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Scientific Committee

Scientific Committee

WTC2023 Scientific Committee

WTC2023 indents to ensure the highest possible scientific level thanks to the contribution of highly skilled professionals and academics who are coming from all parts around the world. The total number of the members of the scientific committee exceeds one hundred fifty (150).

WTC2023 - Scientific Committee Members

Distribution of countries of origin of the Scientific Committee members

Both the Greek Tunnelling Society (GTS) and the WTC2023 organization are very pleased that all the members of the scientific committee have been kindly accepted to participate in the paper’s review process supporting, via their expertise, the efforts of the organizers for a successful World Tunnel Congress.

All papers, in order to be eligible for publication, will be peer reviewed by two members of the scientific committee each, while all accepted papers will be made available to an open access portal via the platform of a highly esteemed international publisher. Such provision will make sure that the research / work / best practice / efforts of the authors participating in the WTC2023 will gain the maximum exposure and will be freely and permanently available so anyone, anywhere, can read and build upon his / her / them work.

Tunnelling – Geotechnical Engineering Division, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Prof. George Anagnostou
Prof. George Anagnostou
WTC2023 Scientific Committee Chair
Professor NTUA, School of Mining & Metallurgical Eng / Board Member GTS
Prof. Andreas Benardos
Prof. Andreas Benardos
WTC2023 Program Committee co-Chair
Associate Professor NTUA, School of Civil Engineering / Vice President IAEG
Prof. Vassilis Marinos
Prof. Vassilis Marinos
WTC2023 Program Committee co-Chair
Mr. Han Admiraal
The Netherlands
Enprodes
Prof. Zach Agioutantis
USA
University of Kentucky
Prof. Shinichi Akutagawa
Japan
Kobe University
Mr. Dimitrios Alifragkis
Greece
Attiko Metro SA
Dr. Giovanny Alvarado
Australia
AECOM
Ms. Jasmin Amberg
Switzerland
Amberg Engineering
Dr. Jairo Pascoal Junior
Brazil
EGT ENGENHARIA LTDA
Prof. Christos Anagnostopoulos
Greece
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Prof. Georgios Anagnostou
Switzerland
ETH Zurich
Prof. Ioannis Anastasopoulos
Switzerland
ETH Zurich
Mr. Georgios Angistalis
Greece
Attiko Metro SA
Prof. Georgios Apostolopoulos
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Dr. Pavlos Asteriou
Greece
OTM SA
Dr. Stefanos Athanassopoulos
Sweden
Lund University
Prof. Ömer Aydan
Japan
University of Ryukyus
Mr. Lars Babendererde
Germany
BabEng GmbH
Mr. Tim Babendererde
Germany
BabEng GmbH
Ms. Marilia Balasi
Greece
Omikron Kappa Consulting S.A.
Prof. Cemal Balci
Turkey
Istanbul Technical University -ITÜ
Dr. Karin Bäppler
Germany
Herrenknecht AG
Prof. Monica Barbero
Italy
Politecnico di Torino
Prof. Marco Barla
Italy
Politecnico di Torino
Prof. Andreas Benardos
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Prof. Adam Bezuijen
Belgium
Ghent University
Dr. Florence Bieri
Switzerland
B+S AG
Prof. Nuh Bilgin
Turkey
Istanbul Technical University -ITÜ
Prof. Antonio Bobet
USA
Purdue University
Prof. Nikolai Bobylev
Russia
St. Petersburg State University
Prof. Daniela Boldini
Italy
Sapienza Università di Roma
Prof. George Bouckovalas
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Mr. Nikolaos Bousoulas
Greece
Attiko Metro SA
Prof. Wout Broere
The Netherlands
Delft University
Prof. Armund Bruland
Norway
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Mr. Werner Burger
