Introduction

The Open Session was introduced by Piergiorgio Grasso and coordinated by P. Grasso and E. Grov. During the Open Session,presentations were made by : Amanda Elioff, Animateur of WG 20 on "Modern Tunnel Planning – A U.S. Perspective"; Gusztav Klados on “The Smart project in Malaysia”; Pablo Bueno on “Madrid Metro and M30 Project”; Vähäadho Ilkka / “Underground (UG) – Master Plan of Helsinki” and Gu Xin / “Master Plan of Shenzhen (China) on Master plan for the utilisation of the Underground”; Keith Tsang on “Deep Sewage Tunnels in Hong Kong”; Harvey Parker on “A new tunnel in Seattle to replace the aging and earthquake-damaged viaduct along the waterfront”.

The proper planning and stakeholders consensus are playing a key role in the success of underground projects. The underground solution is often the optimum solution for satisfying the demands of human mobility, infrastructures, utility connection and enhanced wellbeing, but it is a limited resource and should be exploited with vision, sustainable cost/effective and adequately supported solutions. This is the effective message communicated by the different experiences and projects, often incorporating innovative technical solutions,presented and debated in the session.

Programme

Title

Author

Introduction

P. Grasso, ITA Vice President, Italy

Modern tunnel planning - A US perspective

A. Elioff, Animateur ITA WG 20, USA

The SMART project in Malaysia

Gusztav Klados, Hungary

Madrid metro and M30 Projects

P. Bueno, AETOS, Spain

Underground MasterPlan of Helsink

I. Vähäadho, Finland

Master plan for the utilisation of underground in Shenzen (China)

Gu Xin, China

Deep Sewage tunnels in Hong Kong (China), prepared by Mr Raymond Tai, Mr Albert Chan and Mr Raymond Seit   of the Drainage Services Department, Government of Hong Kong SAR, China

R. Seit, Hong Kong SAR, China

A new tunnel in Seattle to replace the aging and earthquake-dammaged viaduct

H. Parker, ITA Past President, USA