SANCOT Symposium 2026

With the continued pace of urbanisation, economic and population growth, the availability of space for necessary infrastructure in the urban environment is a major challenge. This, in conjunction with climate change and a focus on reducing impact on the environment, are the key factors driving the necessity and relevance of tunnelling. Tunnels are increasingly seen as a means to providing sustainable, safe and reliable transport, electricity, gas, water, sewage facilities and extraction of raw materials. Whilst the public and private sectors come to terms with the high capital expenditure required for tunnel construction, we live in an age of continued technological development and the application of these technologies presents an opportunity to better and more cost-effectively design, construct, and monitor tunnels. Furthermore, it is imperative that tunnelling consultants and contractors keep up to date with rapidly changing tunnelling technologies in order to remain viable in a competitive industry.