Germany
Herrenknecht AG
Prof. Carlo Callari
Italy
Università degli Studi del Molise
Dr. Linard Cantieni
Switzerland
Nagra
Prof. Marliena Cardu
Italy
Politecnico di Torino
Dr. Trevor Carter
Canada
Golder Associates. Ltd
Prof. Tarcisio Celestino
Brazil
Universidade de São Paulo
Prof. David Chapman
UK
University of Birmingham
Prof. Elma Charalambidou
UK
Herriot-Watt
Prof. Weizhong Chen
China
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
Dr. Elena Chiriotti
France
INCAS Partners
Dr. Filippos Chortis
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Mr. Jens Classen
Germany
Implenia
Prof. Emilios Comodromos
Greece
University of Thessaly
Ms. Antonia Cornaro
Switzerland
Amberg Engineering
Mr. Michel Deffayet
France
CETU
Mr. Nicola Della Valle
Spain
Tunnelconsult Engineering Ltd
Prof. Mark Diederichs
Canada
Queens University
Prof. Arnol Dix
Australia
ALARP Group
Dr. George Dounias
Greece
EDAFOS Engineering Consultants SA
Prof. Erik Eberhardt
Canada
University of British Columbia
Mr. Heinz Ehrbar
Switzerland
Heinz Ehrbar Partners
Ms. Amanda Elioff
USA
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Mr. Søren Eskesen
Denmark
COWI
Prof. George Exadaktylos
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Mr. Brian Fulcher
USA
McMillen Jacobs and Associates
Dr. Vojtech Gall
USA
GZ Consultants
Prof. Robert Galler
Austria
University of Leoben
Prof. George Gazetas
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Dr. Dimitris Georgiou
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Prof. R.K. Goel
India
CSIR-CIMFR
Mr. Alexandre Gomes
Australia
SMEC
Prof. Giovanni Grasselli
Canada
University of Toronto
Prof. Alessandro Graziani
Italy
Universita Roma 3
Prof. Eivind Grøv
Norway
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Prof. Jafar Hassanpour
Iran
University of Tehran
Prof. Chuan He
China
Southwest Jiaotong University
Dr. Karl Gunnar Holter
Norway
Norwegian Geotechnical Institute
Prof. Longhua Hu
China
University of Science and Technology of China
Prof. Hongwei Huang
China
Tongji University, Shanghai
Mr. Jon Hurt
USA
ARUP
Prof. Dimitris Kaliampakos
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Dr. Anastasios Kallianiotis
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Dr. Zeynep Karatza
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Prof. Michael Kavvadas
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Mr. Nikolaos Kazilis
Greece
GEODATA SpA
Prof. Kiyoshi Kishida
Japan
Kyoto University
Prof. Nikolaos Klimis
Greece
Democritus University of Thrace
Mr. Spyridon Konstantis
UK
Ruler Consult
Mr. Nikos Koronakis
Greece
Omikron Kappa Consulting S.A.
Prof. Konstantinos Kirytopoulos
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Dr. Donald Lamont
UK
Hyperbaric & Tunnel Safety
Mr. Lars Langmaack
Germany
MC-Bauchemie
Mr. Nikos Lavdas
Switzerland
Rothpletz & Lienhard & Cie
Dr. Eric Leca
France
ARCADIS
Mr. George Leoutsakos
Greece
Attiko Metro SA
Prof. Shucai Li
China
Shandong University, Jinan
Prof. Xiaozhao Li
China
Nanjing University
Mr. Dimitrios Litsas
UK
Mott MacDonald
Dr. Michail Lotidis
Greece
EDAFOS Engineering Consultants SA
Prof. Konstantinos Loupasakis
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Dr. Ulrich Maidl
Germany
mtc-Maidl Tunnelconsultants GmbH
Prof. Thomas Marcher
Austria
TU Graz
Prof. Vasilis Marinos
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Dr. Daniele Martinelli
Italy
Politecnico di Torino
Mr. Stefan Maurhofer
Switzerland
Amberg Engineering
Dr. Athanassios Mavrikos
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Prof. Maria Menegaki
