. 27 COMPLETE WATERPROOFING SYSTEM FOR ANY CAVERNS, SHAFTS AND OTHER UNDERGROUND FACILITIES

WG TUNNEL SEALING IS A COST- Examples of where WG Tunnelsealing is installed: EFFECTIVE METHOD TO PROVIDE • Water treatment facilities A PERMANENT SEALING OF ROCK • Parking facilities WALLS AND CAVERNS. • Sewage treatment plant • Storage facilities • Sporting facilities Key features with WG Tunnel Sealing: • Power plants • Patented solution with extensive experience • Cable tunnels • Tailored for each individual project and facility • Valve chambers • Can be uses in all types of underground facilities • Technical rooms • Life span minimum 50 years • Access tunnels • The fabric is self-extingishing and will never • Military installations and hospital spread or maintain a fi re • Mines • Avoid risk caused by dripping water and humidity • Drop protection in road tunnels

W. Giertsen Tunnel18 AS Nygårdsviken 1, N-5165 Laksevåg-Bergen, Norway www.giertsentunnel.no I [email protected] I +47 5594 3030 Breakthrough 25 A week in my life

Hannah Dix worked as a Cross Passage Saturday diversity sometimes offers Tunnel Engineer on the Doha Metro Red communication challenges, Saturday marks the beginning but with patience we have been Line South Joint Venture (RSJV) project, of a new week on the Cross able to become better and have with QDVC, in Qatar. She has experience Passage (CP) Excavation Team. all learned some new words. working with traditional excavation This morning I woke up to my As the meeting continues it routine 4:30am alarm, got appears that we have another methods in cross-passages as well as final dressed in my site gear and busy day ahead of us. lining. Hannah previously worked on the made my way to work, ready for I make sure to collect all the the 6:00am hand over meeting. details about the excavation Crossrail project, in London, UK; as well as These meetings are held at progress from the night shift as an open-cut coal mine, in rural Australia. both 6am and 6pm with the day well as which Cross Passages She is currently working on the West Gate and night shift supervisors and (CPs) have shotcrete orders for engineers. These meetings are today. I then determine which Tunnel Project in Melbourne, Australia, crucial for the smooth running CPs will require shotcrete for with the CPBJH Joint Venture. of each shift as the handover tomorrow. As our meeting team is updated about what progresses we are greeted by activities have occurred over another bright pink sunrise the previous shift, how much that forms a silhouette behind progress was made and if we the site cranes, ready for faced any challenges. another day. We all prepare for the hand over meeting by grabbing our morning coffee and gathering Sunday in the site office. As we all listen to the updates from After the completion of this the previous shift, I notice morning’s hand over meeting I FUJI 501 how effective we have all write up the shotcrete requests 3 become at communicating. for tomorrow and send them

FUJI RVP Between the 10 of us we through to the concrete represent nationalities from batching plant. I then head the Philippines, France, over to join this morning’s start Spain, Chile, Romania, briefing with the site teams. UK and Australia. Our Each morning we conduct a safety meeting, followed by a short informal fitness session, FU JI RVP 3 FUJI 501

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3A 26 Breakthrough Construction site for the new metro line at Doha city centre.

to help get everybody excited at 10am, before then however for the day’s work. Often the excavation profile must DOHA RED LINE DATA our fitness sessions end in be checked to ensure night Start Date: June 2013 laughter over our enthusiastic shift has not missed any tight Completion Date: 2018 exercising and today is no spots. The teams gather all Client: Qatar Rail Company exception. After our morning their materials and make their fitness class the supervisors way to the Alimak lift, ready QDVC 55%, GS E&C 25% & Al Darwish Engineering 20% describe the activities for the to head down into the shaft. DOHA RED LINE IN BRIEF day and our key priorities for In the queue, we all greet n 5 Tunnel Boring Machines the shift. The various teams each other before boarding n 5 Underground stations then head off into the tunnel. the lift. The Alimak operator n 5 Switchboxes Today, we are excavating at secures all the doors before n 4 Emergency exits one of the CPs. Using the he rings the bell and starts n 35 cross passages n tunnel checker, I help check the descent. In the beginning, 32km of tunnels the tunnel profile to ensure the sudden drop used to catch that the excavator operator and me off guard, but now it’s just quickly and efficiently. We then used to the temperature now surveyor are excavating to the part of the morning trip. At the barricade off the CP and leave with wet sweaty handshakes correct profile. I find that we bottom of the shaft I put my the lining cure. mandatory, but can be are on track and progressing ID tag onto the “in” side of the optionally swapped with a fist to our target. The excavation of tally board and begin the 2km bump. Welcome to the Arabian the current advance should be journey through the tunnel Tuesday summer. Today, in addition to ready to shotcrete in the next towards the CP. After I reach the regular morning meeting, shift. the CP, I check the final profile This morning the Safety team we conduct a pre-works and discover there are no tight has indicated that it is cool meeting in preparation for spots. The team then sets enough for the day shift works the opening of a new CP. Monday up the shotcrete pump and to start. It is not uncommon This meeting consists of sprayer ready for the arrival that the relative temperature the Site Geologist, Methods This morning is another busy of the shotcrete. After the gets above 54˚C, due to the Engineer, and Shift Engineer, morning in production. We are shotcrete arrives the team are high humidity and is too hot to to discuss the conditions at preparing to shotcrete a CP able to complete the spraying commence work. Everyone is the CP, taking into account

Breakthrough 27 FUJI RVP

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FUJI 501 all the design and geological Thursday factors. With all technical information, logistic concerns Today is the last day of the six and safety aspects taken into working-day week. After my consideration the excavation regular morning activities, permit is put in place, ready to today we are conducting begin excavation later in the drilling at the newly approved week. Following the meeting, I CP. The new CP requires head down the tunnel, making the drilling of dewatering my way through the heat holes to locate and relieve to the CPs to check on the any water pressure in one of teams. the lower geological layers 2A before we open the segment. We prepare the drilling team, 3 Wednesday plant and equipment at the Team BBQ CP and then begin drilling. 3A One can never be too After drilling to the required complete with BBQs ready comfortable with routine. depth, with guidance from for the celebration. Closer to During today’s activities the geologist, we discover dinner time the food arrives Qatar is in a desert, much of it one of the site teams has that the water pressure is and the BBQs start grilling. As is rocky with little sand. Here discovered a large hive of lower than anticipated and it is Ramadan, we wait until we let out some air from our bees have decided to make the CP can be opened safely. after the final prayer of the day tires to begin dune trekking. themselves at home in the Following the completion of so all our team can join us to Our two-car convoy makes station box. This has caused the drilling, it is time to help celebrate and enjoy the BBQ its way over the sand dunes some concern due to the with the setup of the end of together. with the vast sandy space inherit noise and movement year team BBQ! The Excavation around us. Eventually we find within this environment, which Team have been making great ourselves at our destination, may cause the bees to swarm. progress on the project and Friday where the desert meets the After spending some time with the end deadline in sight Persian Gulf. It is a beautiful ringing around all the local we have decided to celebrate. Today is my day off and I site with the sand dunes bee keepers, a bee removalist At change of shift tonight we have decided to share it with literally meeting the water’s is found. Thankfully, the are holding a dinner BBQ for a group of friends on an edge and rolling into the bee keeper is able to safely both day and night shifts to adventure to the desert. We sea. We enjoy a BBQ lunch remove and relocate the bee celebrate our team’s progress meet early in the morning to on the shore relaxing in the hive off site and site activities and efforts on the project. We get a head start on the heat of landscape. At the end of the are able to return to normal. set up all the tables and chairs the day and begin our drive out day we pack up and begin our into the desert. After several drive home. This isn’t a day I hours of navigating will forget any time soon. The Sunday Cross Passage team our way to the sand FUJI 501 dunes we see our 3 first glimpses of FUJI RVP sand. Though

