El equipo del proyecto cambió el diseño de referencia a un diseño completo de SCL para proporcionar un programa de construcción más eficiente y reducir los movimientos del suelo... Tarcisio Celestino... Presidente de ITA...

Asociación Internacional de Túneles y Espacios Subterráneos: Los Ganadores de los Premios al Túnel de la ITA finalmente revelados

http://bit.ly/1e3iCuh

Lausanne, noviembre de 2016.- Después de una conferencia técnica de un día dedicada a la innovación y la productividad en túneles, seguida de una conferencia de premiación de un día, los jueces del ITA Tunneling Awards han revelado sus opciones y han otorgado 8 proyectos sobresalientes, Young Tunneller del Año y el mayor logro en la materia. 

Después de un detallado proceso de examen, las 100 candidaturas se redujeron a 30 finalistas. Estos últimos tuvieron la oportunidad de ir al escenario para discutir y apoyar sus proyectos frente a toda la industria del túnel.

Los ganadores son:

• El gran proyecto de 2016 (más de 500 millones de euros): EL NUEVO TÚNEL DE GUANJIAO EN EL FERROCARRIL DE QUNGHAI TIBET (CHINA)

El nuevo túnel de Guanjiao es un proyecto clave de la segunda línea de la sección de Xining-Golmud del ferrocarril de Qinghai-Tíbet con una longitud total de 32.690km. El túnel, de dos vías con una elevación media de 3400m, funciona con ferrocarril electrificado de carga y pasajeros con una velocidad de diseño de 160km / h y, en general, se ha elegido el método de perforación. La etapa de la construcción comenzó el 6 de noviembre de 2007 y el túnel se abrió para la operación el 28 de diciembre de 2014. La inversión total es 4,96 mil millones RMB.

• El proyecto de túneles del año 2016 (de 50 millones de euros a 500 millones de euros): LÍNEA CENTRAL 3ª ETAPA 3 CONTRATO 937 CONSTRUCCIÓN DE LA ESTACIÓN DE FORTES Y TÚNELES EN SINGAPUR (SINGAPUR)

A medida que el espacio subterráneo de Singapur se vuelve más congestionado con diversas necesidades competitivas; Tales como sótanos subterráneos, túneles de servicios públicos e infraestructuras de metro, la construcción de nuevas líneas de metro subterráneas se ha vuelto cada vez más desafiante, complejo y empujando los límites de la ingeniería. 

Este proyecto de tunelización encontró muchos desafíos tales como intervenciones de cabezas de corte para quitar cimientos de edificios, cercanía a monumentos nacionales y líneas de metro en servicio con separación de solo 1m. El túnel en tan cercana proximidad a los túneles “vivos”, que transportan cientos de miles de viajeros diariamente, representa un alto riesgo excepcional. Desde entonces, este proyecto se ha completado con éxito y no ha perturbado a ningún socio de la comunidad.

• El extraordinario proyecto de túneles del año (hasta 50 millones de euros): CHONGQING HONGQIHEGOU METRO STATION (CHINA)

Chongqing Hongqihegou estación de metro es un transmisor para la línea 3 y la línea 6 en Chongqing, China. La estación está ubicada en la zona de Chongqing rebotando, y bajo la carretera principal al aeropuerto, donde hay muchos edificios alrededor. Está construido en piedra arenisca moderadamente resistida y moderadamente resistido arenoso mudstone.

El espesor mínimo de cobertura de los estratos de sobrecarga del proyecto es de 8,6m, y la tasa de sobrecarga a span es de 0,4. Su sección máxima de excavación es de 760m. El concepto de las "rocas internas" y el "roca interior que soporta" el método de túnel fue presentado en el proyecto. 

La sección entera del túnel se divide en cuatro derivas. Dos están en la parte superior y otros dos en el fondo para ser excavados. De esta manera, se pueden conducir cuatro derivaciones simultáneamente. Al utilizar la capacidad inherente de carga de las «rocas internas que soportan», se ahorra el soporte temporal horizontal y vertical del túnel. Además, el efecto "espacio-tiempo" se controla precisamente para la seguridad de la fuerza que transmite entre el soporte primario y el revestimiento final.