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Mr. Davide Merlini
Switzerland
Pini Group
Prof. Günther Meschke
Germany
Ruhr-University Bochum
Prof. Theodoros Michalakopoulos
Greece
National Technical University of Athens - NTUA
Mr. Elias Michalis
Greece
ARCADIS
Prof. Mike Mooney
USA
Colorado School of Mines
Prof. Monika Mitew-Czajewska
Poland
Warsaw University of Technology
Mr. Nasri Munfah
USA
GZ Consultants
Prof. Priscilla Nelson
USA
Colorado School of Mines
Mr. Matthias Neuenschwander
Switzerland
Neuenschwander Consulting Engineers
Prof. Bjørn Nilsen
Norway
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Prof. Pavlos Nomikos
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Dr. Spyridon Papakonstantinou
Switzerland
Bächtold & Moor
Mr. Stefanos Papavasileiou
The Netherlands
Plaxis / Bentley
Ms. Dimitra Papouli
Greece
Aktor
Prof. Chrysothemis Paraskevopoulou
UK
University of Leeds
Prof. Danielle Peila
Italy
Politecnico di Torino
Prof. Frederic Pellet
France
INSA LYON
Dr. Paolo Perazzelli
Italy
Pini Group SA
Mr. Evangelos Pergantis
Greece
Attiko Metro SA
Prof. Alexandros Petalas
UK
Durham University
Mr. Andrea Pigorini
Italy
Italferr
Dr. Erich Pimentel
Switzerland
ETH Zurich
Prof. Kyriazis Pitilakis
Greece
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Prof. Claudio di Prisco
Italy
Politecnico di Milano
Dr. George Prountzopoulos
Greece
Omikron Kappa Consulting S.A.
Mr. Nikos Rachaniotis
Greece
Egnatia Odos SA
Mr. Peter Raleigh
USA
McMillen Jacobs Associates
Dr. Marco Ramoni
Switzerland
Basler & Hofmann
Mr. Dimitrios Rizos
Egypt
Orascom
Prof. Jamal Rostami
USA
Colorado School of Mines
Prof. Tatiana Rotonda
Italy
Sapienza Università di Roma
Mr. Xavier Roulet
Switzerland
Bernasconi SA
Dr. Konstantinos Sakkas
Greece
ENALOS
Dr. Charalampos Saroglou
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Dr. Alex Schneider
Switzerland
Rothpletz & Lienhard & Cie
Dr. Britta Schoesser
Germany
Ruhr-University Bochum
Dr. Felix Schroeder
UK
Geotechnical Consulting Group LLP
Dr. Roberto Schuerch
Switzerland
Pini Group
Mr. Gerard Seingre
Switzerland
B&G
Prof. Keh-Jian Shou
Chinese Taipei
National Chung Hsing University
Prof. Alexandros Sofianos
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Dr. Giovanni Spagnoli
Germany
MBCC Group
Prof. Panos Spyridis
Germany
TU Dortmund
Prof. Jamie Standing
UK
Imperial College
Prof. Maria Stavropoulou
Greece
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Mr. George Stoumpos
Greece
Attiko Metro SA
Mr. Artem Syomik
Switzerland
Lombardi
Mr. Gary Tang
New Zealand
CMW Geosciences
Prof. Markus Thewes
Germany
Ruhr-University Bochum
Dr. Alun Thomas
Denmark
All2plan Consulting ApS
Prof. Kurosch Thuro
Germany
Technical University Munich
Dr. Carmine Todaro
Italy
Politecnico di Torino
Prof. Zvonko Tomanovic
Montenegro
University of Montenegro
Prof. Maria Tsakiri
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Dr. Nikos Vagiokas
Greece
ENALOS
Dr. Sotirios Vardakos
USA
HNTB
Dr. Ioannis Vazaios
UK
ARUP
Prof. Giulia Viggiani
UK
Cambridge University
Prof. Nikolaos Vlachopoulos
Canada
Royal Military College of Canada
Prof. Christos Vrettos
Germany
University of Kaiserslautern
Prof. Tai-Tien Wang
Chinese Taipei
National Taiwan University
Dr. Markus Weh
Switzerland
Marti
Prof. Xiongyao Xie
China
Tongji University, Shanghai
Dr. Paraskevi Yiouta-Mitra
Greece
National Technical University of Athens
Prof. Chungsik Yoo
Korea
Sungkyunkwan University
Prof. Bai Yun
China
Tongji University, Shanghai
Prof. Ioannis Zevgolis
Greece
National Technical University of Athens

