The 5th Symposium on Innovation and Challenges in Asian Tunnelling (SICAT 2024), held from September 12-13 at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore, celebrated significant achievements in the tunnelling industry across Asia. Organized by the Tunnelling and Underground Construction Society Singapore (TUCSS), SICAT 2024 brought together an impressive assembly of nearly 300 delegates, representing a wide cross-section of the industry, including engineers, project managers, government agencies, consultants, specialist suppliers, and contractors.

A Platform for Knowledge Exchange and Networking

This year’s symposium provided an extensive platform to share knowledge, showcase advancements, and discuss the innovative solutions shaping Asia’s underground construction landscape. With an overarching focus on sustainability, innovation, and resilience, the event highlighted both regional challenges and creative solutions in the development of complex infrastructure.

The two-day event commenced with a welcome address by the TUCSS President and an opening speech from the CEO of Singapore’s Land Transport Authority. Attendees engaged in a robust program featuring 15 technical presentations by industry experts, spotlighting topics from groundbreaking tunnelling methods to advanced safety and risk management. Among the standout presentations were explorations of the Kim Chuan Depot Extension in Singapore, Korea’s Great Train Express (GTX) project, and Thailand’s Bangkok MRT Underground Orange Line project. The symposium also included industry-led presentations from suppliers and manufacturers, providing delegates insights into the latest construction technologies and tools available to meet evolving demands.

Diverse Insights from Across Asia

SICAT 2024’s program spanned countries including China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Thailand, underscoring the diversity of approaches in addressing the unique geological and urban challenges present across Asia. Each speaker’s presentation enriched the audience’s understanding of complex projects, like tunnelling in karstic limestone in Malaysia or undercrossing rivers with high overburden in Korea, offering attendees a chance to compare methodologies and assess their applicability across projects. The variety of topics on display further cemented SICAT’s role as an essential forum for professional development in the tunnelling sector.

Interactive Experiences and Networking

The exhibition segment of SICAT 2024 allowed participants to connect directly with industry suppliers and exhibitors, fostering partnerships and facilitating discussions about new technologies. Attendees had access to a thumb drive containing all symposium materials and could enjoy dedicated networking times, such as the cocktail reception on September 12, which served as a highlight for informal exchanges.

Driving Future Progress in Tunnelling

From predictive risk modeling and the advancement of digital applications in tunnelling to innovations in Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technologies, SICAT 2024 demonstrated a commitment to pushing the industry forward. The symposium’s focus on sustainability and technical advancements reflects the aspirations of the Asian tunnelling community to not only tackle current infrastructure needs but to anticipate and address future demands responsibly and innovatively.

With its wealth of presentations, strong attendance, and extensive industry representation, SICAT 2024 was an outstanding success, reinforcing its status as a vital event for professionals in Asian tunnelling and underground construction. TUCSS has once again demonstrated its leadership by facilitating this indispensable gathering, setting the stage for continued progress and collaboration in Asia’s growing underground infrastructure landscape.