• Proyecto de renovación / modernización del año: PROYECTO DE ACTUALIZACIÓN DE VAUXHALL STATION (REINO UNIDO)

La modernización de la estación de Vauxhall del metro de Londres (LU) dará pronto paso libre para los usuarios de tubos, construido por Bechtel Ltd. como contratista principal, diseñado por Gall Zeidler Consultants en un contrato de diseño-construcción, con obras de túnel realizadas por joseph Gallagher Ltd. El equipo del proyecto cambió el diseño de referencia a un diseño completo de SCL para proporcionar un programa de construcción más eficiente y reducir los movimientos del suelo.

Se diseñó un collar de hormigón armado más económico, en lugar de las tradicionales vigas de dintel de acero instaladas para soportar nuevas aberturas en los túneles de plataforma existentes con soportes de acero. Estos eliminaron los riesgos para la salud y la seguridad asociados con la instalación de enmarcado de acero pesado y la invasión a la separación de la plataforma. Desde la fase de diseño, el equipo del proyecto contrató a los propietarios del muelle de San Jorge, un edificio de gran altura junto al sitio, e integró una revisión de diseño por su ingeniero designado.

Una evaluación de daños potenciales (PDA) y un programa de instrumentación y monitoreo en tiempo real formaron parte integral del proceso de aseguramiento. El proyecto ha aumentado con éxito la capacidad de la estación existente sin alterar fundamentalmente la estación operacional. Un representante de LU confirmó lo anterior diciendo: "Con una estrecha colaboración entre el proyecto de LU, el contratista y la estación, se concluyeron las obras de túneles con una interrupción mínima de las operaciones de la estación y los residentes locales". El valor añadido fue la eliminación de la reubicación de utilidades, La duración de la construcción en al menos 6 meses. Los primeros esfuerzos de extensión de terceros condujeron a un proceso de aprobación sin problemas durante las fases de diseño y construcción. El enfoque SCL ayudó a los casi 12 millones de euros en ahorro total de costes.

• La innovación técnica del año: GRAN DIAMETRO SHIELD TUNNELING EN PUROS ARENAS CON HYBRID EPB SHIELD TECHNOLOGY (BRASIL)

El túnel blindado de la línea de metro 4 en Río de Janeiro (Brasil) tiene una longitud aproximada de 5,2 km. La excavación se realizó utilizando un escudo híbrido de equilibrio de presión de tierra con un diámetro de excavación de 11,51 m y pasado a través de geología compleja que incluía un largo tramo de arena pura delimitada por dos tramos de roca dura y altamente abrasiva. Con esta tecnología híbrida de EPB se lograron una reducción considerable de materiales, de consumibles de acondicionamiento y de energía de consumo de energía.

• La iniciativa medioambiental del año: EL PROYECTO EMSCHER - VOLVER A LA NATURALEZA! (ALEMANIA)

La Emschergenossenschaft de Essen está desarrollando actualmente uno de los proyectos medioambientales más importantes del mundo, a saber, la reestructuración de todo un sistema fluvial. Este sistema se ha utilizado como un sistema abierto de transporte de aguas residuales durante más de 100 años como consecuencia de las extensas actividades de extracción de carbón. 

Después de 2020 todo el río Emscher (cuenca total de 865 kilómetros cuadrados) transportará de nuevo agua limpia. Para alcanzar este objetivo, será necesario construir un gran alcantarillado subterráneo de 51 km de longitud desde Dortmund a Dinslaken, a través de una conurbación densamente poblada. 

Este desagüe central de Emscher tendrá diámetros que varían entre 1600 y 2800 mm a profundidades entre 25 y 40 metros por debajo de la superficie. Los ejes se construirán en intervalos de hasta 1200 metros. Tres grandes estaciones de bombeo, de hasta 48 metros de diámetro, elevarán las aguas residuales de la alcantarilla de Emscher a las plantas de tratamiento existentes. La sección más grande del interceptor de Emscher se llama lote 30. A principios de 2012, su construcción fue adjudicada a Wayss & Freytag ingenieurbau. 

El contrato requiere la construcción de unos 47 km de túneles de alcantarillado. Además de los túneles, hay que excavar más de 100 pozos de construcción, de los cuales los túneles serán conducidos por el levantamiento de tuberías. 