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28 Breakthrough Breakthrough 29 AWARDS 2018 November 5-7, 2018 | Chuzhou-Nanjing, China

Since 2015, the ITA Tunnelling Awards has sought to reward ground-breaking innovations and outstanding projects in the tunnelling and underground space industry. The 2018 Awards will take place on 7 November, in Chuzhou-Nanjing during the 20th Chinese Tunnel and Underground works Conference (CTUC), which runs from the 5 to 6 November. Following successful events in Switzerland, Singapore and Paris, the fourth ITA Tunnelling Awards will return to Asia for 2018. The three previous Awards events received more than 240 entries and 110 nominations, rewarded 30 projects and personalities and gathered more than 750 attendees. Nominations for the following categories must contain projects for which the major civil engineering work was completed between 1st January 2016 and 1st April 2018. The Young Tunneller of the Year rewards an individual born after 1st January 1984 and who has brought an outstanding contribution to tunnelling.

Major Project of the Year - more than €500 million Project of the Year - between €50 million and €500 million Project of the Year (Inc. Renovation) - up to €50 million Technical Project Innovation of the Year Join Tunnelling Journal Technical Product/Equipment Innovation of the Year on Social Media Innovative Underground Space Concept of the Year Safety Initiative of the Year Twitter: https://twitter.com/tunnel_journal Sustainability Initiative of the Year

Facebook: Young Tunneller of the Year https://www.facebook.com/TunnellingJournal/ Nominations for the nine award categories, including Young Instagram: Tunneller of the Year, will be announced by mid-July 2018, https://www.instagram.com/tunnelling_journal/ through the ITA’s dedicated Awards website: https://awards.ita-aites.org Or follow the ITA Tunnelling Awards on twitter @itaAward www.tunnellingjournal.com

30 Breakthrough Dates Events

24-27 June 15-18 October 2018 North American Tunneling Conference Tunneling Fundamentals, Practice, and Innovations Washington D.C., USA Annual Short Course Event website: www.natconference.com/ Colorado School of Mines, Denver, USA The UCA of SME’s NAT Conference is a premier biennial Event website: http://csmspace.com/events/ event. The four-day conference provides a programme tunneling/ focused on current tunnelling projects, challenges CSM’s annual short course for industry professionals and successes in North America. A Young Members’ provides a comprehensive overview of tunnel planning, networking event will take place in the evening on June 25. design and construction across all applications and all types of geology. 13-14 September 29-31 October Underground Excavation Symposium and Exhibition Istanbul, Turkey 2018 Cutting Edge Conference Event website: www.uyak.org.tr/ Atlanta, GA, USA There are 11 metro projects currently ongoing in Istanbul Event website: http://ucaofsmecuttingedge.com/ alone. Organised by the Chamber of Mining Engineers of Organised by the UCA of SME and Tunnelling Journal, Turkey and the Turkish Tunneling Society, this two-day Cutting Edge is an annual conference that hand picks symposium will attract a large number of domestic and speakers to discuss the latest trends and developments international attendees to discuss the growing demand for in tunnelling technology. The 2018 event also features a underground infrastructure. dedicated young members session.

18-21 September 5-7 November InnoTrans 2018 ITA Awards 2018 & The 20th China Tunnel Conference Berlin, Germany Chuzhou-Nanjing, China Event website: www.innotrans.de/en/ Event website: https://awards.ita-aites.org/ InnoTrans is a leading international trade fair for The 2018 ITA Awards will be held in conjunction with the transport technology and takes places every two years in bi-annual CUTC event. The biggest and most important Berlin. The InnoTrans Convention, a top-level supporting tunnelling conference in China, the CUTC is organised conference programme, complements the trade fair. by the Chinese Tunnel and Underground Works Society.

9-10 October 3-9 May 2019 British Tunnelling Society Conference & Exhibition WTC 2019 QEII Conference Centre, London, UK Naples, Italy Event website: www.btsconference.com/ Event website: http://www.wtc2019.com/ The BTS 2018 Conference and Exhibition is the largest Organised by the Società Italiana Gallerie (SIG), the gathering of tunnelling professionals in the UK. The event 2019 World Tunnel Congress and the 45th ITA-AITES is an essential meeting point for everyone involved in the General Assembly will be held at the famous “Mostra design, construction and operation/maintenance of today’s D’Oltremare”, one of the main conference hubs in Italy. underground infrastructure. The Congress theme is “Tunnels and Underground Cities: Engineering and Innovation meet Archaeology, 10-13 October Architecture and Art”.

Austrian Tunnel Day & Geomechanics Colloquium 15-21 May 2020 Salzburg, Austria Event website: www.oegg.at/en/ WTC 2020 The 11th Austrian Tunnel Day will be held on October 10, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia prior to the 67th Geomechanics Colloquium organised Event website: www.seacetus2017.com/4/443/ by the Austrian Society for Geomechanics (OeGG). Topics welcome-to-malaysia/ include: Geotechnical problems, TBM selection, model The 2020 ITA-AITES World Tunnel Congress and 46th selection and new developments in tunnel support. General Assembly will be held in Kuala Lumpur.

