> Tunnel and Underground Transit Organizations

The following organizations conduct testing and research for engineering applications, including tunnel design and construction, fire safety, and materials.

AASHTO
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials represents all five transportation modes: air, highways, public transportation, rail and water. Its primary goal is to foster the development, operation and maintenance of an integrated national transportation system. The site includes Tunnel Management Systems, a technology transfer section. AASHTO-sponsored reports on road, bridge, and tunnel security can be viewed here.

American Underground Construction Association
An organization of professionals involved in the planning, design, development, construction and use of underground facilities. AUA is the official United States Member-Nation Representative to the International Tunnelling Association.

ASTM
Provides standards for materials, products, systems, and services that are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems, and commercial transactions around the globe.

Australian Underground Construction and Tunnelling Association (AUCTA)
A non-profit organization uniting members of the engineering and scientific professions, tunnellers, miners and suppliers in its membership with the aim of providing programs of activities, technical conferences, symposia and meetings designed to stimulate, educate and inform those with an interest in the field.

Centre for Expertise and Research on Infrastructures in Urban Areas (CERIU)

CERIU is the only organization in Canada devoted entirely to urban infrastructure issues, including bridges and tunnels/underground infrustructure.

DARTS: Durable and Reliable Tunnel Structures

A partnership which is supported by the Competitive and Sustainable Growth Programme (The European Commission, Community Research), the objective of DARTS is to develop operational methods and supporting practical tools for the best pro-active decision-making process for choosing, in each individual case, the cost optimal tunnel type and construction procedures regarding environmental conditions, technical qualities, safety precautions, and long service life.

FHWA Bridge & Tunnel Division
U.S. Dept. of Transportation Federal Highway Administration develops regulations, policies, and guidelines to achieve safety, access, economic development, and other goals of FHWA programs to continually improve the quality of the nation's highway system and its intermodal connections.

Federal Railroad Administration
Also part of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, the FRR and its Safety Advisory Committee oversees the many elements of railroad infrastructure, including bridges and tunnels, that must be properly designed, installed, used, maintained, inspected and secured if railroads are to be operated safely.

L-surF

Large Scale Uderground Research Facility is a European Union-funded feasibility study on safety and security of enclosed underground spaces.

Society for the Study of Underground Transportation Systems (STUVA)
Based in Cologne, Germany (web site is in German), this organization awards prizes for innovations in underground transport systems.

International Tunnelling Association
The aims of ITA are to encourage planning of the subsurface and to promote advances in the preparatory investigations for tunnels and in the design, construction and maintenance of tunnels by bringing together information thereon and by studying questions related thereto. A list of member nations is available here.

NIST Building and Fire Research Laboratory
Studies building materials; computer-integrated construction practices; fire science and fire safety engineering; and structural, mechanical, and environmental engineering. Products of the laboratory's research include measurements and test methods, performance criteria, and technical data that supports innovations by industry and are incorporated into building and fire standards and codes.

SP Swedish National Testing and Research Institute
SP Fire Technology has during a number of years performed tests and done research in the area of tunnel safety. Many papers and reports have been published on the subject.

TISP
The Infrastructure Security Partnership (TISP) is a dedicated group of public and private sector organizations formed to collaborate on issues related to the security of the United States' built environment.

Transportation Research Board
The Board's purposes are to stimulate research concerning the nature and performance of transportation systems. See Committee A2C04, Tunnels and Underground Structures.

Tunneling Association of Canada
Among its objectives, the TAC promotes and advances Canadian tunnelling and underground excavation technologies, and safe design, construction and maintenance. A member of the International Tunnelling Association.

Underwriter Laboratories
UL Fire Protection Division has a diverse portfolio of services and is the recognized leader in the fire industry.

World Road Association
This organization is comprised of 16 separate Committees that are devoted to engineering, policy and management of highway transportation. One of the Committees, C-5, ROAD TUNNEL OPERATION is dedicated to the development of various technical reports on best practices and design recommendations in tunnel engineering.

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