DFI announces the formation of the Tunneling and Underground Systems Committee. The committee is focused on identifying and facilitating the advancement of new methods and technologies for design, construction, inspection, maintenance and operation of tunnels and underground systems. Technical focus areas include conventional and mechanized excavation methods, design practices for tunnel liners, the use of new materials in construction, waterproofing and water control systems, contracting methods, and the allocation of risk and construction practices.
The committee plans to foster technology transfer among the owners, stakeholders, designers, contractors and material suppliers involved in the use and construction of tunnels and underground structures; foster collaboration with the academic community, equipment suppliers, and major tunnel contractors and owners to address research needs and knowledge gaps; and to promote the education and training of graduate and undergraduate students to develop emerging industry leaders in this field of practice.
The Tunneling and Underground Systems Committee is being co-chaired by James Morrison, P.E., a vice president of COWI, and David R. Klug, president of David R. Klug and Associates, Inc.
Morrison has more than 35 years of civil engineering experience. His career has covered a broad spectrum of large and complex underground and heavy construction working on bridges, dams, hydroelectric generating plants, highways, deep excavations, transportation and water/sewer tunneling projects. He has participated on some of the largest tunneling projects in North America including: Portland CSO, Devil’s Slide Tunnel, Lake Mead Water Intake No 2, Dulles Walkback and WUBT tunnels, Tren Urbano – Rio Piedras Subway- Section 7, and CTA Blue Line Subway Replacement Project. Morrison has written numerous technical papers and served as a president of Deep Foundations Institute, Cleveland Section of ASCE and NW Michigan Branch of ASCE.
Klug provides international and national manufacturer representative services to the underground heavy civil and mine construction industries. He has more than 40 years of industry involvement in many of the major tunnel programs constructed in the U.S. and Canada. In conjunction with his European clients he conducts industry outreach seminars to Europe for people from the U.S. and Canadian tunneling industry to study European methods of tunnel construction and contract delivery practices. He is past chair of the Underground Construction Association (UCA) of SME (2009-2011), a member of the UCA Fox Conference Committee, a member of The Moles and the A.G.C. of Western Pennsylvania.
To learn more about the Tunneling and Underground Systems Committee visit http://archive.dfi.org/commhome.asp?TUNS
Contact: Theresa Engler, Executive Director, (973) 423-4030, tengler@dfi.org
