Australian Tunnelling Society

High pressure water mist in tunnels - SHORT NOTICE EVENT - REGISTER NOW!
2024-06-13 17:00 - 18:30 (Australia/Brisbane) | Online and in person at: Level 9, 340 Adelaide Street, Brisbane
Overview
Gain insights from recent full-scale tunnel fire tests showcasing the performance of water mist systems in real-world scenarios. Explore case studies of successful installations of water mist systems in tunnels, such as the refurbishment project of the Hugh Carey Tunnel (formerly Brooklyn Battery Tunnel) in New York City and the deployment in the Ismailia Tunnel beneath the Suez Canal in Egypt. Uncover key findings from the SUVEREN research project, including comprehensive fire tests involving batteries. Learn about the project’s contributions to advancing tunnel safety through innovative technologies. Join us for a deep dive into the latest advancements in tunnel safety and the critical role of water mist systems.
Learning outcomes
By attending this event, you will:

Understand the criteria for determining when a water mist system is suitable for integration into both new and existing tunnel projects, considering factors such as tunnel design, location, and potential fire risks.
Identify circumstances where a water mist system may not be the optimal choice for a tunnel project, recognizing limitations and constraints that may impact its effectiveness or feasibility.
Evaluate the potential ofwater mist systems to compensate for existing deficits in tunnel safety measures, exploring their capacity to mitigate fire hazards and enhance overall safety standards.
Analyse the firefighting performance of water mist systems in tunnels through examination of testing results, gaining insights into their efficacy in controlling and suppressing tunnel fires.
Gain knowledge of the technical layout parameters of water mist systems, including design considerations, installation requirements, and operational functionalities, to facilitate informed decision-making and effective implementation in tunnel projects.

Event program
In-person:

5:00 pm AEST – Registration and refreshments
5:30 pm AEST – Event begins
6:30 pm AEST – Event concludes

Online:

5:30 pm AEST – Event begins
6:30 pm AEST – Event concludes

About the speaker

Armin Feltmann
Business Manager for Tunnel System, FOGTEC Fire Protection

Industry Update - The Snowy 2.0 project
2024-06-26 17:00 - 19:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | SMEC, Tower 4, 727 Collins St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3008, Australia
For the online event join by clicking here at 5.55pm on 26 June
From the Owner’s Engineer perspective
The Snowy 2.0 project is a major pumped-storage expansion of the Snowy Mountains hydropower scheme, which forms a vital part of Australia’s energy transition towards a low-emissions future. The project will substantially increase the existing scheme’s capacity, adding 2200 MW of energy generation capacity and large-scale energy storage of 350,000 MW hours. At full capacity, Snowy 2.0 could operate for almost seven days without recharge pumping, providing deep energy storage necessary to underpin increasing wind and solar generation.
Not unlike the existing scheme, the Snowy 2.0 project involves substantial underground works, both in terms of scale and complexity. The key elements include 33km of TBM-driven tunnels, 10km of D&B tunnels, three shafts, and a large power station cavern complex located 750m underground.
This Technical Session will provide an overview of the Snowy 2.0 project, along with an update on the delivery of key underground elements. Following this, a deeper dive will be provided into elements of the geotechnical approach to the delivery of the underground power station cavern complex.
The Snowy 2.0 caverns are amongst the largest and deepest in the world and are being delivered with a highly observational approach, in which design predictions are continually reviewed against actual ground behaviour and support performance during construction.
In support of this approach, the project has developed a comprehensive 3D ground model that spans not only the caverns but also the surrounding network of tunnels.
Learning outcomes
• Snowy 2.0 project update
• Cavern excavation using an observational approach
• Cavern 3D geological model
Timings
5.00 pm – 6.00 pm Networking (Refreshments and drinks will be served)
6.00 pm – 7.00 pm Presentation
Speakers

Kara Stariha
Associate Geotechnical Engineer, SMEC
Kara Stariha has eleven years’ experience in a variety of civil, tunnelling, dams and hydropower projects in NSW, ACT and internationally. She has worked on all phases of project development, from feasibility studies and site investigations to design and construction phase supervision. Kara’s primary interest is in ground characterisation, rock mechanics, tunnelling, and the use of remote sensing in assessing the stability of rock slopes. She is experienced in guiding the technical implementation of risk-sharing contractual mechanisms (GBR), particularly as applied to tunnelling projects in complex geological environments.
Working on the Owner’s team for Snowy Hydro 2.0 since 2018, Kara has undertaken several roles relating to geotechnical engineering and ground classification throughout her time on the project. In the feasibility and reference design stages, Kara worked on the site investigations planning and execution, and in the geological and geotechnical interpretation and parametrisation along the tunnel alignments for input into the GIR and GBR. After taking a break from S2.0 in 2019 to complete her masters in Graz, Austria, Kara returned to S2.0 in 2021 as tunnelling commenced. At this time, S2.0 utilised a contractual risk share mechanism in the form of a Geotechnical Baseline Report (GBR).
Until 2023 Kara led the collection and assessment of incoming data and the application of this to assign conditions in accordance with the GBR. Kara now leads the Ground Model team, taking a higher-level approach to interpretation, modelling, and geological risk management. The team collects and interprets geological and geotechnical information, developing a model to inform Snowy Hydro of potential geological risks and tying this into the broader project risk assessments. This allows informed feedback to be provided to the contractor and assists Snowy Hydro in making key decisions around construction methodologies and forward investigations. Kara has driven the commencement of regular discussions with the contractor and designer on upcoming geotechnical and geological risks, allowing all parties to propose and agree on appropriate mitigation measures.

