Déconnexion

Call for Abstracts

Connecting Communities through Underground Infrastructure

 

Call for Abstracts

Get ready to contribute to WTC2026! The call for abstracts for the World Tunnel Congress in Montréal opened on 3 March 2025. We invite you to browse the themes below and submit your abstract by 30 June 2025 (extended deadline).

SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT

Please note the following key dates:

Abstract Submission Opens 3 March 2025
Abstract Submission Deadline (EXTENDED) 30 June 2025
Abstract Notification of Acceptance 15 July 2025
Full Paper Submission Opens 1 August 2025
Registration Opens Fall 2025
Full Paper Submission Deadline 26 October 2025
Full Paper Notification of Acceptance 12 December 2025
Full Paper Revision Deadline 9 January 2026
Full Paper Notification 16 January 2026

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. 

SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT

Abstract Review Process

  • The Abstract Review Committee will conduct a blind review of the submitted abstracts. At least two reviewers will evaluate and comment on each abstract. Ties and discrepancies will be resolved by the Program Committee Chair.
  • An abstract that presents only speculative results or serves as an advertisement for commercial products or services will not be considered.
  • Notification of acceptance or rejection of abstracts will be sent to all authors by 15 July 2025.

 

Full Paper Submission Process

After notification of abstract acceptance has been communicated, authors will receive instructions for preparing and submitting their Full Paper. This will include a Word template that authors must use with formatting instructions they must follow.

 

Conference Registration

If your paper is accepted for oral or poster presentation and to be included in the Congress Proceedings, at least one author must register for and attend the full in-person/on-site conference in Montreal (15-21 May 2026). This registration must occur before 31 January 2026. Visit the WTC2026 registration page for additional details.

SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE

Enquiries

For enquiries regarding the abstract submission process, please contact the Conference Secretariat – JPdL International at info@wtc2026.ca

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Contact us

Conference Secretariat – JPdL International
info@wtc2026.ca

Stay in touch!

To receive more information, sign up here!