En octubre de 2015, los túneles se completaron con éxito asegurando que al terminar el proyecto, todo el río Emscher estará libre de aguas residuales y puede ser devuelto a su estado natural con ríos ecológicamente rediseñados y nuevas áreas recreativas.

• Iniciativa de seguridad del año: ABSIS (SISTEMA DE MEJORA DE LA SEGURIDAD BASADA EN LA ACTIVIDAD) (SINGAPUR)

Cable Túnel proyecto consiste en la construcción de los 35 km de largo túnel, con un promedio de 60 metros de profundidad para albergar el 400kV y 230kV cable de transmisión. ABSIS se introduce en este proyecto como un enfoque sistemático para abordar los temas de seguridad en diversas actividades de túneles críticos. 

Es una plataforma donde se capturan las actividades de trabajo en un video. Al ver los videos de sí mismos realizando las obras, los trabajadores, sin barreras lingüísticas, pueden ver para ver los lapsos de seguridad a los que se someten, así como las buenas prácticas que logran, pero también pueden adoptar.

• Uso innovador del espacio subterráneo: JURONG ROCK CAVERNS (SINGAPUR)

Las cavernas de roca de Jurong (JRC) se localizan en la isla Jurong y son el sudeste asiático en el almacenamiento de hidrocarburos líquidos tales como petróleo crudo y condensado. 

El "JRC", situado a 150 metros bajo tierra, puede optimizar el uso de la tierra ahorrando hasta 60 ha de terreno subterráneo, garantizando la seguridad de los productos almacenados y reforzando la posición de Singapur como principal centro de energía y productos químicos. Con su exitosa conclusión, JTC y Singapur está bien posicionada para explorar soluciones más innovadoras para promover aún más el crecimiento económico de Singapur.

• El Jóven Tunneller del Año: MR. DEREK ENG

Derek Eng estudió ingeniería civil, profesionalmente entrenada en el campo de los túneles, vocacionalmente llamada a capacitar a los jóvenes ingenieros y tunelistas utilizando sus experiencias y conocimientos adquiridos con tanto esfuerzo. Actualmente trabaja como subdirector en el departamento de túneles de MMC GAMUDA KVMRT (T) Sdn Bhd., una compañía con sede en Malasia y el principal contratista de las estaciones de metro y construcciones de túneles para el proyecto de transporte rápido de masas. 

El viaje de Derek en su carrera hasta ahora, ha crecido y se ha movido más allá de los tecnicismos de los túneles, centrándose mucho en proporcionar formación profesional relacionada con el túnel e inspirar a los jóvenes que abandonan la escuela a tomar la ingeniería como la carrera de elección.

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Cable Tunnel project involves the construction of the 35km long tunnel, averaging 60m deep to house the 400kV and 230kV transmission cable... By using the inherent bearing capacity of «inner rocks supporting», the horizontal and vertical temporary support of the tunnel is saved... Tarcisio Celestino...

The International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association: The ITA Tunnelling Awards’ Winners finally revealed

http://bit.ly/1e3iCuh

Lausanne, 11th of November 2016.- After a one-day technical conference dealing with innovation and productivity in tunnelling, followed by a one-day awards conference, the ITA Tunnelling Awards’ judges have revealed their choices and awarded 8 outstanding projects and also the Young Tunneller of the Year and someone’s Life Time Achievement. After a detailed examination process the 100 candidacies were reduced to 30 finalists. The latter had the chance to go on stage to argue and support their projects in front of the whole Tunnelling Industry…and the winners are:

•           The major project of 2016 (exceeding €500m): THE NEW GUANJIAO TUNNEL ON QUNGHAI TIBET RAILWAY (CHINA)

The New Guanjiao Tunnel is a key project of the second line of Xining-Golmud section of Qinghai-Tibet Railway with a total length of 32.690km. The tunnel, a two-set single-track tunnel with an average elevation of 3400m, operates with freight and passenger electrified railway with a design speed of 160km/h, and with overall consideration, borehole- blasting method has finally been chosen. The construction stage began on 6thNovember, 2007 and the tunnel was opened up for operation on 28thDecember, 2014.The total investment is 4.96 billion RMB.

