Articles By Subject: Technology
Membranes act structurally
The use of new generation sprayed membranes in sprayed concrete linings can have surprising structural benefits, argues Mike HarperEuro survey highlights tunnel failings
An alarmingly high proportion of operational European tunnels do not meet EU tunnel safety rules and are therefore unlikely to comply with the EU Tunnel Directive when it comes into effect in 2014.Consortia named for Dublin metro
Irish Rail (IR) has announced the names of the four international consortia that have entered the pre-qualification phase in the public-private partnership procurement process for DART Underground.
Input invited for tunnel standards
The US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is seeking comments concerning the establishment of National Tunnel Inspection Standards (NTIS).Tunnel Alerts
Tunnel Alerts is a new feature that aims to bring you breaking news of tunnel contracts globally.
Safer subterranean Singapore
LJ Pakianathan (Mott MacDonald Singapore), S McChesney (Land Transport Authority) and M Mannot-Russell (CH2M) report on recent safety legislation in Singapore
All booked up
The North American Tunnelling 2010 (NAT) conference and exhibition arrives in Portland, US, on June 20-23. WT looks at some of the exhibitorsMott MacDonald wins consultant award
Mott MacDonald has been recognised as International Consultant of the Year (ICY) 2010 at the NCE/ACE Consultants of the Year Awards in London.
WTC on track again
The annual World Tunnel Congress (WTC) opens its doors this year in Vancouver, Canada, on May 14-20. Here follows a selection of the companies exhibiting
Roadheaders looking up
Roadheaders are experiencing a renaissance. Wilhelm J Kogelmann, of US-based roadheader manufacturer Alpine Equipment, rounds-up the latest developmentsNormet buys 40% of chemical maker TAM
Normet Group has announced that it has acquired 40% of chemicals manufacturer and supplier TAM International.
New tunnel books published
Publisher CRC Press Balkema (Taylor & Francis Group) has recently added two new books to its tunnelling and underground construction series of titles.
Weathering the storm
Odd-Björn Kleven was recently appointed director of tunnelling and special projects at underground construction equipment manufacturer Normet International. He talks to George Demetri about developments at the firm and in technology.
Tunnelling academy gets funding boost
The UK Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has given approval to £5 million funding for a Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy in Ilford, London
More to the point
In a letter to World Tunnelling, US-based specialist underground construction writer Barbara Stack raises some interesting points related to the recent WT roundtable.New simulators bring realistic training for machine operators
Machine operators in the building and public sectors will be able to be trained on simulators developed by France-based Acreos.Acquisition expands Jacobs' global water solution abilities
US-based infrastructure specialist Jacobs has acquired Jordan, Jones and Goulding,(JJG), a 500-person professional services firm that is expected to significantly expand Jacobs' position in the North American water and wastewater market.
Doing the tunnel walk
With a long, wide-ranging career, New York-based engineer and practice leader David Caiden now has numerous major US tunnel projects on his hands
Cooling the tube
Installing fans in old, deep ventilation shafts on London’s Underground is tricky when access is restricted, says Philip Walker of UK firm Fläkt WoodsTwo new associates for Jacobs' East Coast offices
Two new faces have joined Jacobs Associates’ East Coast US offices.Grand old man of PB Tom Kuesel passes away
Hailed widely as an authority on tunnel and bridge engineering, Thomas R Kuesel has died at the age of 83, having enjoyed a 43-year career with Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB).