Breakthrough 31 Vietnam Adventure

On February 17, two adventurous Ola Hobbelstad and Egil Johansen Norwegian Civil Engineering students, Ola and Egil, got a plane from Oslo to Vietnam in order to conduct field surveys as a part of their Masters theses. Arriving in the coastal A couple days later, we set our course city of Da Nang, in central Vietnam, with towards the project site, which is located temperatures in the mid-twenties, long six hours south-west of Da Nang, up in beautiful beaches and cheap beer, was a the central highlands of Vietnam. The stark contrast to the Norwegian mid-winter area itself is very beautiful, with its scenic input required for the models involved with its freezing temperatures. Having nature and steep river-dug valleys and mapping completed sections of the tunnel, travelled around the world to another hills all covered by vegetation. The tunnel in accordance with the rock fracture country and continent, we had exploit the of interest was part of the Upper Kon Tum class system and the Q-Value, conducting opportunity to check out the Da Nang area Hydroelectric Power Plant, which will have penetration tests with the TBM, and taking for a couple of days before traveling out to 350MW of installed capacity and an annual core samples for Drilling Rate Index (DRI) the project site. The ancient city of Hoi Ann, production of 1 TWh when completed. and Cutter Life Index (CLI) testing back the Marble Caves and a massive statue About 10 kilometers of this tunnel is being at NTNU and at the SINTEF Foundation of “Lady Buddha” were among the main excavated with a Tunnel Boring Machine for Scientific and Industrial Research, attractions Da Nang had to offer, in addition (TBM), which was why the project was of which is also located in Trondheim. Ola’s to relaxing on the beach. interest to us. The tunnelling is being done thesis focuses on rock support, mainly the using a 4.5m diameter Main Beam TBM difference in rock support used between from Robbins, who is also contracted to TBM bored and blasted tunnels – both when operate the machine. it comes to measures to cope with unstable The purpose of our stay in Vietnam was ground and the amount of rock support to collect data for our Masters theses, needed to secure stability. Fieldwork which have to be completed to graduate conducted for this purpose was geological from the Norwegian University of Science mapping of a section of the TBM-excavated and Technology (NTNU), which is located tunnel as well as mapping of the drill and in Trondheim. Egil’s thesis is focused on blast excavated portal. While the theoretical comparing actual TBM performance with framework for the thesis consists of both estimations generated by the NTNU and the Q-System and the RMR-System of rock the QTBM TBM prediction models. The mass classification.

Hoi An ancient city

32 Breakthrough Working in a place like Vietnam is very Doing field studies as a student is highly building something, which is impossible different to the highly regulated and safety- recommended if you get the opportunity. It to learn from a university course. As focused construction industry in Norway. enlightens you to all the practical aspects tunneling is a highly practical form of work, The project site itself has a permanent of construction, such as logistics, work you cannot get around spending extensive population of chicken and hens, cattle, environment, communication, safety and periods of time in the field if you truly want stray dogs and an occasional pig or two other issues that affect the process of to become an expert. wandering around. The work inside the tunnel is affected by the high temperature Further Reading and humidity, giving us more of sauna experiences in a week than an average n “Using the Q-System”, a handbook published by the Norwegian Geotechnical Finnish person gets in a year! The work Institute (NGI), is available to download free at www.ngi.no environment is also very different, with n A complete description of the RMR System is given in Bieniwaski’s book workers coming from all over the world, “Engineering Rock Mass Classifications: A Complete Manual for Engineers and and only a few able to speak fluent English Geologists in Mining, Civil and Petroleum Engineering”, published in 1989. or communicate easily with one another. n One should also read the article “Use and Misuse of Rock Mass Classification Another interesting sight was the large Systems with Particular Reference to the Q-System” by Palmstrøm and number of locals engaged in shoveling the Broch, in Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, Volume 21, Issue 6, tunnel floor of muck to allow the water to November 2006. flow out. Thuong Kon Tum Hydroelectric Project

The 17.4km Thuong Kon Tum thus far are massive granitic them, which include water a near standstill at 15 percent Hydroelectric project will be rock tested at 300MPa UCS gushing from fault zones at the project completion to 85 the country’s longest tunnel or more (with averages in the rate of 600 liters per second. percent complete. More fault once complete, drawing water 270 to 290MPa range). Very In less than two years, the zones are expected, but despite from the Dak Nghe River little fracturing and jointing is highly skilled personnel at the challenges tunneling is to supply electricity to the present, but there are several the site have taken the 4.5m planned to be complete by the Central Vietnam region. A 4.5m major fault zones along the diameter Main Beam TBM from end of 2018. diameter Robbins Main Beam tunnel alignment. TBM and continuous conveyor Originally launched in 2012, system were supplied to bore commercial circumstances the tunnel. for the original contractor, The project is located in combined with incredibly Vietnam’s mountainous interior difficult geology, left the project region, in dense rainforest at a standstill. In 2016, the more than six hours away from revitalized project and its new the nearest city. Geological contractor called on Robbins conditions were originally to lead the refurbishment expected to consist of softer and operation of the TBM. rock with some fault zones, The results are no less than but 75 to 80 percent of the remarkable given the gauntlet rock conditions encountered of challenges set in front of

The project area Hoi An ancient city

Breakthrough 33 Extreme Tunnelling in

ColombiaLa Linea tunnel Daza tunnel

Occidente Tunnel

The history of underground works in metamorphic rocks, in addition to the high Importance of tunnelling in Colombia Colombia is older than one might imagine. rainfall rates that are observed. The 4th Generation Toll Road Concession Tunnels for hydropower and irrigation, A great number of tunnelling projects Programme is one of the most ambitious rail tunnels, urban drainage tunnels and are needed to successfully interconnect projects in the history of Colombia’s road tunnels all currently exist. However, regions, to reduce the distance, time and infrastructure, consisting of 40 projects when Colombia launched its ‘Infrastructure cost of transporting people and goods, as that will comprise 8,000km of toll Master Plan 2015-2035’, in 2015, tunnel well as to reduce trade barriers. However, roads, including 159 tunnels with a total engineering gained a much higher profile, due to the conditions mentioned above, investment of around US$18 billion. due to the challenges that engineers will Colombian engineers, academics, national The 4G Program is expected to reduce face to execute the plan. and international firms are facing tunnelling unemployment, creating more than 180,000 Following a decades-long gap in challenges, not only at the design phase but jobs. This is when young engineers must infrastructure development, Colombia also during construction. The role of young enter the labour market, meeting the needs will heavily invest in upgrading highway engineers will be crucial in the development of the country. Unfortunately, the number infrastructure in a bid to develop the of such projects, which will contribute to a of tunnels in design and construction country’s economy. Many reasons can brighter future for Colombia. phases is greater than the number of young be listed for the infrastructure gap, but regardless, it is important to note that in Longest Tunnels in Colombia terms of geology and topographic formation there is a predominant difference between Tunnel Name Function Year of Location Length (m) the east and the west of the country. Completion The former displays sparse mountainous Via Guateque Tunnel Road Tunnel 1966 Western ranges 1600 relief formed by ancient rock, while the latter is characterized by imposing young El Boqueron Tunnel Road Tunnel 1999 Central range 2405 rocks of the Andean mountain ranges. Buenavista Tunnel Road Tunnel 2002 Western ranges 4519 Colombia is the only country that hosts three subdivisions of the Andes (western, Occidente Tunnel Road Tunnel 2005 Eastern ranges 4603 central and eastern), presenting great Tunnel del Sumapaz Road Tunnel 2010 Eastern ranges 4200 differences between rock formations in terms of age and petrographic type. This Toyo Tunnel Road Tunnel 2025 Expected Western ranges 9840 results in a varied and complex geology La Linea Tunnel Road Tunnel 2019 Expected Central range 8600 encompassing igneous, sedimentary and