Tarcisio Celestino

Tarcisio Celestino was previously ITA President (2016-19) and President of the Brazilian Tunnelling Committee. He was the Animateur of the ITA Working Group 12 on Sprayed Concrete Use (2005-10). He earned his doctorate degree in Civil Engineering (Rock Mechanics) from the University of California, Berkeley (1981).

He is currently Professor at the University of Sao Paulo and employed by Themag Engenharia Ltda., Sao Paulo (Brazil), where he leads the Geotechnical Engineering, Engineering Geology &Transportation Engineering Design Groups. He is also responsible for the geotechnical designs of several hydroelectric power plants, subways, highways etc., including major underground works (since 1990). He has also acted as consultant.

Professor Celestino continues to contribute his knowledge for the graduate courses & research areas on Rock Mechanics & Underground Works, at the São Carlos Engineering School, University of São Paulo and for the ITACET Foundation.

2. Excursion of history and adventure in Lavreotiki
Sunday 14 May, 2023

Our destination is the exploitation galleys of one of the largest underground mines of Attica. The chambers of metal extraction, rich in recognisable minerals, combine the mystery of ancient drifts with the beauty of caves. We will wander underground for up to 3 hours and explore the maize of drifts, the chambers supported by natural as well as carved-out pillars and the stalactites decoration reminiscent of natural caves. Each of the routes we follow hides surprises waiting to be discovered! 

After we will visit the great “Chaos” sinkhole, a heart-shaped sinkhole formation 150m in diameter and 55m deep. This chiasm may have been formed by the collapse of a cave roof as many of the area’s mining tunnels end there.

Scientific theme: Underground mining activity in Lavrio

Duration: 6 hours inclusive

Detailed program

9.30-10.30 Athens-Lavrio

10.30-13.30 Underground mines

14.00-14.30 Stop at dolin “Chaos” and return to Athens

14.30 – 15.30 Lavrio-Athens

Cost per person: 40,00 €

*limited participation on a first come first served basis. In case participants are less than 20, the respective event will be cancelled and a refund wil be given.

Photo Gallery

1. We go down Athens underground. (Athens centre, moving around on foot)
Saturday 13 May, 2023

How many surprises can the Athens underground have in store for its visitors? The stroll will start from underground shelters and detention areas of the German Kommandatur, remnants of the 2nd World War in Athens. Then, we will take the steps that start off under a timeworn trap door on the side of a road or hidden away in a sidewalk flower–bed, that will lead us in a different, forgotten underground area of the city! For hundreds of years, underground pathways have been used for various and mysterious purposes. Some say that all underground pathways are interconnected although there is no proof of this. Nevertheless, the allure of an unknown world is always there, beneath the ground we walk on. We lift up the antiquated hatch and descend the stone steps.  In the catacomb, we come across tunnels of ancient aqueducts, roman baths and byzantine crypts. The Athens river is also found hidden below the ground, running in old galleys under the most central streets of Athens – we can hear the cars passing over our heads! 

We invite you to discover together the hidden secrets of our city!

Scientific theme: underground constructions of the 19th and 20th century.

Duration: Maximum of 4 hours.

Detailed program:

11.00 Meeting outside Metro Station Panepistimio

11.30 Memorial Site (Korai Street). Two-level underground shelter below the Mansion of Ethniki Insurance Company.

13.00 Catacombs of the Russian Church (Filellinon Street). Inside the catacombs a tunnel and a shaft from ancient Peisistratus aqueduct, ruins from roman baths and crypts of the Byzantine order of Likodimos -11th century.

14.00 Ilissos River (area of Panathenaic Stadium). The buried riverbed of Athens river Ilissos.

Cost per person : 35,00 €

*limited participation on a first come first served basis. In case participants are less than 20, the respective event will be cancelled and a refund wil be given.