Your ITA needs you
The recent WT Roundtable raised serious questions about the function of the International Tunnelling Association (ITA). Here is an edited transcript of the debate
The big fair with the best ware
With Bauma just around the corner on April 19-25 at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre in Munich, Germany, we take a look at selected exhibitors from the tunnelling sectorUK tunnel/shaft lining spec nears
British Precast, the trade body for the UK concrete products industry, has started preparing a new specification for precast tunnel and shaft linings.New blood needed
WT's roundtable event held in Hamburg in November threw up some interesting questions, one of which was how to attract young new recruits into the industry.Parsons Brinckerhoff appoints UK and Europe managing director
Parsons Brinckerhoff has appointed Nick Flew as managing director of UK and European operations just days after the infrastructure consultant was acquired by Balfour BeattyTechnology innovation book launched
CRC Press has launched a reference guide to help reduce the time, cost and risk involved during the construction and maintenance of underground facilitiesInnoTrans organiser claims healthy bookings for 2010 exhibition
Display space at the rail-transport-technology fair InnoTrans 2010 is almost all booked up, according to organizer Berlin-based Messe BerlinRail tunnel to be switched to road use
A rail tunnel in Pakistan will be converted for road use less than a year after it was completedJacobs appoints senior associate
Dan Dobbels has joined the Boston, US, office of Jacobs Associates as a senior associateFlorida prepares for blasting conference
The International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE) will hold its 36th annual conference on explosives and blasting technique at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida, from February 7 to 10, 2010Civils salaries fall
The average basic salary of civil engineers in the UK has dropped for the first time in seven years, a survey by the Institute of Civil Engineers has foundCRA launches e-bulletin for concrete specialists
The UK-based Concrete Repair Association has launced an email bulletin that will include industry updates, advances in the sector and new publications and intiativesLiebherr crane conveyor handles hoisting
Liebherr has developed the KFA Crane Conveying System for the Machine Technology Service Centre in Germany, operated by Bilfinger Berger, to handle hoisting during tunnel projectsNew hydraulic clamp range from Bobcat
Bobcat has launched a family of dipper stick-mounted hydraulic clamp attachments for its mini-excavatorsSpray-applied membranes
Dr Wolfgang Aldrian of BASF Construction Chemicals and Robert Giefing of IAT, Vienna, discuss some recent spray-applied waterproof membrane projects
Atlas Copco rolls out ROC T35M
The new ROC T35M surface-crawler drill rig is equipped with a highly productive, well-proven COP 1840 rock drill with 18kW drilling power for a high penetration rateStalling the spalling tendency
Dr Ken Smith and Trevor W Atkinson of Propex Concrete Systems, supplier of fibres for secondary concrete reinforcement, on explosive spalling mechanismsFire-protecting the Bjørvika
Allan Beeston, market manager for Thermal Ceramics, discusses an interesting fire-protective layer that is being used on Norway’s Bjørvika tunnel
World's biggest tunnel project ends
Imagine cities without cars, where carcinogenic dust and noise are confined to below ground and city parks form the refreshing, clean oases that they are meant to beCertification for skilled nozzlemen
EFNARC, the European Federation for Specialist Construction Chemicals, has announced the launch of its Nozzleman Certification Scheme as a key link in providing high quality sprayed concrete.Civils 2009 ready to roll
On November 25-26, Earls Court 2 in London, UK, opens its doors for the Civils show, hailed as the UK’s definitive civil engineering showcase comprising manufacturers, suppliers, contractors and consultants from all areas of the industry.Are you ready for 2010?
Starting in January 2010, World Tunnelling will be giving its readers the chance to promote their tunnel projects in our ‘Project 2010’ feature. Projects can be recently completed or near completionNew president for UK body
A business development manager formerly with UK-based infrastructure services provider MorganEst has been appointed the new president of the UK’s Institution of Highways and Transportation (IHT).RETC hits a high in Vegas
World Tunnelling editor George Demetri ‘tunnelled’ down to Las Vegas, US, to attend RETC – one of the tunnelling industry’s most important events. Here he reports on what went down.Staffing in difficult times
A tunnel engineer for over 40 years, Barrie Willis has worked mainly on major international projects, including the UK’s twin Mersey tunnels, before taking up his post managing the tunnel department at Netherlands-based personnel supplier IPS Group.
Invest in the future
Martin Knights has been president of the International Tunnelling Association (ITA/AITES) since 2007. A civil engineer by training, he has 37 years’ post graduate experience in international civil infrastructure, predominantly gained in tunnelling and underground space projects. UK-based, he sits on the board of directors of infrastructure specialist Jacobs Ltd.CzTA calls for papers on transport and city tunnels
The Czech Tunnelling Association (CzTA) has announced a call for papers for the 11th International Conference of Underground Construction, held in Prague, Czech Republic, on June 14-16, 2010.Hindhead A3 tunnels update
Early contractor involvement and leading edge design and construction thinking have delivered flexibility and programme wins, says Tony Rock of consulting engineer Mott MacDonald.A high-altitude smoke challenge
In this abridged paper, Richard Lau and Nai Chin, both of Hyder Consulting Pty, Sydney, discuss the challenges and strategies for smoke control design in long road tunnels at high altitude.Optimal plant design
Ben Clark of Derrick Equipment Company (Civil & Underground Construction) looks at some of the factors to be considered when designing slurry separation plants.Multi-modal magic
David Bernardi, David Crouthamel and Erin S. Hohenshelt discuss a unique tunnel rehabilitation scheme, combining both railway line and pedestrian pathway, which has been hailed as a paradigm of partnering and risk sharingSite Search
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