Microtunneling Short Course Attracts Record Attendees

The 15th annual Microtunneling Short Course attracted 125 attendees to its four-day event, which focused on pilot-tube microtunneling and conventional microtunneling. The programs were held Feb. 4-7 at the Microtunneling Research Institute at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo.

The intensive short course is designed to provide a comprehensive background and review of the current and emerging techniques in microtunneling.

The 125 attendees marked the highest number of attendees for this annual conference, which has attracted more than 1,600 participants over its 15-year run. This year also saw increased numbers of international attendees and speakers. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) were awarded to the attendees, which include public works and utility officials, engineers, planners, managers, contractors and equipment manufacturers involved in any phase of trenchless technology.

“Our course always goes well but the number of participants always has something to do with how active the microtunneling industry is. And today, microtunneling is extremely busy,” commented Timothy Coss, Microtunneling Inc. president and course director.

The one-day pilot-tube course took place on Feb. 4 and featured course presentations by industry experts such as Troy Stokes, Akkerman Inc., and David Crandle, Bohrtec.

The three-day microtunneling course, which took place Feb. 5-7, featured classroom presentations by leading microtunneling experts on topics such as soil investigation and design, dewatering and ground freezing fundamentals, soil stabilization and grouting techniques, shaft construction, hard rock tunneling, case histories, navigation systems for curved and straight microtunneling, innovations in clay pipe design, legal issues, microtunneling machine innovations, lubrications, contingency planning and a roundtable discussion/open forum.

Course directors were Coss and Levent Ozdemir, Colorado School of Mines course director.
Can Clay Corp. president Mark Bruce was the guest speaker at the annual banquet, held Feb. 7. The Microtunneling Achievement Award was presented to Stefan Trumpi-Althaus with Jack Control in Switzerland for equipment developed to monitor curved microtunneling.

The 2009 program will be held the week of Feb. 9 at the Colorado School of Mines.