Week 2: Establishing the basis

The last week in Tunnelling and TBM Master course (and also the next ones) are dedicated to cover the paramount concepts in terms of the behaviour of the ground and the investigation of its properties.

Professor Claudio Oggeri held a very interesting lecture on Geological and Geotechnical Surveys with some case histories from his professional experience that were a key factor to understand the application field of each technique.

Professor Claudio Oggeri lecture on Geological and Geotechnical surveys.

Professor Corrado Fidelibus provided an outstanding three day intensive training on Soil Mechanics. From Terzaghi's principles to his tunnelling practical experience he covered thoroughly the most important concepts of Geotechnics. Before designing any underground structure it is necessary to go back to the very basic concepts of the hydromechanical behaviour of the ground.

Students and Professor Corrado Fidelibus after Outline of Soil Mechanics lecture.

To conclude the week Professor Luigi Sambuelli from Politecnico di Torino explained the principles of the most usefull Geophysical Survey Techniques. These are a source of cheap and quick information for tunnelling projects but they require great experience for the interepretation of the results. An interesting point was the comparison offered by Luigi between the cost of a TBM full day-stop (aprox. € 150.000) and the approximate cost of Geophysical Investigation per meter (€50/meter), a concept that may remark the power of this technique.

Week 1: First week of lessons

During the first week of lessons the coordinator of the Master's Course presented a general overview of the main aspects that will be discussed along the following six months. He mainly remarked the need of understanding the complexity of the wide range of parameters influencing tunnelling projects, focusing on a design based on safety, efficiency and sustainability.

Professor Daniele Peila lecture on General Aspects of Tunnelling

Moreover two experts from Geodata Spa (Worldwide Consultancy Company) gave lectures emphasising in the importance of considering Hydrogeology and Geological aspects thoroughly during the design, construction and operation of tunnels in order to minimise risks and avoid catastrophic consequences.

Students and Professor Hydrogeologist Antonio Dematteis (Geodata Spa).

Geologist Luca Soldo (Geodata) lecture on Geological and Geotechnical uncertainty.

Finally Eng. Pietro Jarre from Global consultant company held a fantastic practical lecture on case history from his wide experience in Tunnelling field. He mainly exposed some examples correlating the design approach with the results obtained for each case. An important concept introduced by him was that ''the worst possible scenario is not knowing about what we do not know in a tunnelling project.''

Eng. Pietro Jarre Case history lecture.

Opening ceremony

On date 18/01/2016 the 10th edition of the Tunnelling and TBM Master officially started, the opening ceremony took place at the Aula Magna of Politecnico di Torino Lingotto Campus. 

A group of 14 students from all over the world attended to this ceremony willing to start their professional and educational growth experience. In this edition the most of the students come from abroad, from countries as Argentina (3), Colombia (1), Greece (1), India (1), Italy(4), Poland(1), South Korea(1), Turkey(1), Saudi Arabia(1).

Students and Professors at the opening ceremony of the 10th master's edition.

Director of the master course Daniele Peila gave a kick off speech for the students and the master was presented also by the Politecnico Master's office Director Prof. Rafaele Carlo.

Professor Daniele Peila (Master's director) initial speech.

A special presence was Emeritus Politecnico Professor Sebastiano Pellizza (Recent winner of ITA-AITES Lifetime Achievement Award) who, as an eminence of Tunnelling design and the co-founder of this course almost twenty years ago, gave some motivational words to this group of future tunnel designers.

Professor Sebastiano Pellizza (Emeritus Politecnico).