Developing infrastructure projects worldwide and in Türkiye continuously present the tunnelling sector with more complex engineering challenges and the need for innovative solutions. Our symposium features a broad technical scope where academicians, design engineers, suppliers, and field practitioners combine theoretical knowledge with field experience.

The main themes to be discussed through paper presentations, case studies, and expert panels during the symposium include:

• Challenging Ground Conditions and Field Obstacles: Tectonic stresses, faulting, karstic formations, squeezing and swelling grounds, and methods for coping with excessive water ingress.
• Special TBM Interventions and Ground Stabilization: Interventions in TBM pressure chambers under hyperbaric conditions, tunnel face stability issues, proposed solutions, and chemical grouting applications.
• Performance and Numerical Modeling: Machine performance-ground relationships, field-based case studies, simulation, and numerical solution techniques.
• Sustainability, Construction Chemicals, and Environment: Environmental factors limiting the use of construction chemicals, international standards, carbon footprint reduction, foaming agents, concrete and shotcrete admixtures, polymers, and waterproofing technologies.
• Gassy Tunnels, Ventilation, and Automation: Methods for combating gas in mechanized or conventional tunnels, ventilation and fan technologies, gas measurement/monitoring systems, automation, and air/dust quality analysis.
• Surveying, Monitoring, and Ground Improvement: Remote sensing technologies, structural deformation measurements, and innovative ground improvement solutions.
• Applied Hydraulics in Tunnelling Equipment: Applied hydraulic systems for tunnelling machinery, sensor technologies, fault detection, and hydraulic control mechanisms.
• Digital Transformation and Emerging Technologies: Artificial intelligence integration, digital twin applications, and digital transformation processes in the tunnelling sector.
• Special Project Scales and Specific Challenges: Specific design and construction challenges brought by long tunnels and large-diameter tunnels.
• Abrasive Formations and Method Comparisons: Comparative applications of TBM and Drill & Blast tunnelling in extremely hard and highly abrasive rock formations.

We invite all professionals who wish to follow the latest scientific and technological developments in the sector, share field experiences, and contribute to the future of tunnelling to attend our symposium sessions.