1. KEY ISSUES AND CONCERNS – related to how complex infrastructure and underground projects are planned, managed, contracted, designed and constructed. (An overview of key concerns is currently listed on this site - go to the KEY ISSUES page).
   
   
2. DISCUSSION FORUM – to solicit input, discussion and feedback from interested professionals on the key issues. The Forum is planned to be open sometime in 2001 - please check back.
   
   
3. COLLECTING DATA ABOUT PLANNED AND COMPLETED PROJECTS. This is necessary to expand our collective knowledge about design, construction and management of complex infrastructure and underground projects. We have started the data collection through previous work and will augment the data through an initiative sponsored with the International Tunneling Association's Working Groups 4, 13 and 15. Currently we have a listing of 1400 projects, many with contacts identified, but without detailed information necessary to support credible research. It is intended that the data collection phase of this Website will be reactivated in mid-2001.
   

Why are we doing this?

1. John Reilly is President of the American Underground Construction Association (AUCA) which is interested in better planning, design, construction and operation of complex infrastructure and underground structures.
   
   
2. John Reilly is Animateur of International Tunneling Association (ITA) Working Group 13 which studies the direct and indirect benefits of underground facilities.
   
   
3. To benefit our industry, the choices we make for underground facilities and to facilitate debate on key underground issues to build more effective and efficient, durable facilities.
   
   
4. To sponsor a worldwide linkage of interested professionals for mutual support.
   
   
5. To help ITA Working Groups 4 (planning), 13 (Direct and Indirect Benefits) and 15 (Environment) which have recently formed a cooperative approach to data gathering, to better support their ongoing work.

How can this be done?

First, we need to determine the key issues that influence success and affect performance for complex Infrastructure and underground projects. The KEY ISSUES listed on this site are a starting list.

Second, we need better and more comprehensive information about these key issues and how they affect complex infrastructure and underground projects - particularly for remote and developing countries, by COLLECTING DATA.

Third, we need informed discussion and debate on the issues and problems – through the FORUM.

The internet is a way to reach a wide population of professionals who are concerned about these questions, who have the experience to help reach a better understanding of the factors that cause problems or influence success. We think the debate will be carried on at 3 levels - simple characteristics, more specific and very detailed. Your comments, input and feedback will be much appreciated.

Please consider this outline, read the KEY ISSUES page and, if you are interested, send an e-mail to John@ThinkDeep.net with a question or observation about your area of concern or problem.


We know much about projects in developed countries
- North America, Europe, Japan and some parts of Asia. These are actively under discussion.

We should know more about projects in all countries
- if we are to improve the management, planning, design and construction of infrastructure and underground facilities.

For example International Tunneling Association ITA Working Groups #4 - Subsurface Planning, #13 - Direct and Indirect Benefits of Underground Structures and #15 - Environment - need better knowledge about representative and/or unique projects in all countries. Only then can we effectively propose new policies and recommendations for change which will be of benefit to all the countries involved.

Accordingly, we plan to sponsor a FORUM about underground and infrastructure projects to better understand projects and their characteristics for planning, design, construction and operation. The forum structure is presently being developed.

Your participation will help this discussion. It is intended that summary information will be made available, under controlled conditions, to the International Tunneling Association (ITA), ITA Working Groups, other National Study Groups and Associations, others working in the industry and those concerned with improving planning, management, design and construction of underground and infrastructure projects. Participants will have access to summary results.

Projects may be old, new or planned. They may be in design, construction or operation. If they are unusual or innovative, they are of more interest. We welcome your comments and feedback.


Time of this study. UCA and ITA are voluntary organizations and studies can take several years because data gathering and analysis depends on volunteers and therefore takes time.

We anticipate that results may not be available for a year or so and trust that you will be patient. As the work progresses, information will be posted to this Web-site periodically - you can always ask for information by emailing us at John@ThinkDeep.net.

Please help - giving us feedback on this site, information about your projects, questions or issues of concern. Thank you for your interest.

John Reilly
President, American Underground Construction Association
Animateur, ITA Working Group 13, Direct and Indirect Advantages of Underground Structures

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