With a focus on the future of the tunnelling industry, presentation topics will range from how to radically reduce the carbon footprint of tunnels and maintain the delivery of low-carbon infrastructure, to the use of AI and where AI and related technologies will advance tunnel design and construction.
There will also be a session dedicated to the small bore sector, an area set to be a valuable income stream rs for the underground construction sector. A panel discussion on ‘Inclusivity in our industry’ will debate progress over the past decade in promoting diversity in the tunnelling industry, and where professional cultures could be improved.
The two-day conference will open with three keynote speakers: Keith Bowers, Lower Thames Crossing project director, tunnels and approaches, will outline innovations in building and maintaining low-carbon infrastructure; Nick Sumption, iP3 delivery lead, will discuss how collaborative innovation can achieve carbon, productivity and safety gains; and Professor Mike Mooney from the Colorado School of Mines, will look at how AI and related technologies will advance tunnel design and construction.
Day one presentations will be given in three further sessions entitled Innovation in action; Sustainability and the environment; and Innovative construction, materials and lining technology.
On day two, BTS chair John Corcoran will open the keynote presentations with the David Wallis Paper, looking at the successes and failures of projects in his career.
The other keynote speakers are Ben Bryant, senior tunnel engineer with Align JV, who will detail the innovative tunnelling solutions used to build HS2’s Chilterns Tunnel; Sebastian Kumpfmueller, senior associate and senior tunnel engineer, Dr Sauer & Partners on ground support design for Anglo America’s Woodsmith Mine; and Tom Crabtree, senior site manager, and Oliver Gerstmann, production manager, Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau will outline the casting of ‘mega columns’ for the new Gothenburg rail project.
Presentations will then follow under three session headings: Project focus; Small bore under the spotlight; and Inclusivity in our industry.
The BTS Conference and Exhibition will take place from October 8-9 at the QEII Conference Centre in London.
Early bird registration for BTS members and non-members is available until Saturday, September 21. For more information, click here