34 Breakthrough ACTOS’s (the Colombian Association of Tunnels & Underground Space) New Colombia Generation of Tunnellers (NGT) gather at one of their regular meetings

Helicoidal Tunnel

professionals and national companies at engineers need to analyse and make the moment, it will be difficult to face these good use of all the information gained tasks created by tunnelling works that are during the geotechnical research. It is key for the development (with a total length our responsibility to classify and process of approximately 250km in tunnels). the results in order to properly asses the Tunnels, especially in Colombia, are analysis and ensure accurate results. considered an environmental solution as they negate the need for deforestation Noteworthy Projects in Colombia: El Toyo and erosion of hillsides. However, such and La Linea tunnel projects call for rigorous design In order to understand the importance of and construction at the same time, and tunnelling in Colombia, the Toyo Tunnel an effective monitoring is also required project can be taken as a reference. It in order to reduce risks by controlling will cross the western part of the Andean water in-flows to obviate environmental mountain ranges in the region of Antioquia, damage. Therefore, one of the three key and will be the longest road tunnel in Paola Castillo at work in Colombia conclusions at the XII Andean Seminar of South America with a length of 9.84km, Tunnels and Underground Works, held in cutting travel time by more than half from November, 2017 was the importance of Antioquia to Cañasgordas and reducing century later that the guild of infrastructure having competent engineering graduates the distance by approximately 300km. warned governmental authorities of a who are able to develop the operation The El Toyo tunnel will contribute to the high degree of uncertainty and possible and maintenance of the coming tunnels interconnection of Colombian regions, main geological risk in the central mountain projects. cities and ports, leading to a better future range, leading to the start of excavation Henceforth, it is essential for the and solving the issue of regional isolation. works for a pilot tunnel, with the aim of new generation of graduates to be well Another relevant undergoing project is determining the geological conditions and prepared, particularly in the use of La Linea Tunnel, which dates back to the thus minimizing future construction risks. computer tools. Over the last few years of 1920’s, when it was first proposed as a rail Today, the central tunnel of the La Linea tunnelling experience in Colombia (Table tunnel to connect the pacific and central Project is projected to be 8.6km in length. 1), it has been analysed that in tunnel railway. Individuals began hand excavation For the total project completion, 25 bridges design, with the advancing of computers, of the tunnel portals, but unfortunately and 20 tunnels are required. It will reduce the required design parameters also this did not last for long and the visionary congestion and travel time, allowing daily demand great care. That is why our young idea was left behind. It was almost a savings of approximately 4 billion COP for

Breakthrough 35 Paola Castillo and Diana Diaz transporters, represented by gasoline, sustainability during construction and Cisneros-Loboguerrero Highway equipment wear and time. operation, and in all stages of development Unfortunately, the La Linea Tunnel and operation of tunnels. Project has had contractual problems Again, ethics and good engineering from the beginning in 2008. Since the last practices are of fundamental value and contract, the project has been delayed should be promoted along with the by two years and is currently expected sustainable development of tunnelling to complete by the end of 2019. ACTOS- projects. Last, but not least, regarding NGT Chair, Paola Castillo, supported the political situation of Colombia, poor the arbitration of this project. The main management of resources is an evident problems encountered are: contractor’s factor in inadequate development of budget problems, unsuitable machinery civil infrastructure. The lack of political or machinery in poor condition, and participation of civil engineers also contractual disorganization. In addition to demonstrating good tunnelling knowledge, restrains our decision-making contributions the geotechnical challenges encountered which integrates geotechnical, engineering both in evaluation of projects and during the during construction such as rock bursts, geology, hydrogeology, tunnel design, implementation of them. high overburden (over 830m), water structural design, traffic engineering, Governmental authorities need to clearly ingress and rock squeezing, there ventilation, fire hazard control and other identify the benefits and risks of such was also a problem in the rock mass disciplines relevant to the design and projects. They also need to put forward classification, which led to cost overruns. construction of tunnels. regulations, policies and standards that Notwithstanding, if the project cannot be In addition, the essential skills a good guarantee sustainable underground completed, it will bring about 400 billion engineer must have includes teamwork, construction with very few environmental COP of losses per year. and above all ethical behaviour both impacts. personally and professionally. Therefore, This is the reason why the new Prospects of Tunnelling in Colombia colleges and universities need to recognize generation of tunnellers need to strive to The challenges faced by young civil the importance of identifying, developing, be able to achieve active participation in engineers in Colombia consist of three main and providing opportunities that bring about political processes and it is supposed to be pillars: i) sustainable construction, ii) QHSE adequate improvement in the competence the next challenge that must be approached management, and iii) improve society’s of our engineering graduates. from different perspectives with key tools, quality of life. The tunnel industry also plays an and this will contribute to the continuous At this point, Colombia is calling for a important role in the future of Colombia. learning and the training of young civil new generation of engineers capable of It is important to embrace concepts on engineers. Authors: Paola Castillo and Diana Diaz

Paola Castillo is a 21-year- appointed Paola to establish old Civil Engineer, who and lead a Young Members graduated from the Pontificia group, named ACTOS- Universidad Javeriana, in NGT (New Generation of Bogotá, Colombia. In April Tunnellers). 2017, Paola was given This experience has the opportunity to do an awakened her interest in the internship with a tunnel exciting field of tunnelling consulting company and as a and has provided more value result was hired as a Junior than she could have imagined. Tunnel Engineer once her Working in this field has Paola Castillo Diana Diaz internship was completed. allowed her to develop her Research Group, where she Diana developed her During this time, Paola got academic knowledge into has contributed to the “One passion for tunnels and actively involved in ACTOS abilities applicable to her Belt, One Road” project and underground engineering (the Colombian Association career. the “China-Nepal Trans- during an internship with of Tunnels and Underground Himalaya Railway Link”; she one of the biggest design Works), helping to organise Diana Diaz is a Masters has also taken part in research institutes in China (SMEDI), seminars, congresses and candidate in Tunnel and on sustainable underground where she was given forums on roads, mining, Underground Engineering at space development. Since drawings and specifications hydraulic and water supply Tongji University, in Shanghai, 2017, she has worked with for a new metro line that was tunnels, both at a national China. Diana is 24 and is part ACTOS helping to lead the built to connect Shanghai and international level. In of Prof. Yun Bai’s (a former Young Members group ACTOS- Disney World to the existing July 2017, the ACTOS Board Vice-President of the ITA) NGT with Paola. metro system.

36 Breakthrough Discover emerging innovations in tunneling TUNNELING methods, materials and technology through classroom instruction and hands-on labs and demonstrations. Learn key design and FUNDAMENTALS, construction principles applicable to all types of ground and across all excavation methods.

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OCTOBER 15-18, 2018 Early-bird registration rates are available GOLDEN, COLORADO through Aug. 31, 2018.