•           The tunnelling project of the year 2016 (from €50m to €500m): DOWNTOWN LINE STAGE 3 CONTRACT 937       CONSTRUCTION OF FORT CANNING STATION AND TUNNELS    IN SINGAPORE (SINGAPORE)

As Singapore’s underground space becomes more congested with various         competing needs; such as underground basements, utilities tunnels and           metro infrastructures, the construction of new underground metro lines has           correspondingly become more challenging, complex and pushing the boundaries of engineering. This tunnelling project encountered many challenges such as cutter head interventions to remove foundations of buildings, close proximity to national monuments and in-service metro lines with only 1m separation. the tunnelling at such close proximity to the ’live’ tunnels, which carry hundreds of thou- sands of commuters daily, poses exceptional high risk. This project has since been successfully completed with no disruption to any community partners.

•           The outstanding tunnelling project of the year (up to €50m): CHONGQING HONGQIHEGOU METRO STATION (CHINA)

Chongqing Hongqihegou metro station is a transmitting one for line 3 and line 6 in Chongqing, china. The station is located in busting area of Chongqing, and under the main road to airport, where there are many buildings around. It is built in moderately weathered sandstone and moderately weathered sandy mudstone.

The minimum cover thickness of the overburden strata of the project is 8.6m, and the rate of overburden to span is 0.4. Its maximum       excavation section is 760m. The concept of the “inner rocks” and the “inner rocks supporting” tunneling method were put forward in the project. The        whole tunnel section is divided into four drifts. Two are on the top and another two in the bottom to be excavated. In this way, four drifts can be driven simultaneously. By using the inherent bearing capacity of «inner rocks supporting», the horizontal and vertical temporary support of the tunnel is saved. Moreover, the “time-space” effect is controlled precisely for the safety of the force transmitting between primary support and final lining.

•           Renovation/upgrading project of the year: VAUXHALL STATION UPGRADE PROJECT (UNITED KINGDOM)

            London underground’s (LU) Vauxhall station upgrade will soon provide step         free access for tube users, constructed by Bechtel Ltd. as the main contractor,            designed by Gall Zeidler Consultants in a design-build contract, with tunnelling         works carried out by joseph Gallagher Ltd. the project team changed the refe-    rence design to a complete SCL design to provide a more efficient construction            program and reduce ground move-ments.

A more economical reinforced concrete collar was designed, rather than traditional steel lintel beams installed to support new openings in the existing platform tunnels with steel props. These eliminated health and safety risks associated with the installation of heavy steel framing and encroachment onto platform clearance. From the design phase, the project team engaged the owners of the St. George’s wharf, a high-rise building next to the site, and integrated a design review by their appointed engineer.

A potential damage assessment (PDA) and real-time instrumentation and monitoring program formed the integral part of the assurance process. The project has successfully increased existing station capacity without fundamentally altering the operational station. A LU representative confirmed above by stating “With close collaboration between the LU project, the contractor and the station, the tunnelling works were completed with minimal disruption to station operations and local residents.” value added was in the elimination of utility relocation, which cut the construction duration by at least 6-months. Early third-party outreach efforts led to a smooth approvals process during the design and construction phases. The SCL approach aided to the nearly €12m in total cost savings.

•           The technical innovation of the year:       LARGE DIAMETER SHIELD TUNNELLING IN PURE SANDS WITH           HYBRID EPB SHIELD TECHNOLOGY (BRAZIL)

The shield-driven tunnel of metro line 4 in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) has an approximate length of 5.2 km. the excavation was performed using a hybrid earth pressure balance shield with an excavation diameter of 11.51 m and passed            through complex geology that included a long stretch of pure sand           bounded by two stretches of hard, highly abrasive rock. Considerable reduction in materials, for conditioning consumables, and energy of power consumption were achieved with this hybrid EPB technology.

