Missions
Share, Promote, Inform & Learn
AFTES defines its missions as sharing know-how and expertise, improving knowledge and techniques, promoting underground space, informing the profession through its publications, and supporting continuing education.
It seeks to promote the use of underground space, support progress in tunnel design, construction and management methods, and to assist the development of plant and equipment for use in construction, operation and maintenance of underground structures and spaces.
The Association provides a platform that facilitates cooperation between decision-makers from public and private sectors and all industry players involved in the construction, maintenance and operation of all types of underground structures and spaces. It fosters knowledge sharing and facilitates progress in terms of research, works and pratices across the full spectrum of scientific, technical, legal and administrative, economic and social fields. AFTES actively promotes French know-how in these areas.
Key activities
To achieve its goals, the Association’s actions are wide-ranging and notably include:
- Networking between members and with national and international industry partners.
- Promoting and raising awareness about the best use of underground space and its contribution to sustainable development.
- Communication position statements on the appropriateness of political or administrative choices.
- Providing information and documentation for members.
- Conferring with members to determine the state of the art, define research and development objectives, promote materials and processes, and establish related recommendations.
- Implementing and managing research projects.
- Communicating ideas and best practices by developing recommendations and participating in national and international bodies concerned with tunnels and underground space.
- Raising awareness among designers and construction contractors of the complex system formed by the operation, safety, security and maintenance of an underground structure or space considered in its entirety.
- Showcasing the know-how of French designers, construction contractors and research institutions in the underground construction field.
- Developing initial and ongoing training relating to underground professions.