Colorado School of Mines has a long-standing tradition of hosting world-class short courses in underground construction and tunneling. Upon successful completion of the course, 2.3 CEUs may be earned through the Mines OŽ ce of Continuing Education. Learn more and register online at underground.mines.edu.

Breakthrough 37 Working Together From figuring out how to re-use muck from tunnel excavations to mapping out the new technology skills engineers need today, the mission of the ITA’s Working Groups is to capture, define and share best practice. Kristina Smith reports.

A video of the very first Alstom train on a Commitment Groups. One is for people to be proposed trial run through the new Metro Line 1, in There are usually around 13 or 14 working by their country’s tunnelling association. Chennai, India, posted on LinkedIn earlier groups active at any one time. The ITA’s Another is to turn up and volunteer, this year received opposing responses. ruling body, the Executive Council, although Vion and Working Group leaders Some people offered congratulations on oversees and approves the creation of new note that they need ongoing commitment, the progress made while others criticised groups. A recent addition was Working rather than one-off appearances at a the untidiness of the site. Group 22, chaired by former ITA Young meeting.” The video is a reminder of how hugely Members’ Chair, Jurij Karlovsek, from the All the Working Group ‘Animateurs’ say working practices on tunnelling University of Queensland, which that they would welcome more involvement projects around the world will look at information in from young tunnellers. “Listen, put your vary, and that can be for a tunnelling. hand up, get involved,” says Brian Fulcher, whole variety of reasons. Every group meets Principal Tunnel Engineer at McMillen Some countries have at least once a year at Jacobs Associates, who chairs WG14 on years of tunnelling the World Tunnelling Mechanical Tunnelling. “If young people practice behind them, Congress (WTC), this year show up, we take a very special interest in others are just starting in Dubai. Many of them that and there is often more dialogue and out. Skills and resources have a second face-to-face excitement. Young ITA members are quick Olivier Vion vary, as do politics and legal meeting somewhere else to get involved and make a difference.” frameworks. part-way through the year. The Rohde says that his research has been There isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ number of people in the groups boosted by contributions from students approach. But it is possible to transfer has been growing steadily, says at the Warsaw University of knowledge and experiences gained from Vion, so whereas they used to Technology, Poland, led by projects in one region to others. And that be between 10 and 25-strong, the Working Group’s tutor, is what the International Tunnelling & there can now be up to 40 Professor Anna Sieminska- Underground Space Association (ITA- people. Lewandowska. AITES) aims to do through its Working The outputs from the Fulcher acknowledges Groups. working groups are that it is difficult for “The aim of the Working Groups is guidance documents that are people to persuade their to go into a topic in depth and provide published on the ITA-AITES Brian Fulcher companies that they should information on what is state-of-the-art,” website and presented at the have the time and budget to explains Olivier Vion, ITA-AITES’ Executive WTC each year. The findings from attend events such as the WTC, Director. “We produce guidelines the Groups also help inform some of particularly if they work for a contractor. rather than standards, but they the training courses offered and He himself attends in his vacation, are recognised and respected approved by the ITA-AITES. alongside his wife who is a tunnel design around the world. We see One of the problems faced engineer. them used in tenders or by all the Working Groups He urges young people to make a case to help inform dispute is that they are all made to their employers for attendance: propose resolution.” up of volunteers, and de-briefing sessions with peers after the Some of the subjects often volunteers with very event, emphasise the values of technology currently being explored by busy day jobs. “Trying to and information exchange, networking and Working Groups include what Jan Rohde collect all the information is learning social skills. “Large, complex, skills tunnelling engineers a time-consuming process,” jobs need people with these types of and others require to work in an says Jan Rohde, a Senior skills,” says Fulcher. “Companies are age of digital technology; a new form of Advisor at Sweco Norge, who heads up WG looking to employ their A-Team on these contract which could revolutionise the 15 Environment. “People are enthusiastic jobs. Young people should take every way risk is shared on tunnelling projects; at the meetings, but once they get back to opportunity they can if they want to get and how we could make better use of the their normal work situation, they have to onto that A-Team by developing essential muck excavated from new tunnels (see focus on other things.” skills beyond a solid base of technical opposite). There are two routes into the Working knowledge.”

38 Breakthrough Here’s a taster of some of the new guidance we can expect soon from ITA’s many Working Groups:

WG3, Contractual Practices is producing the WG5 Health & Safety is updating important world’s first tunnelling-specific contract, guidance it published in partnership with working with the International Federation of the British Tunnelling Society (BTS) relating Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) whose contracts to high-pressure compressed air working. are recognised and used globally. Tunnelling Working under high pressures involves the use contracts often overrun on time and cost of non-air breathing mixtures and occasionally because owners try to transfer all the risk onto the use of saturation exposure techniques the contractors. along with transfers under pressure.

“For the first time, employers, contractors, “High-Pressure Compressed Air (HPCA) work designers and engineers will have a clear- is a high-risk tunnelling activity which has cut definition of a balanced allocation of developed rapidly over the past 10 years,” the risk related to the sub-surface says Dr Donald Lamont, leader of WG5 and conditions at their fingertips,” says a world expert on the subject. “The Matthias Neuenschwander, of ITA/British Tunnelling Society Neuenschwander Consulting guidance has been the only Engineers, who heads up Working Groups internationally available the Working Group. “This guidance on the topic will lead to cheaper Research and has already been projects, better cost Contractual Practices used as the basis for stability and less need Health & Safety enforcement by one for disputes.” Maintenance & Repair national regulator.” Seismic Effects Immersed & Floating Tunnels Use of Sprayed Concrete Information Modelling in Tunnelling WG14 Mechanised Mechanized Tunnelling WG15 Environment Tunnelling has set Underground Works & Environment is compiling case up four sub-groups Long Tunnels at Great Depth studies of projects that tasked with finding out Conventional Tunnelling have been able to use Urban Problems, Underground Solutions the latest information the excavated muck that Lifetime Cycle Asset Management about tunnels, related comes out of tunnels for equipment technology, other purposes – rather than new materials and training for it being dumped somewhere and operators, engineers and managers. landscaped. It is also working on joint projects with a Working Group 15 Animateur, Jan Rohde, number of other Working Groups. has many examples from his own company’s The skills of a tunnel engineer are definitely tunnelling projects and is seeking further case changing, says Fulcher. “Shaft engineers and histories from elsewhere. “We are looking heading engineers tend to be quite general, around the world to find out how people are but the role now is very techy. There is lots of dealing with the opportunities and challenges instrumentation and data collection, but some of using tunnel muck as a construction of them have little idea about the data that they material,” he says. are collecting and the often-critical benefits that come from that data.”

