Scheduled for 27 – 29 November in Brisbane, this two-day intensive course, plus the Quarry Day, will provide an unparalleled opportunity to learn from industry experts and network with Australian tunnelling professionals.
Are you ready to dive into one of the most dynamic and challenging fields in engineering?
The Australian Tunnelling Society (ATS) invites you to the ATS Short Course 2024, a premier event designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in the tunnelling industry.
Why attend the ATS Short Course?
Tunnelling is a field that combines technical expertise, innovative problem-solving, and the thrill of overcoming underground challenges.
Harry Asche, the Chair of the event, highlights, “Tunnelling offers a career in an exciting and challenging industry. While tunnelling is not usually taught at undergraduate level (although this is changing), practitioners do still require specialist knowledge. The ATS offers a two-day Short Course once every two years to help people enter the industry, or who want to refresh their knowledge in tunnelling.”
The course is designed around the newly updated ATS Tunnel Design Guide, which is now in its second edition. Asche explains, “The ATS Young Members (ATSym) wrote and revised the Design Guide themselves to assist other practitioners in tunnelling. The combination of the lecture material and the guide will allow all participants to be up-to-date with the techniques and practices in tunnelling.”
Insights from industry leaders and pioneers
The ATS Short Course 2024 is backed by leading companies in the tunnelling sector, including our Platinum Sponsor, MC Bauchemie. Jason Bolt, Managing Director/CEO of MC Bauchemie says they are delighted to support the ATS Short Course 2024. “We believe in fostering industry growth and innovation, and this course provides an excellent platform for both new and experienced tunnelling professionals to enhance their expertise and connect with industry leaders,” he explains.
The program is varied and includes several specialised sessions on tunnelling for hydropower, “the next frontier for the tunnelling industry,” according to Asche. Other program highlights include sessions on tunnel spaceproofing, fire and life safety, sustainability, design methods, groundwater and hydrogeology, digitisation, and advances in equipment, among much more.
Professional growth and networking
For many previous participants, the course was not just informative and interesting, but it launched their career in this specialised industry. Keith Bannerman, now a Director of Tunnels for SYSTRA Bamser, says he, “accidentally fell into tunnelling” after attending the Short Course as an undergraduate student in 2007.
“After hearing from genuine rock star tunnellers like Harry Asche and Arnold Dix, I was so intrigued I got a summer job with a company building a long shallow cover tunnel. From my very first day it was clear that tunnelling was, for me at least, more interesting than the traditional structural engineering disciplines,” he says.
But the ATS Short Course is not just for those wanting to enter the industry. It can be just as valuable for mid-career tunnellers, or anyone looking to refresh their skills, according to Renee Shi, Senior Project Engineer for Delve Underground.
“I would highly recommend the ATS Short Course to everyone. I have attended several in the past and have learned new things every time. Even for the more experienced tunnelling professional, this course is a nice little refresher with good insights on other aspects of the industry,” she says.
In addition to career development, the Short Course is about building connections and expanding your professional network. Attendees will have the chance to engage with industry veterans, peers, and potential employers. The event’s interactive sessions, networking breaks, and social gatherings provide the perfect environment to discuss the latest trends and technologies in tunnelling.
Special events
In addition to the cutting-edge Short Course, delegates are encouraged to book into the following events that have been timed to coincide with this fantastic event:
- St Barbara’s Day Dinner: our much anticipated social and networking event (28 November – registrations open now).
- Quarry Day: our site visit to Mount Coot-tha Quarry features a range of equipment and technical demonstrations (29 November – registration details coming soon).
How to Register
Registrations for the ATS Short Course 2024 and St Barbara’s Day Dinner are now open. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your expertise and advance your career in tunnelling. Secure your spot by registering today.
Event sponsors
The ATS is thrilled to have the support of industry pioneers including:
