New speaker additions to the BTS Conference and Exhibition 2022 can now be announced with the confirmation of a host of exciting and exclusive presentations across the 11th – 12th October at the QEII Conference Centre, Westminster, London.
Joining the previously confirmed presentations will be:
Permanent waterproof sprayed concrete lining – findings from the SUPERCON research project, Norway
Karl Gunnar Holter, PhD engineering Geology, Senior specialist at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Oslo, Norway
Permanent waterproof tunnel linings based on sprayed concrete have the potential to reduce construction costs, enhance the sustainability performance and offer long term durability and functionality in several situations. The SUPERCON research project in Norway aims to develop a waterproof sprayed concrete material which will enable the realisation of waterproof tunnel linings entirely based on sprayed concrete. This research project is funded by the Norwegian research Council and a number of companies in the tunnelling industry. The research partners are SINTEF, NGI and NTNU. Several significant mix design and spray application developments have been undertaken. The findings suggest that this approach is technically feasible for achieving a functional dry and durable sprayed concrete lining.
hyperTunnel – One year on – making the new future for tunnel construction a reality
Jeremy Hammond – hyperTunnel Co CEO
hyperTunnel is a technology company transforming underground construction to help meet global demand for increased, yet sustainable underground schemes. With hyperTunnel having come out of stealth mode at BTS in 2021, Jeremy Hammond will track subsequent development of its core technologies, solution sets, and resultant industry engagements. All of these are focused on the opportunities of lowering project costs and risk, dramatically reducing carbon footprint, and improving safety through capabilities such as, for example, the upfront knowledge provided by a suite of underground scanning tools feeding a Digital Twin.
Geotechnical Baseline Reports – A Good Practice Guide
John Davis, Senior Partner, Geotechnical Consulting Group LLP, and Antony Drake, Technical Director, Mott MacDonald
This presentation will introduce the content of the soon to be published CIRIA GBR Good Practice Guide A selection of the topics the report covers are:
- how GBRs help facilitate risk management
- the benefits of using GBRs in avoiding and resolving disputes without costly litigation
- lessons learned from the application of GBRs in UK and internationally
- how GBRs can best be adapted to work within UK contractual frameworks
- what GBRs should address, who should author GBRs, the concept of “baselines”, how GBRs “fit” within conditions of contract, and lessons gained from applying GBRs.
Muon tomography for safety and safeguarding in nuclear waste geological repositories
Lee Thompson, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield
Muon tomgography is a powerful geological imaging tool that utilises naturally-occurring radiation to return critical information on density variations in a non-invasive, non-destructive manner. Famously applied to the imaging of volcanoes, the Fukushima reactor and the search for hidden chambers in pyramids, muon tomography has a broad range of applications including mining, tunnels and the nuclear sector. The presentation will introduce the technique, its track record and will present the results from a programme of work that is exploring how muon tomography can be used to provide critical safety and safeguarding information for the storage of nuclear waste in geological repositories.
Major geological constraints on design for the recently constructed Harbour Metro tunnels
Dr David Och, Technical Director – Geology (Tunnels), Adj. Assoc. Professor (UNSW), WSP Technical Fellow
The iconic Sydney Harbour was the key element of the recently constructed Sydney Metro tunnel connection from Chatswood to Sydenham. The harbour had limited geotechnical information prior to the project and as such, a detailed geophysical and geotechnical investigations were planned to facilitate early planning and design work for three harbour tunnel alignment options. This would involve either full rock face excavation by Tunnel Boring Machine, mixed face Tunnel Boring Machine excavation or the installation of immersed tubes. Following these investigation of the ground below the harbour floor, the team were able to deliver a reference design based on the geotechnical risks in tunnelling beneath the harbour.
Also confirmed are separate presentations from HS2, by the BBV JV and the SCS JV, an insight into future works for the tunnelling industry by Nuclear Waste Services, the David Wallis Lecture this year presented by BTS Chair, Rod Young, and more to be added soon!
The event also boasts an extensive exhibition which is approaching sold out, so book now to avoid missing out.
With delegate fees (for the full two days including lunch and coffee) at £175 (BTS members) or £225 (non-BTS members) it is impossible to find an event comparably priced or with such high calibre technical content.
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