Breakthrough 39 WTC – NAPLES 2018 ITALY Italy welcomes you to WTC 2019

Italy hosts some of the longest and deepest tunnels in the world. It is also one of the best learning grounds for tunnel engineers, as in a quite restricted territory it is possible to face challenges such as intense rock swelling, active tectonic faults, huge gas pockets and marine/fluvial inconsistent deposits. Nowadays, the Italian tunnelling market is as give an overview of why Italy active as ever with several in general and Naples in new investments supporting particular makes a such a great tunneling projects and venue for tunneling and why attracting new energies and you should start planning your players worldwide. Tunneling trip to the WTC in May 2019. activities are ongoing in the Alpine Base Tunnels, including The Italian Tunneling: the record breaking 55km-long over 2000 years of Brenner Basis Tunnel and experience! the Turin – Lyon, Mont Cenis The tunnelling sector base tunnel, which includes in Italy sinks its routes two 57.5km long tubes, 45km deep into the past, as the on the French side and 12km Romans were some of the on the Italian side. The top- most amazing and innovative Borbonico”, an underground of-the-line Italian High-Speed Engineers in History. The viaduct built in 1853 that, and innovation. All of this railway project is continuously groundbreaking underground passing under Monte Echia, combined with some unusual expanding with the Milano- project was probably the joined the Royal Palace with topics suggested by the true Genova route 37km tunnels Cloaca Maxima, a massive Piazza Vittoria, near the sea Italian trademarks, such as and the Napoli-Bari 6 billion € wastewater system, partly still and the barracks with two history (Archaeology), design sections mainly underground. in use, constituted by tunnels parallel tunnels, one for (Architecture) and genius & Not only railway, but also ranging from 1.5m to 8m carriages and the other one creativity (Art). highway: the Bologna-Florence internal diameter connecting for pedestrians. We do suggest The special Triple “A” Highway A1 “Variante di Valico” all major monuments of Rome you visit it when in Naples! Sessions and Technical Visits consists of 66.6km with about underground. Not only urban will be unique opportunities to 50% of the alignment excavated tunneling, but also important WTC 2019 in Naples appreciate how either in both by TBM or conventional milestones in the long and deep Therefore, we are delighted ancient and new underground tunneling, while “Gronda di tunnels were achieved by the to invite you to the next World infrastructures, history, design Ponente”, in Genoa, foresees Romans, like the Fucino Lake Tunnel Congress, which will and creativity (Archaeology, the construction of over 70km drainage tunnel, the longest be held in Naples, Italy, from Architecture and Art) are of road, of which 53km are in world tunnel up to the Frejus May 3 to May 9, 2019, hosted integrated in the Neapolitan tunnels, along the existing A10. Tunnel completion in 1871. by the International Tunnelling underground space, leaving Last but not least, the metro Naples is the perfect venue to and Underground Space the delegates astonished and tunnels, the most interesting blend modern tunneling and Association (ITA-AITES) and fascinated! of which will be Naples Metro history, thanks to its unique the Italian Tunnelling Society Italy, the country of Leonardo Lines 1 and 6, with 93km of underground network that (SIG). da Vinci, will complete the WTC track and a further 30km of goes back to the Roman age The conference will offer offer. Technical and cultural new light rail connecting 114 but has been widely expanded the traditional topics on visits are planned, including stations together, Rome Metro and modernized in the 19th design and construction of the Rome’s new Metro C line C and Milan M4. Century: the most amazing and underground works, focusing and the Brenner Base Tunnel, If not enough yet, here we exciting is the so called “Tunnel on tunnelling, engineering in the charming Alps mountain,

40 Breakthrough that will be the longest railway underground connection in the world. Even the great social program we are working on – we are sure – will leave participants astonished and will be an opportunity to experience the beauties of Naples and its surroundings.

The Young Member Involvement The Young Member Group of the Italian Tunnelling Society (SIG) is actively working within the WTC 2019 Organizing members will have their own 2019 in Naples is therefore a point for the Italian trade show Committee in order to plan exhibition stand, which will be unique opportunity to overlook site. Mostra d’Oltremare also dedicated initiatives for young a natural gathering point for the Mediterranean basin with hosts a small but priceless professionals. Have a large young professionals during the all its history, culture and archaeological site with a number of YM attending the conference. art, where past and traditions short stretch of the “Via WTC in Naples as well as giving are blend with innovation and Antiniana” (an ancient Roman them the opportunity to actively Why Naples? future. road), and provides several participate and build network The choice of this city is not Mostra d’Oltremare is charming locations which is definitively a main goal of the by chance, Naples represents the main conference hub in will turn your attendance Italian Tunnelling Society (SIG) the ‘Italian lifestyle’ with the South of Italy. Its size, into a glamorous, unique and and of the WTC 2019 Organizing Archaeology, Architecture, Art, architectural features and unforgettable experience. Committee. The Italian Young its touristic attractions and, of services make it a large multi- Naples is the place to be in members group and ITA young course, Tunnelling. The WTC purpose centre, a reference 2019!

Breakthrough 41 Aspiring tunnellers can get a head start on their peers by studying one of the specialist undergraduate or postgraduate tunnelling degrees around the world. Breakthrough spoke to five young tunnellers to ask them why they chose the course they did and where it has taken them. Kristina Smith reports...

University, Canada. Paraskevopoulou had Aiming high to inspire met Mark Diederichs, an eminent rock engineering professor at Queen’s, during the next generation a field trip in Greece, shared between Dr Chrysothemis Paraskevopoulou students from NTUA and Queen’s. Paraskevopoulou’s PhD looked at n Lecturer (assistant professor) at the time-dependency of rocks and the University of Leeds implications associated with tunnelling, n MEng in Mining and Metallurgical working on a project for Canada’s Engineering and MSc in Design and Nuclear Waste Management Organisation Construction of underground works, (NWMO). Two of the five years were spent National Technical University of doing laboratory testing at ETH, the Athens (NTUA), Greece; PhD, Queen’s Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, in University, Kingston, Canada Zurich. “I travelled a lot during my PhD,” she In February 2017, at the age of 29, Dr recalls. “Professor Diederichs gave me Chrysothemis Paraskevopoulou was the opportunity to participate in lots of appointed lecturer (assistant professor) If you are an engineer, events. If you have good social skills, or at the University of Leeds in the UK, you have to love what you you are willing to develop them, you can teaching BSc and MSc level courses do. This isn’t a nine-to-five establish a good network in our industry. in rock mechanics and tunnelling I feel lucky to have met in person all engineering. The competition was stiff; job. Every day you put the the ’big’ names, these legends whose she was pitted against people with more theory and background work you have read, studied and applied, experience and higher qualifications. that you have learned and (emeritus) professors like Evert Hoek, “I knew the chances of getting the job Charles Fairhurst, Richard Goodman, were limited due to the competition, but I studied into practice. That’s Nick Barton, Paul Marinos, Mark believed in myself and I aimed high,” says what excites me about Diederichs.” Paraskevopoulou. Looking back on her engineering. PhD in hand, Dr. Paraskevopoulou’s path to Leeds, aiming high is a common next move was to look for a position in theme. NTUA, a five-year professional degree Europe, either in academia or industry as Paraskevopoulou was inspired to (MEng), Paraskevopoulou decided to she had worked for the public and private become an engineer by her parents, who continue her postgraduate studies at the sector while studying at NTUA. Hence her were both civil engineers. “If you are same university attending a two-year application to Leeds. an engineer, you have to love what you Masters in Design and Construction As well as teaching at MSc and BSc do,” she says. “This isn’t a nine-to-five of Underground Works. Her NTUA level, her role at Leeds includes running job. Every day you put the theory and professors, many of whom have been a research laboratory, collaborating background that you have learned and actively involved in Greek’s infrastructure internationally with other universities studied into practice. That’s what excites and internationally the last quarter of a and organisations and carrying me about engineering.” century, helped grow her enthusiasm for out consultancy at a national and Living in Athens in Greece, she wanted engineering: international level. to go to the National Technical University “If I had not been taught by such great “I now teach the course that I was of Athens (NTUA). Competition for places minds and inspiring professors, I am not inspired by as a student, and I am is very strong and most people have sure I would have followed this path of consulting too, the best of both worlds,” additional tutoring, but Paraskevopoulou tunnelling and geomechanics,” she says. she says. “As my professors were a wanted to test herself, refusing tutoring Hard-working as ever, she decided to personal inspiration for my career path, and working hard to win a place. complete the two-year MSc in one year, I hope to become an inspiration to my Having studied Mining Engineering at so that could pursue a PhD at Queen’s students.”

