Technical Sessions that Enlighten
Cutting Edge focuses on advances in tunneling technology, hosted by some of the leading innovators in tunneling from around the world. Dig into the technical program below and explore how industry resilience will drive innovation in the underground construction and tunneling space.
Exciting program updates being announced soon!
MONDAY | NOVEMBER 14, 2022
Coffee & Continental Breakfast
7:30 am – 8:00 am
Conference Opening & Keynote Session
8:00 am – 10:00 am
Chair: Paul Madsen, Kiewit
Underground Innovation Benefiting Climate Change, Social Change & Sustainability
8:00 am – 8:10 am
Chair's Opening Remarks
Paul Madsen, Kiewit
8:40 am – 9:10 am
Keynote: Thames Tideway Tunnel: Delivering Social Value & Preventing River Pollution
Andy Alder, Tideway Program Director, Jacobs
9:10 am – 9:40 am
Keynote: Mental Health & the Minds of our Industry
Robert Labbe, American Global
9:40 am – 10:00 am
Q&A
Coffee Break & Exhibition
10:00 am – 10:30 am
Research & Development
10:30 am – Noon
Chair: Jenn Sketchley, McMillen Jacobs Associates
The Role of Mechanized Tunneling for Renewable Energy & Power Transmission
10:30 am – 10:50 am
Peter Schmäh, Herrenknecht
Is There a Problem with Innovation in Tunneling?
10:50 am – 11:10 am
Bernard Catalano, Bessac Tunneling
Stranger Things: A Sustainable & Cost-Effective Annular Grout Alternative
11:10 am – 11:30 am
Michael McDonald & Paul Short, PQ Corporation
11:30 am – 11:50 am
Eugenio Valli, Swissloop Tunneling
Q&A
11:50 am – Noon
Buffet Lunch & Exhibition
Noon – 1:30 pm
Blueprints for Sustainability & Carbon Neutrality
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Chair: Emily Thompson, Jacobs
Down 30% by 2030, Implementing a Corporate Climate Strategy
1:30 pm – 1:50 pm
Violaine Babolat, CBNA
Carbon Efficient SEM Lining Designs
2:10 pm – 2:30 pm
Franz Wilhelmstoetter and Juergen Laubbichler, Dr Sauer & Partners
Incorporating Sustainability into Tunnel Framework Decision Making
2:30 pm – 2:50 pm
Katherine Westerlund, Mott MacDonald
Q&A
2:50 pm – 3:00 pm
Coffee Break & Exhibition
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Panel Session: Sustainability & Carbon Neutrality
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Chair: Bob Goodfellow, Aldea Services
Our panel of industry experts discuss developing trends and innovative approaches to building and maintaining low carbon infrastructure, including alternatives to carbon-intensive materials and carbon offsetting.
Panelists:
Andy Alder, Thames Tideway
Wolfgang Aldrian, Masterbuilders
Colin Lawrence, Mott MacDonald
Hannes Lagger, Arup
Chris Nelsen, McMillen Jacobs Associates
Fernando Vara, Acciona
Exhibit Hall Reception
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Sponsored by Acciona
TUESDAY | NOVEMBER 15, 2022
Coffee & Continental Breakfast
7:30am – 8:00 am
Advances in Materials, Equipment & Safety
8:00 am – 10:00 am
Chair: Erin Keogh, Kiewit
Lessons Learned: Experiences with Leak Remediation at OLRT
8:00 am – 8:20 am
Bill Coleman, Ellis Don
Emerging Technologies in Refuge Chambers for Tunneling
8:20 am – 8:40 am
Mike Rispin, Strata Worldwide
Latest Developments in Sprayed Concrete VR Simulator Training Technologies
8:40 am – 9:00 am
Jason Lusk, Normet Americas
CO2 Reduction in Tunneling: Design & Material Considerations
9:00 am – 9:20 am
Wolfgang Aldrian, Masterbuilders
ACI’s NEU: Assessing Emerging Low-Carbon Concrete Technologies & Materials
9:20 am – 9:40 am
Dean Frank, NEU
Q&A
9:40 am – 10:00 am
Coffee Break & Exhibition
10:00 am – 10:30 am
Developments in Digitalization & Automation
10:30 am – Noon
Chair: Elisa Comis, Pini Group USA
Four Digital Tunnel Solutions Developed for Reducing Tunnel Costs
10:30 am – 10:45 am
Fernando Vara, Acciona
Mechanized Tunneling & Sustainability: A Conflict or a Chance —
10:45 am – 11:00 am
Werner Burger, Herrenknecht
Let's Optimize: Enter our Worksite Data Hub!
11:00 am – 11:15 am
Nicolas Janicaud and Alex Ducamp, CBNA
The Current State of BIM in the U.S. Tunneling Industry
11:30 am – 11:45 am
Jacob Grasmick and Voijtech Ernst Gall, UCA Working Group 22
Q&A
11:45 am – Noon
Buffet Lunch & Exhibition
Noon – 1:30 pm
Major Projects
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Chair: Mike Wongkaew, HNTB
Project Development of the Transbay Program Downtown Rail Extension
1:30 pm – 1:50 pm
Kush Chohan, McMillen Jacobs Associates & Megan Murphy, Aecom
VTA's BART Silicon Valley Phase II: Progressive Design Build for CP2 Tunnel & Trackwork
1:50 pm – 2:10 pm
Anthony Bauer, HNTB
Vertical Pipejacking Below the Widest River in the World: Technical Innovation for Argentina's Riachuelo Environmental Restoration
2:10 pm – 2:30 pm
Mirko Martini, WeBuild
Cargo Sous Terrain: The Underground Innovative Logistics System for The Sustainable & Flexible Transportation of Small–Component Goods
2:30 pm – 2:50 pm
Roberto Schürch, Pini Group
Q&A
2:50 pm – 3:00 pm
West Coast Project Update
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Mark Ramsey, Mott MacDonald
Coffee Break & Exhibition
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Panel Session: Funding & Procurement of Major Projects
4:00 pm – 5:20 pm
Chair: Joe O’Carroll, Mott MacDonald
Panelists:
John Bednarski, MWD
Gary Griggs, VTA
Ron Lewis, Sound Transit
Tim Lindholm, LA Metro
Chair’s Closing Remarks
5:20 pm
Paul Madsen, Kiewit