TUNCONSTRUCT, a Project to Boost the Use of Underground Space in Europe The utilization of underground space can have a significant impact on living conditions. For example, underground trains greatly contribute to the reduction of pollution and long base tunnels are innovative ideas for sending freight underground. It is commonly admitted that underground space is currently underused. It is possible to envisage a city of the future that has virtually no vehicle traffic above ground, thereby freeing space for parks and recreational facilities. One of the reasons that underground space is underutilised is because, as compared to above ground construction, underground construction is still too risky and expensive. The aim of the TUNCONSTRUCT project (an acronym which stands for Technology innovation in UNderground CONSTRUCTion) is to make underground construction significantly less risky and expensive by introducing innovative technology. The project should pave the way to the introduction of innovative solutions that have been proposed for the transport infrastructure and cities. The project started on 1st September, 2005 and was officially launched at a kick-off event in October. However, the principles of the whole process from the first idea to the start were set up three years ago. Read E-News Weekly 43/2002.The integrated project TUNCONSTRUCT gathers many of the European main players in industry, research and business in a consortium of more than 30 partners from 11 countries across Europe. Click here to see the list of partners classified in alphabetical order. The total budget for the 4-year project is EUR26 million, of which EUR14 million is provided by the European Union. The planned innovations involve all aspects of underground construction and can be divided into the following areas: prediction and design; construction equipment; processes; and maintenance and repair. Visit www.tunconstruct.org 04/06.