42 Breakthrough New horizons in Singapore Russell Connors n Project engineer, John Holland Group n Studied BEng Civil Engineering and Infrastructure, RMIT University, Melbourne

Tunnelling, for me, is a career that I sort of fell in to!” says Russell Connors, a project engineer for John Holland Group, now based in Singapore. Had it not been for a career guidance councillor at school, he would never even have thought of civil engineering. “At the time it was more likely that I would take up a trade”, says Russell, who is now 31 “When the letter of an offer came back from the university, I was Tunnelling, for all its challenges, the various hesitant and nervous at first, however my family was very supportive and I stuck it personalities, the heartache and the stress, is out for four years. Fast forward to now addictive! There is no greater feeling of a sense of and I have enjoyed every minute of it!” pride, accomplishment and teamwork after a successful Russell studied civil engineering and infrastructure at Melbourne’s RMIT breakthrough. University, focussing on geotechnical and structural engineering with elements made the move and has since worked working on tunnel boring machines of construction management and on two major projects in Singapore, (TBMs), Russell thinks that would-be hydrogeology. Downtown Line 3 and Thomson East tunnel engineers would benefit from an “The course had a very hands-on Coast Line. understanding of the Programmable Logic approach with an emphasis on industry Currently he is part of a team working Controller (PLC) which is the ‘brain’ of the exposure, and the ability to adapt and on a tender for another Singapore TBM. This would mean that the engineer work effectively in small teams,” says contract: “I am enjoying applying my could work with the PLC technician to Russell. “It was well suited to those who knowledge of the industry and past diagnose faults faster and thus reduce either wanted to focus on one or more of experiences in the hope that we can put downtime. the sub-disciplines of civil engineering, or forward a successful bid,” says Russell. TBMs are only going to become more for those wanting a broader approach.” His course at RMIT prepared complicated, says Russell, as automation Russell came to tunnelling through a him well for the industry, he says. increases. Robotics, already being trialled six-month placement with John Holland “Communication in tunnelling is critical. by some contractors, will become more Group, working as a student engineer of You must be able to work effectively and widely used increasing efficiency and the Melbourne Main Sewer Replacement efficiently within small teams to deliver reducing the risk of accidents. project, a 2km segmentally-lined tunnel. results,” he says. “I also learnt during Russell advice to young engineers is When he graduated from RMIT, he my studies that it is important be able to to make sure to get time underground, continued with John Holland, working on adapt, learn and overcome the constant learning tunnelling methods first- a number tunnelling projects including challenges that tunnelling throws at you. hand. But he issues this warning: the Northern Sewerage Project in A good tunnel engineer is compelled “Tunnelling, for all its challenges, the Melbourne and the Brisbane Airport Link. to evaluate what has happened, so that various personalities, the heartache In 2013 Russell had a big decision they can apply what they have learned. and the stress, is addictive! There is to make: did he want to re-locate to Underground, we got to push it. That’s no greater feeling of a sense of pride, Singapore? After some thought, and with our job.” accomplishment and teamwork after a encouragement from his family, Russell With the benefit of many hours spent successful breakthrough.”

Breakthrough 43 Tunnel love began at 17 Daniela Herzig

n Project manager, Gähler and Partner n MSc and Bsc in civil engineering, ETH, Zurich

Daniela Herzig’s first thoughts about civil engineering came during a school visit to the Zurich western bypass, close to her home city. Part of this project was the 4.4km-long Uetliberg Tunnel. “I got my first impressions of a tunnelling project,” she says. “I didn’t know anything about civil engineering. That was the beginning for me.” Herzig was lucky to be able to study civil engineering at ETH in Zurich, although she admits that its location and the chance to be near her friends was more important to her than its good reputation at the time. Looking back, one of the best things that her ETH picture. It’s important to understand cost As a young engineer, education gave her was the ability to and how the contract works and to find you have a new approach to solve problems: the best technical solution within those “At ETH, they don’t just focus on the constraints,” she says. “Knowledge about projects. Tell people about technical subjects, they teach you how to contracts would have been great. We are your ideas, and always ask. think and solve problems,” says Herzig. “I engineers but we are also lawyers, in a People think that asking learnt logical thinking and how to identify way.” problems, how to distinguish between After visiting a careers fair at ETH, questions is a sign of what’s important and what’s irrelevant.” Herzig sent her CV off to a few firms and, weakness, but it’s a sign of After gaining her Bachelor of Science following on from some interviews, had weakness if you don’t ask, degree, she worked on a number of four job offers to choose from. “It was traineeships to help her decide what pretty easy to find a job,” she admits. especially as an engineer. specialisms to choose for her Master’s Herzig chose Gähler and Partner, degree. Among these was four months starting as a project engineer working tunnelling industry ahead, as it adapts spent in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, on various infrastructure projects around to changing modes of transport. “In with Bilfinger and Berger subsidiary Switzerland. Now, age 32, she is a Switzerland most tunnels are part of the Julius Berger. project manager in the tunnelling team, railway or highway network. What about For the Master’s course at ETH, responsible for two big projects; the logistics tunnels? Mobility will change. students choose two specialisms – Albula Tunnel in Southern Switzerland There will be self-driving cars so we may Herzig chose geotechnical and water and the Ruckhalde Tunnel near the city not need the same kinds of tunnels.” engineering – and can then study a of St Gallen. True to her ETH grounding, Herzig wide range of other courses, including “It is the variety I enjoy the most,” says that the most important thing for economics, developing countries and says Herzig. “I work with lots of different young engineers is to ask questions. languages. The only subject that Herzig people, on different subjects and on “As a young engineer, you have a new wishes she could have studied in more different projects. There are always new approach to projects. Tell people about depth is law, which was only a small challenges. Take the Albula Tunnel. It’s your ideas, and always ask. People module. close to a UNESCO World Heritage Site think that asking questions is a sign of “Once you are working, you learn that and there is the risk of avalanches.” weakness, but it’s a sign of weakness if technical solutions are only part of the Herzig sees big changes for the you don’t ask, especially as an engineer.”

