The 17th International Congress of the French Tunnel and Underground Space Association (AFTES), to be held at the Palais des Congrès, Porte Maillot, Paris, from Monday 2 to Wednesday 4 October 2023, is set to be a major event for the entire underground construction community.
For more than 50 years, every three years, it has been a time for exchanging and sharing ideas, combining technical discussions, updating knowledge, consolidating professional relations and conviviality. Over 4,000 visitors are expected to attend the 200 stands and conference rooms. This was the figure for the last conference, held in September 2021, which was one of the very first conferences to be organised face-to-face again, following the long COVID crisis.
After having taken place in several major cities of France with underground construction programmes, the 17th conference is being held in Paris for the 3rd time in a row, underlining the extent to which the last decade has been marked by major works in the Ile-de- France region, in particular the exceptional Grand Paris Express project – which is providing the capital with an extended metro network of 200km and more than 60 stations. In 2015, these works kicked off a period of very high activity in France, with up to 22 TBMs in action simultaneously in Paris. Over the next 10 years, activity will be less intense but will remain sustained as several Parisian projects continue and others take over, in Maurienne, Toulouse and Marseille to name but a few.
The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Underground at the heart of transitions’. It reflects the determination of our professional community to make a resolute contribution to the necessary transitions in the construction and use of infrastructure with a view to sustainable development.
To meet the environmental challenges and the imperatives of preserving resources, grouped together under the heading of ‘ecological transition’, a different approach is needed to promote new uses for the subsoil, to encourage the multifunctionality of structures, and to apply the least ‘invasive’ methods possible, using the most efficient and least impacting materials and resources.
We also need to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the digital transition to design, build and operate infrastructure that is resolutely respectful of the environment.
A lot has already been done, but it’s far from enough. All these issues need to be debated and solutions implemented quickly. By bringing together in one place decision-makers, contracting authorities, construction companies, engineering firms, training and research centres, suppliers, etc., AFTES is creating opportunities for a constructive dialogue. The international association ITA and the European Forum EUTF will also be present, and their presidents will be highlighting the importance and key issues of this approach at international level.
One of the aims of the congress is also to raise awareness of the jobs and players in the underground sector. Many young professionals and students will be invited, as this is a great opportunity to foster contacts, raise awareness and appreciation of our professions and showcase the great careers they can offer. Despite sustained activity, it remains difficult to recruit all the resources we need, and underground work, like public works in general, unfortunately still suffers from an unfair image deficit.
We hope that this congress will help us to make progress towards these objectives. Many thanks to all those who will be joining us and whom we are delighted to welcome to Paris.
