The ITA‘s 28th Annual General Assembly and World Tunnel Congress will be held in Sydney Australia from 2nd – 8th March 2002 in the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, which is located in Darling Harbour, a mere 5 minute walk from the centre of Sydney.
The main theme chosen is ‘Modern Tunnels – Challenges and Solutions’ and more than 200 abstracts have been received from 35 member countries on the following sub-themes:
At the time of going to press, abstracts that have been developed by the authors into technical papers are undergoing a formal review process. Between 70 and 75 papers will be selected for presentation at the Congress. Other participants, whose papers are accepted for publication in the Congress proceedings, will be offered a ‘Poster Session’ in the exhibition area. The organisers are particularly pleased at the number of countries that will be represented and the variety and standard of the papers received. The response augurs well for an exciting, thought provoking and technically excellent event.
ITA Activities
In accordance with the provisions of the ITA By-Laws, the General Assembly will be held in two parts on Sunday morning 3rd March and Wednesday morning 6th March. At the General Assembly sessions official representatives of the 50 member nations debate and vote upon the future direction and policies of the ITA as well as matters of importance to both the ITA and the industry as a whole. For example, at the Milan Congress in 2001, two of the key decisions taken were:
Another key element of the formal ITA activities is the Working Groups who meet on two occasions during the Congress. These face to face meetings are fundamental to the efficient operation of the groups as they allow interaction which, for the rest of year, is mainly limited to electronic media.
The main objectives of the Working Groups are:
Open Session
The centrepoint of the 4-day Technical Conference is the Open Session. The theme chosen for this session is ‘Fire and Life Safety in Tunnels’ and, with the tragic fires in European tunnels over the last few years and with Australia, and Sydney in particular, poised on the brink of major road, rail and service tunnel expansion, the topic is timely indeed. This subject, while of great technical interest, is also pertinent to a whole range of Government personnel involved in the planning and decision making process in relation to underground space. An eminent list of experts has been brought together to present views in the Open Session, including:
Professor Alfred Haack, Immediate Past President ITA (Keynote Speaker); Ken Bryant, NSW Board of Fire Commissioners; Jim Lake, National Fire Protection Authority, USA; Colin Kirkland, Halcrow, UK; Francois Vuilleumier, Bonnard & Gardel, Switzerland; Daniel Gabay, RATP, France; Hideto Mashimo, Public Works Research Institute, Japan. A representative from PIARC will also be presenting at the Open Session.
Key Note Speakers
Sir Alan Muir Wood, Inaugural President of ITA, and Professor Dan Eisenstein, past President of ITA, will provide short presentations at the start of the Conference. Key note speeches will be presented by the eminent speakers highlighting three of the sub-schemes noted in the introduction. A key note address on ‘Safety in Tunnelling’, which will address safety matters in construction, is both a natural adjunct to the Open Session on ‘Fire and Life Safety’ and gives recognition to a key point debated at the General Assembly in Milan that Safety in Tunnelling be given a much higher profile in the ITA Congresses.
Conference Tours
In conjunction with the Tunnelling and Underground Construction Society in Singapore (TUCSS), a programme of technical tours has been arranged on 28th February to see the bustling metropolis as well as viewing some fascinating projects.
On 9th March, one full day and two half-day technical tours have been arranged in Sydney showcasing recently completed projects as well as briefings and visits to the sites of major future tunnel projects which will commence in 2002.
Social Events
With the Congress proceedings situated in the very lively Darling Harbour area, the social programme will be entertaining and different: a Welcome Reception at Darling Harbour Convention Centre overlooking Cockle Bay and the City of Sydney; a twilight Cruise around the spectacular Sydney Harbour; a Congress Banquet at the Sydney Town Hall, located in the heart of the city, promising lively entertainment set in the grandeur of the Centennial Hall.
As well as the above, a varied and interesting programme is planned for accompanying persons: on the first day, a half-day tour which explores Sydney; on the second day, a full day tour is planned to the spectacular Blue Mountains National Park – recently granted a World Heritage Listing; on the third day, a half-day tour to a fauna park in Sydney to see a variety of Australian animals including koalas, kangaroos, wombats and a myriad of native birds; on the final day of the Congress, a full day tour to the hills of Camden Valley, and a visit to a working colonial farm and winery, is planned.