44 Breakthrough The best thing about my job is that you get challenged every day. I have to take care of the excavation of the dam and the advance of the tunnels. Right now, in a moment there were 10 or 15 tunnels advancing at the same time. You have to be involved in everything and always be prepared to resolve things. I like that.

Cordova airport in Rionegro. Seeing Colombia’s Then came something completely different: working in Integral’s office monster hydro project in Peru for a year-and-a-half. Here, coming to life Herrera learnt new skills. “Until then I had only worked on design and in Juan David Herrera Caicedo the field, I hadn’t had any commercial experience,” he says. “In Peru, I looked n Geological and geotechnical co- after our clients, made presentations, ordinator, Integral, on Ituango Project got to understand the commercial side n BSc in civil engineering, Universidad of the business.” Nacional de Colombia; MEng in rock Back on the Ituango project, there mechanics, Universidad Escuela is a huge amount of work underway. de Administración y Finanzas y There are more than 12 km of tunnels Tecnologías – EAFIT, Medellin in the main works, says Herrera, but another 10 km are needed to get to The US$2.8bn Ituango Hydroelectric energy, infrastructure and mining those tunnels. Project will be Colombia’s biggest every projects, and he started work for them “The best thing about my job is that power station, generating up to 2,456 in 2005. you get challenged every day,” he says. megawatts of electricity for this growing It wasn’t until 2008 that Herrera “I have to take care of the excavation nation. Juan David Herrera Caicedo started his Master’s degree, doing it of the dam and the advance of the knows this mega-project well: he first alongside his day job. It was hard work, tunnels. Right now, in a moment there worked on feasibility studies for it back he admits, but he had the advantage of were 10 or 15 tunnels advancing at the in 2006, soon after he joined Integral, already having worked in the field and so same time. You have to be involved in returning to oversee construction back had a better understanding of what was everything and always be prepared to in 2012. being taught. resolve things. I like that.” “I always wanted to create things, to “I always recommend to younger Herrera wishes that his civil be able to see my work materialise,” people that they get a Bachelor’s degree engineering course at university had says Herrera. “I am really enjoying first and then work a little bit and try to contained at least some information seeing the drawings and designs that we work out what they want to do, rather on tunnelling. One of the best ways to worked on actually being put in place. than going straight from a Bachelor’s learn and gain new information is by It’s so different when you are in the field degree to a Masters,” he says. “At least, making contact with other tunnelling compared to when you are at your design that is what I think works best here in professionals, says Herrera who is desk. Things that you think might be Colombia.” involved with Colombia’s tunnelling easy on paper, are sometimes not so Herrera’s first two years with Integral society, the ITA and in setting up a new easy.” were spent working on a range of young members’ group in Colombia. Herrera studied civil engineering at the geotechnical projects in Medellin “There’s a lot of knowledge out National University of Colombia in his including building foundations, ground there if you are in touch with the right home town of Medellin, one of the best investigation and slope stability. After people,” he says. “Be confident about places to learn civil engineering, he says. working on Ituango’s feasibility planning, your own knowledge but also respect In the final year of his Bachelor’s degree, he was sent to another huge tunnelling the fact that other people have a huge one of his professors introduced him to project: the 8.2km Oriente Tunnel which amount of experience that you can Integral, which designs and supervises will connect Medellin to the José María learn from.”

Breakthrough 45 What I like best about Thinking beyond my job is the variety of engineering to make tasks, being able to work on metros do more different projects. With Egis Nicolas Ziv I have done so many things: developed tools, worked on n PhD Candidate at Egis projects, worked with R&D n Bacherlor’s degree, Classes Preparatoires aux Grandes teams and participated in Ecoles, Janson de Sailly ; MSc civil conferences. engineering, Ecole special des Travaux publics, du Batiment et de l’Industrie; communication skills are vital too, he Cycle in International Management, says, to break down invisible barriers: Ecole des Ponts Business School; often different parts of the same Masters in transportation/mobility organisation never communicate with management, Ecole Nationale des each other Ponts Chausses; PhD civil engineering “In my view, tunnelling projects will get at Universite Paris-Est more and more complex, although not necessarily bigger and bigger,” he says. Tunnelling engineers are often accused “With environmental constraints and of being too focussed on their tunnels. many different uses, it will become more They think about how to build them complex to design new infrastructure. faster, cheaper, but forget to look above “You cannot design a complex system ground to see how tunnels interact with with existing methods and tools, you the cities and communities they serve. need new materials, new methods and Nicolas Ziv certainly can’t be accused new ways to manage projects.” Part of that. His extensive studies have of Ziv’s PhD is a new tool and method: included a Masters in transportation software to help organise and manage and urban planning and a Cycle in complex projects. International Management (CIM) which While working for Egis, Ziv has had the encompassed politics, economics, chance to test his ideas and tools on live business, human resources and projects including metro lines in Medina, marketing. Saudi Arabia, Line 16 in Paris and a “In my day-to-day job, I need a general planned metro in Lyon. Prior to working understanding of civil engineering, but Ziv has been working for Egis Rail at Egis, his studies included stints I don’t need to go very deep into the since 2015 on a training-through- in Cape Town looking at stakeholder field,” says Ziv, who is 27. “But I do need research contract (CIFRE). He is in the issues on a Bus Rapid Transit project, the bigger picture - economy, politics, final stages of a PhD which has seen four months tunnelling in Turin and a finance, urban planning – which is very him explore how tunnels can be used for transportation project in the historic city useful in helping me understand how to more than one purpose, how projects are of Korçë in Albania. integrate innovative concepts for cities.” becoming more and more complex and “What I like best about my job is the how that complexity can be managed. variety of tasks, being able to work on During an initial six-month internship different projects,” he says. “With Egis at Egis, set up through links between the I have done so many things: developed company and his engineering school, tools, worked on projects, worked Ziv was asked to research how metro with R&D teams and participated in tunnels could be built more cheaply. conferences.” That work led to another question: how Ziv’s advice to would-be tunnelling can we share the cost of building new engineers is to arm themselves with tunnels by using them for other services an understanding that goes beyond such as communications, utilities and the underground. “Don’t just study transportation of goods? tunnelling and structural engineering, Involving more parties means more have a broader view of what is tunnelling complexity, so Ziv has also developed is and why we build tunnels. Are there new methods and software to help possibilities other than tunnels to deliver manage these complexities on large, those functions? Why are we building multi-stakeholder projects. People and these tunnels?”

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48 Breakthrough