RETC 2023 | PREVIEW
In June, the Rapid Excavation and Tunneling Conference (RETC) will be the next powerhouse of information-sharing on underground construction hosted in North America, across three busy days. RETC is sponsored by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy &
Exploration (SME) and this time the major bi-annual gathering is located in Boston, MA. The main conference and exhibition runs over 12-14 June and will be held at the Sheraton Boston Hotel, located downtown, and directly connected to the Prudential Center and the Hynes Convention Center. The Underground Construction Association (UCA), a division
of SME, is sponsoring dozens of students to attend RETC 2023 in support of their career aspirations. Immediately before the main event, on 11 June, an excellent
training opportunity is available for aspirants as well as the more seasoned for an update or refresher – ‘Shotcrete in Underground Construction’, taught by a range of industry experts. When the main conference commences, the packed Technical
Program is as follows, arranged in 4 tracks: Monday 12 June Morning – 4 tracks are: design build projects; difficult ground; geotechnical consideration; and, hard rock TBMs and tunnels Afternoon – 4 tracks are: design; ground control approaches and methods; microtunneling and trenchless tunneling; and, shafts, caverns, and mining; plus, there is a session of an owners forum panel Tuesday 13 June Morning – 4 tracks are: ground support and final lining; international projects; tunnel rehabilitation; and, new and innovative technologies-1 Afternoon – 4 tracks are: future projects; new and innovative technologies-2; pressurized face tunneling; SEM applications and projects Wednesday 14 June Morning – 4 tracks are: contract practices; health & safety and sustainability; risk management; and, project planning Here, we highlight the Day I tracks and planned papers to whet the appetite for the full Technical Program that runs until the middle of Day 3.
MONDAY, 12 JUNE Morning
Design Build Projects (Track sponsor: HNTB) ● Focus on Scarborough Subway Extension, in Toronto, with a focus on use of steel fibre reinforced concrete for a large span single bore tunnel. Paper by Strabag and Arup
● A review of standard and design approaches for waterproofing systems for underground structures, including interpreting limits between them in pursuit of permanent seal. Paper by Renesco
● From Manila, in The Philippines, comes a focus on use of EPBM tunneling in an urban setting for a water supply tunnel on NBAQ4 project, which also involved mined excavation. Paper by Arup and Manila Water Co
● Looking a progressive design build (PDB) via a case study for a gravity-flow water pipeline tunnel in California. Paper by Barnard Bessac JV, Arup, and Tanner Pacific
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