ITA COSUF Workshop in Paris 14 November 2017

The Palais des Congrès in Paris was the wonderful setting for an ITA COSUF/AFTES Technical Session on “Operational issues” and an ITA COSUF Round Table on the topic of “Designing, Operating and Upgrading Complex Underground Hubs”. In the technical session among others the PIARC expertise in the field of tunnel safety was presented and the refurbishment program of all the tunnels in the Paris road network was explained. The use of BIM during refurbishment of road tunnels appeared to be a very powerful tool. Another interesting presentation was on feedback from the first equipment inspections on the French national road network.

The Round Table succeeded in triggering discussions about complex underground hubs. Different perspectives on safe operation were illustrated by several case studies such as the owner of the Grand Paris Metro Network, the operator of La Defense Complex, the contractor of the Victoria Station Upgrade and the fire brigade’s perspective of the Amsterdam Central Station Area. Interesting knowledge was exchanged between the speakers and the audience filled with all tunnel professionals: the asset owners, operators, rescue services, engineers, managers and consultants. Good practices, lessons learnt, needs for improvement and new solutions for these complex underground hubs were addressed.

Many people, among which approximately 35 COSUF members, participated in the event.