February 2008
With the aim of sharing experience in the construction of tunnels and metropolitan railways and on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Sofia Metro, an international conference on tunnel and metro construction was held in Sofia. The event was organized by the Bulgarian Scientific and Technical Union of Civil Engineering, the Federation of the Scientific and Technical Unions in Bulgaria and Sofia Municipality "Metropolitan" JSC. Geotechmin OOD was also among the organizers.
Professionals with rich experience in the construction of subway systems around Europe took part in the conference. There was a round table for discussing problems connected to the construction of Sofia Metro. The foreign participants had the opportunity to share their views and advice on important aspects of the subway construction. Their Bulgarian colleagues gave details on the ongoing and future extension of the Sofia Metro.
Main conference topics:
- Geo-techniques and waterproofing in tunnel and metro construction
- Construction of tunnels and metropolitan railroads
- Geodesy, mine surveying and (rail)road works during tunnel and metro construction
- Communication and security equipment in tunnels and metropolitan railroads
Site visits:
- The route between metro station "Serdika" and metro station "Konstantin Velichkov"
- Metro station 9-I "Stadium Vasil Levski"
- Metro station 10-I "Joliot Curie"
Representatives of the International Tunneling Association (ITA) were also present at the event. The secretary general Claude Bérenguier and the vice president Piergiorgio Grasso made several interesting presentations. There was a general presentation on the mission and activities of ITA as well as two more specific lectures on the role of ITA in the use of urban underground space and in risk and safety management in underground works.
Geotechmin OOD is at present Bulgaria's only official representative in ITA. This conference gave the company the opportunity to introduce ITA to Bulgarian professionals and academics in the sphere of underground construction and to plant the idea of forming a National Tunneling Society.
