HKA joint seminar on underground infrastructure excellence: safety, design, and tunnel project insights

Event organised by ICE

Date: 24 July 2024
Time: 19:00 - 20:30 HKT (GMT+8)
Location: Room FJ302

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Hung Hom

Kowloon,

Hong Kong

This event has now ended

Overview

Please note that this seminar will be held on 24 July 2024 from 19.00 – 20.30 HK time.

Overseas underground developments tend to become increasingly complex. The designer’s focus moves from conventional underground storage or mining facilities to complex traffic hubs coupling different modes of transportation as well as shopping and office areas. A further complexity level is related to the need for evolving uses and an increasing need for safety.

A key issue is related to the lack of specific regulations guiding the design and approval process. Prescriptive building codes are frequently used as guidance, but they are not entirely adequate for complex underground developments. The design approach is therefore supplemented to performance-based designs, which frequently lack a proper regulatory background, in particular in terms of safety objectives, methodological approach and verification criteria.

In the seminar, Dr Marco Bettelini will present the historic evolution, on current developments and on ongoing efforts to provide a better regulatory framework and practical support to designers and operators.

Mr Michael Rehbock-Sander will also give a detailed overview over the status of the Brenner Base Tunnel (BBT) project, the longest underground railway tunnel in the world with very difficult geological conditions and complex surround conditions. He will describe selected aspects from the excavation works and will give an outlook to the coming challenges and schedule.

As Mr Michael Rehbock-Sander has also been project manager for one of the lots at the Gotthard Basetunnel, to some aspects he will have a look back how things have been handled and solved at the 57 km long Gotthard Basetunnel.

Note:

Registration will be confirmed on a first-come-first-served basis, with priority given to ICE HKA / HKIE members.
Only successful applicants will receive a confirmation e-mail.
Attendance certificates will be provided after 2 weeks of the event only if attendees attend the whole event.
The above is subject to change without prior notice.

Technical Report Prize:

The event is designated by the HKA committee and is eligible for the Technical Report Prize. ICE HKA awards prizes to ICE members who reside in Hong Kong and prepare reports of a high standard on the caption technical event. Winners will be given a prize of HK$500.

For the eligibility and more information about the prize, please visit our Hong Kong Awards page. Submit your report and below info to [email protected] by 23 August 2024 and win the prize!

Adverse weather arrangements:

The event will be cancelled/rescheduled to another date in the case of a red or black rainstorm signal, or typhoon signal no. 3 or above is in force by the Hong Kong Observatory at or after 17:00. It may also be cancelled because of safety or other reasons.

Disclaimer:

The Institution of Civil Engineers (Hong Kong Association) shall not under any circumstances be liable or otherwise for death, any injury, any damage to, loss or destruction of property or otherwise, in any such case arising from any accident or mishap, whether during or after this event, in preparation for it, travelling to or from it or otherwise.