The BTS Harding Prize Competition is run every year and gives a platform for young engineers to submit papers on interesting technical experience gained and growth achieved. This year’s winning paper discusses involvement and learning, and key contributions, to the transition of a TBM through an intermediate shaft, at Kidbrooke, on the London Power Tunnels, Phase 2, project.
T&TI leads off the issue with this paper, under the theme of ‘Mechanised Tunnelling.’
Recently, we were pleased to also publish the runner-up paper. Each year, T&TI publishes papers by the winner and runners-up, in agreement with the BTS. We both seek to share and disseminate knowledge in the industry.
As such, this issue also carries the latest updates on activities and outreach by the BTS and BTSYM, in the section ‘Chairs’ Corner’ – where the Chairs of each cover much in their respective reports. It is a platform we have recently developed with BTS and BTSYM. Reports from the Chairs will come to readers, and the industry, at regular intervals.
Also with respect to younger engineers, and also under ‘Mechanised Tunnelling’, we carry the latest update from another competition – the ‘Not-so-Boring’ Competition, which has studentled teams (with sourced industry sponsorship) race their latest small diameter TBM technologies. We learn how the technologies are progressing. And note, once again, the frontrunning in this area done by young engineers in Europe.
Further on information sharing, we spotlight some of the papers on Fire Safety at the recent World Tunnel Congress (WTC), held in Stockholm.
Also in Health & Safety, but more extensively, we are pleased to provide two articles from experts that brief on compressed air working – on guidance that has evolved on high pressure systems; and, research on using MRI scans in health screening for osteonecrosis in tunnel workers.