Photo Gallery

Professor Kyriazis Pitilakis

Professor Kyriazis Pitilakis has more than forty years of intensive academic, research and professional experience in civil, earthquake and geotechnical engineering. Vice-President of the European Association of Earthquake Engineering (EAEE), ex- Chairman of the Technical Committee “Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering andAssociated Problems” (TC203) of the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE), and past President of the Greek Society of Earthquake Engineering. He is presently Professor Emeritus in Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece and since 2019 visiting Professor in Tongji University, International Laboratory of earthquake Engineering (ILEE), Shanghai, China.

Coordinator and scientific responsible of numerous European research projects, namely EUROSEISTEST and SYNER-G, he has a long experience in European research activities in earthquake engineering, geotechnical engineering, vulnerability and risk assessment of civil engineering structures, infrastructures and lifelines. According to the recent Stanford classification he is among the top 10 leading researchers in Civil Engineering in Greece, and among the top 10 leading international researchers in specific topics like Soil Dynamics, Engineering Seismology and Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering.

Chairman of several international conferences including the 16th European Conference of Earthquake Engineering, Thessaloniki 2018 and invited keynote lecturer in many International Conferences. Author of more than 650 scientific papers (h-factor 57) published in peer review scientific journals, and conference proceedings, author and co-author in several books, editor of four books published in Springer Editions, all in relevant subjects of earthquake engineering, seismic risk and geotechnical earthquake engineering. Professor Kyriazis Pitilakis is founder and coordinator of EUROSEISTEST, a large scale experimental facility in earthquake engineering, soil dynamics and engineering seismology that is unique in Europe and worldwide. He supervised more that 30 PhD thesis and numerous of his students hold academic positions in Greece and worldwide.

Professor Kyriazis Pitilakis is strongly involved in the ongoing revision of EC8 (Part 1-Seismic Actions and Part 5-Seismic design of foundations, retaining structures, soilstructure interaction, liquefaction, slope stability and underground structures), while he has been international expert for the revision of other seismic codes worldwide.

He is member of the editorial advisory board in Springer editions (Geotechnical, Geological and Earthquake Engineering), member of the editorial board and reviewer of numerous scientific journals and member of many international societies in earthquake and geotechnical engineering.

Honors: Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Academiques, French Republic.
Thessaloniki 06.06.2022

Professor Marc Panet

The 12th Muir Wood lecture will be delivered by Professor Marc Panet during the WTC2023 in Athens. His nomination being a Muir Wood lecturer was proposed by the French Tunnelling & Underground Space Association (AFTES) as per ITA’s Statues and By-laws.

Marc Panet graduated in Civil Engineering at the École des Mines de Paris and obtained a Master degree at the University of California at Berkeley. He started his career in 1965 at the Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussées, in Paris, where he was a Research Engineer, Head of the Geotechnical Department and Technical Director. In 1982 he joined the SHP Group, in Paris, as Scientific Director. From 1984 to 1996 he was the President and CEO of SIMECSOL; and from 1996 to 2000 President and CEO of FC International SA. Since then he has been working as a consultant. He taught at the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, at the École des Mines and at the École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures, in Paris.

Marc has been in charge of numerous studies in geotechnical engineering for underground works, highways, bridges, and natural hazards. Among the main projects are: the Mont Blanc Tunnel (11.6km), the Frejus Road Tunnel (12.9 km), the Large Electron–Positron Collider (CERN in Geneva), the Channel Tunnel (from 1967 to the end of the construction), the Millau Bridge, the Loetschberg Base Tunnel (43 km), subways in Paris, Rennes, Caracas, Athens and Algiers, the slides of the city of Constantine (Algeria), the project of the suspended bridge on the Straits of Messina (Italy) and the project of the cable-stayed bridge on the Golden Horn (Turkey). He is presently involved in a large number of geotechnical projects.

He is the author of a large number of publications in professional journals and international conferences and of the well-known book “Calculation of tunnels using the convergence-confinement method”.

Marc Panet is a Honorary Member of the French Academy of Technology, Knight of the National Order of Merit and Knight of the Order of Academic Palms.