The rapid development of mechanised tunnelling in the last decades has increased the tunnelling community’s focus on the environmental aspects of tunnel construction. The excavation carried out by using EPB (Earth Pressure Balance) machines often requires the use of foaming agents, specific products that are added to the medium intended to be excavated, in order to make the excavation process possible. The produced muck can be considered more than a simple “landfill material” and its re-use is strongly suggested in view of sustainable excavation and circular economy principles. However, the correct management process should be followed. This process should take into account the presence of the used additives in the mucking itself.

This instalment of the Lunchtime lecture series will focus on ‘EPB tunnelling: environmental aspects and re-use opportunities of the conditioned muck’ in collaboration with ITA-AITES WG15.

This episode will feature three lectures:

• The conditioning phase in EPB tunnelling and the issue of muck disposal – Prof. Carmine Todaro
• Environmental aspects of the conditioning phase, chemical profile of foaming agents and the biodegradation process: the Italian approach before muck re-use – Dr. Anna Barra Caracciolo
• The muck as a raw ingredient for industrial production, its physical transformations and treatment, including examples from construction sites – Prof. Robert Galler

Following the three presentations there will be time for Q&A with the presenters, with discussion and Q&A moderated by Dr. Nikolai Bobylev

The Lunchtime lecture series remains free and open to all. For all those that cannot join ‘live’ online, please register and you will receive a link to stream the episode after the event – this link will be valid for 24 hours only. After these 24 hours, anyone wanting to watch the episode can do so by registering for the episode on the ITA website, but there will be a small fee to watch.