•           The environmental initiative of the year: THE EMSCHER PROJECT - BACK TO NATURE! (GERMANY)

            The Emschergenossenschaft in Essen is currently progressing one of the largest environmental projects in the world, namely, the restructuring of a whole river system. This system has been used as an open wastewater transport system        for more than 100 years as a consequence of extensive coal mining activities.  After 2020 the whole river Emscher, (total catchment 865 square-kilometers) will be transporting clean water again. To reach this target, it will be necessary to build a large 51 km long, underground sewer from Dortmund to Dinslaken, through a densely populated conurbation. This central Emscher sewer will have diameters varying between 1600 and 2800 mm at depths between 25 and 40 meters below the surface. Shafts will be constructed at up to 1200 meter intervals. Three large pumping stations, up to 48 meters in diameter, will lift the wastewater from the Emscher sewer into the existing treatment plants.  The largest section of the Emscher interceptor is called lot 30. In early 2012, its construction was awarded to Wayss & Freytag ingenieurbau. The contract requires the construction of about 47 km of sewer tunnels. In addition to the tunnels, more than 100 construction pits have to be excavated, from which the tunnels will be driven by pipe jacking. In October 2015, tunnelling was successfully completed ensuring that upon project completion, the whole river Emscher will be free of wastewater and can be returned to its natural state with ecologically redesigned rivers and new recreational areas.

•           Safety initiative of the year: ABSIS (ACTIVITY BASED SAFETY IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM)             (SINGAPORE)

Cable Tunnel project involves the construction of the 35km long tunnel, averaging 60m deep to house the 400kV and 230kV transmission cable. ABSIS         is introduced in this project as a systematic approach to address safety issues in various critical tunnelling activities. It is a platform where work activities are captured in a video. By viewing the video footage of themselves carrying out          the works, the workers, without any language barriers, are able to see for witness the safety lapses they subject themselves to, as well as the good practices they achieve, but also can adopt.

•           Innovative use of underground space: JURONG ROCK CAVERNS (SINGAPORE)

Jurong rock caverns (JRC) are located on Jurong Island and is Southeast Asia’s            fi the storage of liquid hydrocarbons such as crude oil and condensate.    “JRC” located 150 meters below the ground is able to optimize land use by saving up to 60ha of aboveground land, ensuring safety and security of the products in storage whilst reinforcing Singapore’s position as a leading energy and chemicals hub. With its successful completion, JTC and Singapore       is well positioned to explore more innovative solutions to further promote Singapore’s economic growth.

•           The Young Tunneller of the Year:            MR. DEREK ENG

Derek Eng studied civil engineering, professionally trained in the field of tunnelling, vocationally called to empower young engineers and tunnellers using his hard-gained experiences and knowledge. He currently works as an assistant manager in the tunnel department for MMC GAMUDA KVMRT (T) Sdn Bhd., a notable Malaysian based company and the main contractor for the underground stations and tunnel constructions for mass rapid transit project. Derek’s journey in his career thus far, has grown and moved beyond      just the technicalities of tunnelling, focusing a lot on providing professional training related to tunnelling and inspiring young school leavers to take up engineering as the career of choice.

•           Lifetime Achievement: Dr. MARTIN HERRENKNECHT

Martin Herrenknecht received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his remarkable contributions in Tunnelling. After studies at the Konstanz University of Applied Sciences, from which he was diplomed in 1964, he founded his own company in 1975, specialized in Tunnel Boring Machines. In 2010, Herrenknecht AG, his company, was recognized for drilling the largest tunnel in the world. He also took part in the rewarded Eurasia Tunnel Project, elected Major Project of the Year 2015.       About the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association:

The International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA) is a non-profit and non-governmental international organization, which promotes the use of underground space for a solution to sustainable development. Founded in 1974 and operating out of Lausanne, Switzerland, ITA currently associates 73 Member Nations, 300 affiliated members, 17 Prime Sponsors and 60 supporters, as well as individual members.

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JTC and Singapore is well positioned to explore more innovative solutions to further promote Singapore’s economic growth... Tarcisio Celestino, ITA... The SCL approach aided to the nearly €12m in total cost savings...

