The change in climate and the spread of urbanization are leaving populations increasingly at risk from flooding. Tunnels are an effective means of diverting flood water and over recent years, numerous cities around the world have built flood control tunnels in order to protect their inhabitants.

China is no exception and Shanghai is currently undertaking studies for a new sewer and flood control tunnel system at a depth of approximately 60 meters and in soft soils. It was in this context that a one-day "International Consultant & Training Workshop on Construction Technology for Deep Tunnel Sewage Systems" took place in Shanghai, China, on 25th November 2017.

This event, which was attended by more than 300 participants from public agencies, industry and universities, was successfully organized thanks to close cooperation between the ITACET Foundation, Tongji University, Shanghai Municipality, the Shanghai Society of Civil Engineering, and STEC (Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Corporation).

The seminar comprised 4 sessions, with a specific focus on "Flood Control and Tunnelling", and was moderated by Prof. Bai Yun from Tongji University.

Talks were given by two distingushed ITA speakers: Mr Harald Wagner, for Sessions 1 and 4 and Mr Martin Knights for Sessions 2 and 3 (pictured centre in the photo above).

The session Topics were as follows.

Session 1 - “Introduction to Flooding Phenomena in Urban Areas”

Session 2 – “Design/Construction of Rain Water Systems – Operation, Maintenance”

Session 3 – “Case History 1 “The London Thames Tideway Tunnel Programme”

Session 4 – “Case History 2 “The Bangkok Megaflood in 2011”

After each session, the participants were given the opportunity to put their questions to the speakers, which resulted in lively, interactive discussions. Questions were notably related to the structural impacts of deep tunnel excavations, conventional and mechanized tunnel lining technologies, geotechnical baselines, contracting models, and risk management.

Above left: Dr Harald Wagner during the introductory session.                                 Above right: Martin Knights, Past ITA President.

Click here to see the programme