Challenges of tunnelling in an urban area with shallow cover
Senthilnath G T
Shallow tunnels benefit from low short-term construction costs and long-term operational costs. However, tunnelling in shallow overburden, particularly in soft ground conditions, comes with its own host of problems. Hence identifying the geotechnical risk, choosing an appropriate design approach and construction method, and more importantly, implementing a proper monitoring plan by professionally trained tunnelling engineers on site is critically important for successfully excavating shallow tunnels in an urban area. This talk will discuss these challenges using some of the case study projects recently published by the presenter.
Joint AGS (QLD) and Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) QLD Local Association event.
About the speaker
Senthilnath G T Associate Tunnel Engineer, SMEC
Senthil has 13 years of international consulting experience, working in Singapore, UAE, India and Australia. Since arriving in Brisbane, he has been involved in major Australian infrastructure projects, including Brisbane Metro and Cross River Rail in QLD; SNOWY 2.0 and Sydney Metro Central station in NSW; and West Gate tunnel in VIC.
Senthil is co-author of the Australia Tunnelling Society (ATS)’s Tunnel design guideline and is the recipient of multiple industry awards, including the Young Tunneller Award in the UK; WH Warren Medal & David Sugden Award in Australia, and the Hulme Prize in Singapore
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