Conference and Topic Themes  

The tunnelling industry plays a vital role in connecting our communities through underground infrastructure – delivering transportation, water and sanitation, utility and energy networks that cross, connect and unite cities, regions and continents. The nature of these projects and the challenges they face are varied, and so the ITA-AITES and WTC play an essential role in bringing together and connecting our community of owners, contractors, suppliers, consultants and academics. This is a diverse community, and very much like our communities at home, we often speak different languages, both literally and metaphorically. So it is that we look to bring together our international community of tunnelling practitioners to connect across languages and share experiences and knowledge to make our projects safer, more economical, more resilient, and more sustainable. 

To advance this, we have selected the conference theme “Connecting Communities through Underground Infrastructure” (“Connecter les communautés au moyen d’infrastructures souterraines”).   

Specifically, the topic themes of the scientific program that we invite you to submit abstracts on are: 

• Contractual Practices, Insurance and Risk Management
• Planning and Use of Underground Space
• Site Investigation and Ground Characterization
• Instrumentation, Monitoring and Remote Sensing
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Conventional Tunnelling in Challenging Conditions
• Sequential Excavation and NATM
• Mechanized Tunnelling in Challenging Conditions
• Immersed Tunnels
• Caverns and Power Houses
• Microtunnelling
• Shaft Design
• Innovative Tunnelling
• Robotics and Automation
• Ground Support and Lining Design
• Grouting, Groundwater Control and Waterproofing
• Digital and Information Technology
• Operation, Inspection, Maintenance and Rehabilitation
• Safety in Tunnelling
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Tunnelling
• Sustainability/Net Zero

Presentation Styles

We value diversity and inclusivity and encourage submissions from specialists across various disciplines. We will strive for fairness and representation in organizing the technical program. If your abstract is accepted for a Full Paper submission, you will be able to indicate your preference for either an oral or poster presentation. We will accommodate as many authors as possible, recognizing that there will be limitations in the number of lecture presentation slots available.

Oral Presentation: Oral presentations will be delivered by an individual author (representing their co-authors). Their selection will be based on reviews of the paper’s rigour and contribution to scholarship and/or practice. Oral presentations will be grouped into a thematic session by the Program Committee.

Poster Presentation: Poster presentations will afford the author(s) to combine a visual summary of the findings of their paper with the opportunity for individualized and informal discussion of the presenter’s work.

Abstract Submission Guidelines

• Abstracts must be submitted via the submission portal by the deadline listed above.
• Abstract submissions are limited to a maximum of 500 words. This does not include title, author’s names and affiliations.
• Title: Create a title that concisely and accurately portrays the content of the abstract (200 characters maximum).
• The presenting author must certify that all authors have agreed to the submission of the abstract.

Once on the submission portal, follow the instructions to create your submission profile. You will then be provided instructions on how to submit your abstract. You may log into the submission platform at any time to view or edit your abstract(s) up until its final submission. Once submitted, no edits are possible.