The International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association: The ITA Tunnelling Awards’ Winners finally revealed

http://bit.ly/1e3iCuh

Lausanne, 11th of November 2016.- After a one-day technical conference dealing with innovation and productivity in tunnelling, followed by a one-day awards conference, the ITA Tunnelling Awards’ judges have revealed their choices and awarded 8 outstanding projects and also the Young Tunneller of the Year and someone’s Life Time Achievement. After a detailed examination process the 100 candidacies were reduced to 30 finalists. The latter had the chance to go on stage to argue and support their projects in front of the whole Tunnelling Industry…and the winners are:

•           The major project of 2016 (exceeding €500m): THE NEW GUANJIAO TUNNEL ON QUNGHAI TIBET RAILWAY (CHINA)

The New Guanjiao Tunnel is a key project of the second line of Xining-Golmud section of Qinghai-Tibet Railway with a total length of 32.690km. The tunnel, a two-set single-track tunnel with an average elevation of 3400m, operates with freight and passenger electrified railway with a design speed of 160km/h, and with overall consideration, borehole- blasting method has finally been chosen. The construction stage began on 6thNovember, 2007 and the tunnel was opened up for operation on 28thDecember, 2014.The total investment is 4.96 billion RMB.

•           The tunnelling project of the year 2016 (from €50m to €500m): DOWNTOWN LINE STAGE 3 CONTRACT 937       CONSTRUCTION OF FORT CANNING STATION AND TUNNELS    IN SINGAPORE (SINGAPORE)

As Singapore’s underground space becomes more congested with various         competing needs; such as underground basements, utilities tunnels and           metro infrastructures, the construction of new underground metro lines has           correspondingly become more challenging, complex and pushing the boundaries of engineering. This tunnelling project encountered many challenges such as cutter head interventions to remove foundations of buildings, close proximity to national monuments and in-service metro lines with only 1m separation. the tunnelling at such close proximity to the ’live’ tunnels, which carry hundreds of thou- sands of commuters daily, poses exceptional high risk. This project has since been successfully completed with no disruption to any community partners.

•           The outstanding tunnelling project of the year (up to €50m): CHONGQING HONGQIHEGOU METRO STATION (CHINA)

Chongqing Hongqihegou metro station is a transmitting one for line 3 and line 6 in Chongqing, china. The station is located in busting area of Chongqing, and under the main road to airport, where there are many buildings around. It is built in moderately weathered sandstone and moderately weathered sandy mudstone.

The minimum cover thickness of the overburden strata of the project is 8.6m, and the rate of overburden to span is 0.4. Its maximum       excavation section is 760m. The concept of the “inner rocks” and the “inner rocks supporting” tunneling method were put forward in the project. The        whole tunnel section is divided into four drifts. Two are on the top and another two in the bottom to be excavated. In this way, four drifts can be driven simultaneously. By using the inherent bearing capacity of «inner rocks supporting», the horizontal and vertical temporary support of the tunnel is saved. Moreover, the “time-space” effect is controlled precisely for the safety of the force transmitting between primary support and final lining.

•           Renovation/upgrading project of the year: VAUXHALL STATION UPGRADE PROJECT (UNITED KINGDOM)

            London underground’s (LU) Vauxhall station upgrade will soon provide step         free access for tube users, constructed by Bechtel Ltd. as the main contractor,            designed by Gall Zeidler Consultants in a design-build contract, with tunnelling         works carried out by joseph Gallagher Ltd. the project team changed the refe-    rence design to a complete SCL design to provide a more efficient construction            program and reduce ground move-ments.

A more economical reinforced concrete collar was designed, rather than traditional steel lintel beams installed to support new openings in the existing platform tunnels with steel props. These eliminated health and safety risks associated with the installation of heavy steel framing and encroachment onto platform clearance. From the design phase, the project team engaged the owners of the St. George’s wharf, a high-rise building next to the site, and integrated a design review by their appointed engineer.

A potential damage assessment (PDA) and real-time instrumentation and monitoring program formed the integral part of the assurance process. The project has successfully increased existing station capacity without fundamentally altering the operational station. A LU representative confirmed above by stating “With close collaboration between the LU project, the contractor and the station, the tunnelling works were completed with minimal disruption to station operations and local residents.” value added was in the elimination of utility relocation, which cut the construction duration by at least 6-months. Early third-party outreach efforts led to a smooth approvals process during the design and construction phases. The SCL approach aided to the nearly €12m in total cost savings.

•           The technical innovation of the year:       LARGE DIAMETER SHIELD TUNNELLING IN PURE SANDS WITH           HYBRID EPB SHIELD TECHNOLOGY (BRAZIL)

The shield-driven tunnel of metro line 4 in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) has an approximate length of 5.2 km. the excavation was performed using a hybrid earth pressure balance shield with an excavation diameter of 11.51 m and passed            through complex geology that included a long stretch of pure sand           bounded by two stretches of hard, highly abrasive rock. Considerable reduction in materials, for conditioning consumables, and energy of power consumption were achieved with this hybrid EPB technology.

