The Greek Tunnelling Society – GTS (Ελληνική Επιτροπή Σηράγγων και Υπογείων Έργων – ΕΕΣΥΕ) was established in 1995 as a non-profit scientific association. It serves as the official representative of Greece in the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA-AITES). The Society aims to promote awareness and highlight the multiple environmental, social, technical, and economic benefits of constructing and operating tunnels and underground works.
Today, more than 250 individuals are members of GTS, coming from all scientific fields related with the design, construction and operation of tunnels and underground space. They are engineers, executives from private firms and public bodies as well as members of academia. Furthermore, the largest companies in the field also participate as Sponsor and Supporting members of GTS through their representatives.
Greek Tunnelling Society is a strictly non-profit association, pursuing exclusively scientific, public benefit purposes. More specifically, the main aims and objectives of GTS are:
- Inform Greek engineers, public authorities, and the general public about the advantages of underground structures and the wide range of applications, opportunities and benefits that they offer.
- Enhance and provide insights for the development of improved and more cost-effective methods for the geotechnical investigation, feasibility, design, construction, operation and maintenance of underground works.
- Collect and disseminate technical information related to tunnels and underground works in Greece.
- Become the focal point and connect engineers of all disciplines, as well as stakeholders, involved in the design, construction, operation underground works, including executives, designers, consultants, contractors and researchers.
- Transfer knowledge to Greece regarding technological advancements, international experiences and lessons learned through its presence in the activities of International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA-AITES).
- Cooperate with relevant authorities and public bodies in drafting, regulations, guidelines, laws and safety standards.
- Support and promote research and advanced training of young professionals including life-long training (continuous education) in all professionals related to underground works.
GTS seeks to fulfill its objectives with the help of the following: , etc.
- The connection with the International Tunneling Association – (International Tunneling Association)
- The participation in the executive sessions of the ITA, in international conferences, working groups of the ITA or other National Committees, etc. that have as their subject tunnels and underground works.
- The organization of workshops, lectures and visits to under-construction underground works.
- The publication of a scientific magazine/newsletter .
- The cooperation with any public bodies and agency, and collaboration with with other scientific institutions (e.g. Technical Chamber of Greece, etc.)
GTS is the affiliated representative in Greece of the International Tunneling and Underground Space Association (ITA – AITES) and actively participates in its functions, as well as in the various international working groups that have been established to issue guidelines, good practices and proposed specifications on issues affecting the design, construction and operation of tunnels and underground infrastructures.
More specifically, the members of GTS who participate in the administration and working groups of ITA are the following:
ITA-AITES Executive Council: Mr. Ioannis Fikiris, Vice-President
ITATECH: Prof. Andreas Benardos
ΙΤΑ-AITES Working Groups:
WG 2 – Research: Mr. Dimittrios Litsas,
WG 3 – Contractual practices in underground construction: Mr. Spyros Konstantis,
WG 12 – Sprayed concrete use: Dr. Paraskevi Yiouta-Mitra,
WG 20 – Urban problems – underground solutions: Prof. Chrysothemis Paraskevopoulou, Prof. Andreas Benardos
WG 21 – Life Cycle Asset management (animateur): Prof. Dipl. Ing. Panos Spyridis
YM ITA Young Member Group: Dr. Dimitrios Georgiou
