The Third International Conference and Exhibition on Tunnelling and Underground Space was successfully organised by The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) from 3 – 5 March 2015 at the Dorsett Grand Subang Hotel, Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. The theme of the Conference was Sustainable Transportation in Underground Space Development. This Specialty Conference was well attended by 207 participants globally. The Conference was supported by The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) with many members attended the conference.
The International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA) gave strong support by holding its Executive Committee meeting in Petaling Jaya Hilton Hotel to coincide with the ICETUS2015. A Pre-Conference Workshop entitled “Tunnels for Transport in Urban Areas” was also jointly organised by Tunnelling and Underground Space Technical Division of IEM and the ITACET Foundationon 28 February and 1st March 2015 at the Tan Sri Prof Chin Fung Kee Auditorium, Wisma IEM, Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. The workshop was attended by 40 participants. Technical Session 1 started with Mr. Soren Eskesen delivering his paper on “Why go underground in urban areas” and “General aspects of urban tunnelling – Environmental issues” Mr. Felix Amberg presented his paper on “Presentation of the different tunnelling methods in urban areas and elements for the choice of the method”.
Mr. T. Babendererde delivered his lectures on “Slurry shield, EPB, soil conditioning” and “Segmental lining design for mechanized tunnelling” during Session 2. Papers on “Excavation methods and basics aspects of design” and “Ground reinforcement, support, lining” were presented by Mr. T. Celestono in Session 3. During Session 4, Mr. S. Eskesen delivered his paper on “Risk management for urban tunnels”, Mr. D. Peila on “Site investigation and “Health & Safety” by Ms. R. Haug. Ms. E. Chiriotti presented her paper on “Geotechnical monitoring” while Mr. F. Amberg delivered his lecture on “TBM Monitoring”. Session 6 started with Case Studies 1 on “TBM Solution & Leak Sealing Repair” by Mr. Kah Fai Lee and Case Studies 2 on “Metro case studies – SYSTRA” by Mr. E. Leca. Mr. Gusztav Klados delivered his lecture on “KVMRT Project: TBM Procurement and Tunnelling” while Ir. Dr. Ooi Lean Hock delivered his lecture on “Site Investigation, Advance Works before Tunnelling and Instrumentation and Monitoring for KVMRT Project”.
The Workshop ended at 6.30 pm on 1st March 2015. Ir. Dr. Ooi Teik Aun presented mementos and Certificates of Appreciation to all the lecturers
At the Opening Ceremony of ICETUS2015 in the morning of 3rd March 2015, the Organizing Committee Chairman Ir Dr Ooi Teik Aun delivered his welcoming speech and this was followed by the ITA President Mr. Søren Degn Eskesen who reported that
1. More than 1500 delegates and participants from the ITA family met at the last meeting in Iguassu in Brazil in May 2014 on the occasion of the ITA 40th General Assembly and World Tunnel Conference 2014 (WTC2014).
2. The General Assembly approved the ITA Strategic Plan going forward to 2016. As part of the strategy it was decided on an updated vision:
The ITA Vision
“ITA - the leading international organization promoting the use of tunnels and underground space through knowledge sharing and application of technology.”
Y.Bhg. Dato’ Ir. Lim Chow Hock,The President of IEM, then delivered his address and declared opened the Conference followed by a visit to the Exhibition booths.
After the morning tea break, the ITA PresidentMr Søren Degn Eskesen delivered the Opening Keynote Lecture entitled “Construction Challenges for Urban Tunnelling - The Copenhagen Metro Circle Line”. This was followed Keynote Lecture 1 by Professor Yong Kwet Yew, Chairman, Association of Geotechnical Societies in Southeast Asia & Vice President (Campus Infrastructure) at the National University of Singapore entitled “Learning Lessons from the Construction of Singapore Downtown Line”.Keynote Lecture 2 was delivered by Mr. Felix Amberg, ITA Honorary Treasurer and President of Amberg Technologies entitled “Sustainability through Value Preservation of Underground Infrastructure”. Keynote Lecture 3 was delivered by Professor Jenny Yan, ITA Council member and The China Railway Southwest Research Institute Co. Ltd entitled “Key Issues of Urban Tunnels for the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan Intercity Railway”.
In addition to these Keynote Lectures, there are Six Special Lectures, 2 Technical Sessions and 1 Special Session by MMC-Gamuda on KVMRT Underground/Tunnelling Works (SBK Line) consisting of 27 papers. In this conference we are able to successfully share our experiences and innovations from tunnelling projects in Norway, Switzerland, Germany, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan and also enable transfer of technology to be effected.
There was also a technical visit to the KVMRT Tun Razak Exchange Site in Kuala Lumpur on 5th March 2015.
The Conference attracted 13 exhibitors of wide ranging tunnelling activities.
MMC-Gamuda was the Main Sponsor. China Railway Engineering Equipment Ltd Corp and Herrenknecht AG were the Gold Sponsors, Sepakat Setia Perunding Sdn Bhd as the Silver Sponsor and BSG Construction (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd was the Bronze Sponsor.
On the whole the ICETUS2015 and the Pre-Conference Workshop were very successful.