•           The environmental initiative of the year: THE EMSCHER PROJECT - BACK TO NATURE! (GERMANY)

            The Emschergenossenschaft in Essen is currently progressing one of the largest environmental projects in the world, namely, the restructuring of a whole river system. This system has been used as an open wastewater transport system        for more than 100 years as a consequence of extensive coal mining activities.  After 2020 the whole river Emscher, (total catchment 865 square-kilometers) will be transporting clean water again. To reach this target, it will be necessary to build a large 51 km long, underground sewer from Dortmund to Dinslaken, through a densely populated conurbation. This central Emscher sewer will have diameters varying between 1600 and 2800 mm at depths between 25 and 40 meters below the surface. Shafts will be constructed at up to 1200 meter intervals. Three large pumping stations, up to 48 meters in diameter, will lift the wastewater from the Emscher sewer into the existing treatment plants.  The largest section of the Emscher interceptor is called lot 30. In early 2012, its construction was awarded to Wayss & Freytag ingenieurbau. The contract requires the construction of about 47 km of sewer tunnels. In addition to the tunnels, more than 100 construction pits have to be excavated, from which the tunnels will be driven by pipe jacking. In October 2015, tunnelling was successfully completed ensuring that upon project completion, the whole river Emscher will be free of wastewater and can be returned to its natural state with ecologically redesigned rivers and new recreational areas.

•           Safety initiative of the year: ABSIS (ACTIVITY BASED SAFETY IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM)             (SINGAPORE)

Cable Tunnel project involves the construction of the 35km long tunnel, averaging 60m deep to house the 400kV and 230kV transmission cable. ABSIS         is introduced in this project as a systematic approach to address safety issues in various critical tunnelling activities. It is a platform where work activities are captured in a video. By viewing the video footage of themselves carrying out          the works, the workers, without any language barriers, are able to see for witness the safety lapses they subject themselves to, as well as the good practices they achieve, but also can adopt.

•           Innovative use of underground space: JURONG ROCK CAVERNS (SINGAPORE)

Jurong rock caverns (JRC) are located on Jurong Island and is Southeast Asia’s            fi the storage of liquid hydrocarbons such as crude oil and condensate.    “JRC” located 150 meters below the ground is able to optimize land use by saving up to 60ha of aboveground land, ensuring safety and security of the products in storage whilst reinforcing Singapore’s position as a leading energy and chemicals hub. With its successful completion, JTC and Singapore       is well positioned to explore more innovative solutions to further promote Singapore’s economic growth.

•           The Young Tunneller of the Year:            MR. DEREK ENG

Derek Eng studied civil engineering, professionally trained in the field of tunnelling, vocationally called to empower young engineers and tunnellers using his hard-gained experiences and knowledge. He currently works as an assistant manager in the tunnel department for MMC GAMUDA KVMRT (T) Sdn Bhd., a notable Malaysian based company and the main contractor for the underground stations and tunnel constructions for mass rapid transit project. Derek’s journey in his career thus far, has grown and moved beyond      just the technicalities of tunnelling, focusing a lot on providing professional training related to tunnelling and inspiring young school leavers to take up engineering as the career of choice.

•           Lifetime Achievement: Dr. MARTIN HERRENKNECHT

Martin Herrenknecht received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his remarkable contributions in Tunnelling. After studies at the Konstanz University of Applied Sciences, from which he was diplomed in 1964, he founded his own company in 1975, specialized in Tunnel Boring Machines. In 2010, Herrenknecht AG, his company, was recognized for drilling the largest tunnel in the world. He also took part in the rewarded Eurasia Tunnel Project, elected Major Project of the Year 2015.       About the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association:

The International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA) is a non-profit and non-governmental international organization, which promotes the use of underground space for a solution to sustainable development. Founded in 1974 and operating out of Lausanne, Switzerland, ITA currently associates 73 Member Nations, 300 affiliated members, 17 Prime Sponsors and 60 supporters, as well as individual members.

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