Ben Chapman
Tunnels and Geotech Lead – Snowy 2.0, SMEC
Ben is a Senior Associate Civil Engineer with 15 years’ experience in the design and delivery of tunnels and underground structures for a range of road, rail, water, and hydropower projects. Ben’s expertise relates to both structural and geotechnical engineering, covering all stages of project delivery, from planning and design to on-site construction and maintenance.
Currently, Ben is seconded to Snowy Hydro from SMEC Australia, where he has maintained a key involvement in the Snowy 2.0 project since the feasibility study initially commenced in 2017. Initially commencing as a Senior Tunnel Engineer, Ben was responsible for the coordination and design of the primary support systems and final linings for the tunnels, shafts, and caverns. He then continued a similar role in the subsequent reference design phase, with additional involvement in the preparation and negotiation of the Geotechnical Baseline Report (GBR), Employer’s Requirements and geotechnical risks register.
Since the award of the main Snowy 2.0 construction contract in 2019, Ben has been the Tunnels, Caverns and Geotechnical Discipline Lead and GBR Manager for the Snowy 2.0 Owner’s team. In this capacity, Ben leads a multi-disciplinary team of tunnel and geotechnical engineers and geologists in the review of detailed design and construction documentation for the projects’ substantial underground works. Ben also leads the team administering the GBR for the project, which is based on the principles of the recent FIDIC Emerald Book and is the first of its kind to be implemented in Australia.
In this capacity, Ben is responsible for the development and implementation of geotechnical classification systems and associated GBR management plans for conventional and TBM excavations. This allows for actual ground conditions to be assessed against the GBR baseline conditions and subsequent adjustment of time and cost to be applied in accordance with the contract.
The ATS Victorian Chapter and ICE Australia co-host the seminar. This event is sponsored by SMEC, the Owner’s engineer of the project.

Bridging the Gap: Addressing Gender Pay Disparities in Engineering - REGISTER NOW!
2024-06-27 17:30 - 20:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | Online and in person at: Level 9, 340 Adelaide Street, Brisbane
REGISTER NOW!
Panellists consisting of industry leaders, academia experts, and engineering professionals will have an open discussion on the current state of the gender pay gap, the policies driving change, and the initiatives aimed at closing the gap in the engineering sector.
The forum aims to foster dialogues on multiple perspectives from existing policies to recent legislative developments, to gender equality criteria in tender processes. With engaging discussion, the forum aims to benefit a broad audience on understanding where we are at approaching a more equitable and inclusive future for all professionals in the field.
By joining this event, you will:

Understand current landscape of the issue and policies designed to address it
Gain insights into practical initiatives and strategies for closing the gender pay within tender and procurement processes
Identify actionable steps that can be implemented within one’s own organisation
Be equipped with the latest statistics, transparency tools, and benchmarking standards to monitor and report disparities.

Speakers

Karen Whelan
Associate Dean, Learning & Teaching | Faculty of Engineering | Queensland University of Technology
Karen is a materials engineer and engineering educator with over 25 years of experience in the higher education sector. Her research is on gender diversity and inclusion in engineering education and engineering practice. As Associate Dean, Learning and Teaching she has strategic oversight of course and curriculum development and teaching quality, in the QUT Faculty of Engineering, which offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in nine engineering disciplines, as well as in architecture and the built environment. In 2023 and 2024 QUT introduced an innovative and contemporary set of new degree programs including integrated vertical degrees, giving students the opportunity to study for a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and a Masters degree in one of the following areas: Robotics and AI, Advanced Manufacturing, Sustainable Infrastructure, and Renewable Energy. Karen is Chair of the Engineers Australia Women in Engineering Queensland Committee, and a member of the EA National Committee for Women in Engineering. She also leads a Diversity and Inclusion Special Interest Group in the Australasian Association for Engineering Education.

Dr Melinda Laundon
Senior Research Fellow from the Australian Cobotics Centre and Centre for Decent Work and Industry, Queensland University of Technology
Dr Melinda Laundon is a Senior Research Fellow from the Australian Cobotics Centre and Centre for Decent Work and Industry, Queensland University of Technology. Melinda has a longstanding interest in gender equity at work and has researched fair pay, pay transparency, and flexible work. Her recent and current research projects include reward and recognition in the Australian finance sector, the impact of emerging technologies on workers and organisations, and university teaching and learning. Melinda’s career prior to academia was in the Australian Public Service.

Maria Koutsimpisis
Project Controls Manager – Southern Program Alliance (Level Crossing Removal Project) – Acciona AU & NZ
Maria has had over 20 years’ experience in complex, capital-intensive multinationals, leading large cross-functional teams on multi-year, billion-dollar projects. She is the Project Controls Manager at Southern Program Alliance and Regional Project Controls Manager for ACCIONA and prior to this had a successful international executive automotive career with General Motors. She has an MBA from the Melbourne Business School and BEng(Mech) Hons/ BSc(Mathematics) from the University of Melbourne. She is an EngExec and Fellow with Engineers Australia and is Chartered in Leadership & Management and Project Management. She is the Chair of the National Committee for Women in Engineering, a Non Executive Director with ANCAP and an Advisory Board Member with Power of Engineering.

Cathy Sanders
HR manager, Acciona
Cathy has been in civil construction for last 7 years, having started her career in education and training over 20 years ago. As a secondary teacher by trade, her passion for learning pathways quickly evolved into career pathways within human resources. Cathy is an advocate for the opportunities transferrable skills can bring into the construction industry, especially for women, and she demonstrates that both within her role with Acciona and through volunteering on the NAWIC Education and Mentoring Committee.
