ITA-AITES World Tunnel Congress 2009 – Underground Space and Tunnelling: Planning with Vision

The coming ITA-AITES World Tunnel Congress (WTC 09) will be organised by the Hungarian Tunnelling Association and take place in Budapest/HU from May, 23rd to 28th, 2009.
This major annual meeting will give the opportunity to professionals, from all over the world (e.g. project owners and managers, engineers, architects, designers, civil engineering contractors, manufacturers and suppliers) to exchange their expertises and their skills in their field of intervention. Gathering the best specialists from each activity, who take part in conceiving and achieving efficient and innovative civil engineering projects using as best as possible the underground space.
During 5 days, 1,000 of delegates will take part in technical conferences dealing with safe and long-lasting tunnelling and underground space, technical innovations, news offers of training a.s.o.
On Tuesday, May 26th, 2009, the Open Session, annually organized by ITA (International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association) on problematic which concern the whole profession, will this year have for theme: “Planning of Modern Tunnelling Projects”. At this occasion several projects and international works will be shown:
– SMART project – Kuala Lumpur/Malaysia
The initial project consisted in a tunnel able to alleviate heavy floods in the city. This tunnel was then transformed to have 2 functions: a classic road tunnel, which is closed for traffic during strong thunderstorms to perform its original mission.
– Subway of Madrid/Spain
Between 1999 and 2003 the city of Madrid has extended its network of subway (47 km of lines) to irrigate its new districts in the South of the city. Between 2003 and 2007, the network grew again by 40 km of new lines. All the suburbs are irrigated by the subway.
– Master plan for the use of underground – Helsinki/Finland
For the whole city area an underground component master plan, the first of its kind in Finland. The aim is to create preconditions for the infrastructural service taking place below ground, for the public shelters, traffic lanes and depots as well as supporting activities to satisfy private and public needs.
– Deep Sewage Tunnels – Hong Kong
23.6 km of Deep Sewage Tunnels have been constructed to convey sewage from north-east and Kowlown areas of Hong Kong to a new sewage treatment plant.
– Lyon Turin Rail link France – Italy
This 300 km rail link, including an over 50 km long base tunnel under the Alps, for freight and passengers, will connect Lyon and Turin, Rhône-Alpes and Piemont, France and Italy as well as western to eastern and north to south Europe, in removing a major bottleneck.
The 35th General Assembly of the 54 ITA Member Nations will meet on the occasion of the congress in Budapest/HU.