Working Groups
Working Groups are the backbone of the Association
Working Groups (WG) are set up to address thematic needs identified by the Association. Most report to a Committee, which is responsible for coordination between the various WGs within its scope, and for approving their deliverables.
Each WG is led by an AFTES member. All members are free to contribute according to their possibilities, availability and expertise, subject to approval by the group’s animateur. These groups produce documents and recommendations relating to the assigned theme, which are then submitted to the Committee for approval prior to publication (in French, and generally also English).
Decisions relating to the creation of new working groups and the appointment of WG animateurs are made jointly by the parent Committee and the Executive Council.
There follows a brief presentation of the Working Groups currently active, as well as the Committees to which they report, their animateurs and the means of contacting them for more information.
Technical Committee ‐ WG 3 ‐ Use of explosives
This Working Group deals with all matters relating to the use of explosives for excavating underground structures, including equipment and resources, operating conditions and vibration effects, for example.
Most recent Recommendation: Vibrations generated by mine blasts: determination of vibration thresholds during preliminary project studies
Theme: Conventional excavation
Animateur: Loïc Thévenot
Vice animateur: Sophie Duclos
Technical Committee ‐ WG 4 ‐ Mechanised tunnelling
This Working Group deals with all matters relating to mechanised tunnelling. It strives to capitalise feedback from mechanised work sites, and issues Recommendations regarding the use of such techniques.
Recent publications:
– TBM data sheets: Project information sheets relating to various mechanised work sites (124 sheets to date)
– Review of developments in TBMs and their capabilities over the period 2000-2019
Publication pending: Recommendation relating to the choice of confinement method
Theme: TBMs, shields and segments
Animateurs: François Renault and Magali Schivre
Technical Committee ‐ WG 6 ‐ Sprayed concrete
This Working Group is concerned with the means, equipment and conditions of use of sprayed concrete as excavation support.
Publication pending: Recommendation for drafting specifications relating to dry process sprayed concrete for support and lining in underground structures.
Theme: Conventional support and lining
Animateur: Catherine Larive
Vice animateur: Damien Rogat
Technical Committee ‐ WG 7 ‐ Tunnel support methods
This working group deals with general design and dimensioning methods for underground structures excavated using conventional methods.
Publication pending: Update to the Recommendation relating to the choice of tunnel support method.
Theme: Conventional support and lining
Animateur: Bruno Demay
Technical Committee ‐ WG 8 ‐ Soil and rock injection works
This Working Group focuses on soil and rock injection techniques for the excavation of underground structures.
Publication pending: Update to the Recommendation relating to the design and execution of soil and rock injection works.
Theme: Grouting and waterproofing
Animateur: Michel Chopin
Technical Committee ‐ WG 9 ‐ Sealing of underground structures
This Working Group deals with issues relating to sealing processes used for underground works, including equipment, resources and operating conditions.
Publication pending: Protection of external sealing and drainage of underground structures.
Theme: Grouting and waterproofing
Animateur: Stéphane Petit
Vice animateur: David Chamoley
Technical Committee ‐ WG 12 ‐ Health, safety and working conditions
The purpose of this Working Group is to issue recommendations relating to health, safety, and working conditions at above-ground and below-ground construction sites for underground structures.
Recently published Recommendation: Organisation of emergency services and related resources during underground works.
Pending Recommendation: Safe movement of personnel and equipment during underground works.
Theme: Safety, quality, logistics & the environment
Animateur: Pascal Sergi
Technical Committee ‐ WG 14 ‐ Maintenance and repair of underground structures
This Working Group deals with all mattes relating to post-commissioning management and maintenance of underground structures.
Pending Recommendation: Update to the Recommendation on survey and diagnostic analysis techniques for underground structures.
Theme: Maintenance and rehabilitation
Animateur: Sophie Duclos
Technical Committee ‐ WG 16 ‐ Settlement and vibrations caused by excavation of underground structures
This Working Group examines the technical and contractual implications of settlement and vibration caused by the excavation of underground structures.
Recently published Recommendation: Effects caused by excavation on neighbouring structures in the design and construction of underground works.
Short-term outlook: Research into settlement estimation techniques and the methodology applicable to intrinsic sensitivity studies.
Theme: Ground conditions and soil-structure interaction
Animateur: Didier Subrin
Technical Committee ‐ WG 18 ‐ Reinforced concrete segments
The role of this Working Group is to issue recommendations concerning the design of prefabricated reinforced concrete lining segments used in mechanised tunnelling. These recommendations are intended to supplement regulatory provisions where necessary.
Work in progress: Update to the recommendation on the design, sizing and production of prefabricated lining segments in accordance with the latest versions of the Eurocodes.
Theme: TBMs, shields and segments
Animateur: Pascal Guëdon
Technical Committee ‐ WG 24 ‐ Geotechnical surveys
This Working Group covers all aspects of geotechnical surveying applied to underground works, including technologies, scouting, forward probing and the role of surveys in the construction process.
Pending Recommendation: Geological, hydrogeological and geotechnical surveys required for the design of underground structures.
Theme: Ground conditions and soil-structure interaction
Animateur: Cédric Gaillard
Technical Committee ‐ WG 25 ‐ Works contracting and cost control
Following the 2015 publication of its Recommendation on works contracting and cost control, this Working Group has reconvened to address a new theme: design-and-build contracts..
This Working Group is to conduct a critical analysis of the Emerald Book recently published by FIDIC.
Theme: Planning, socio-economic and legal aspects
Animateur: Andrew Bourget
Vice animateur: Rodolphe Munier
Technical Committee ‐ WG 26 ‐ Environmental integration of underground work sites
The purpose of this Working Group is to issue recommendations for successfully integrating underground work sites into their environment in accordance with applicable regulations.
Pending Recommendation: Environmental integration of underground work sites in rural environments.
Theme: Safety, quality, logistics & the environment
Animateur: Bernard Gyssels
Technical Committee ‐ WG 27 ‐ Ventilation of underground structures under construction
This Working Group deals with the design and implementation (including equipment and resources) of ventilation systems for underground structures under construction in accordance with regulations on working conditions and environmental protection.
Publication pending: Update to the Recommendation on ventilation of underground structures under construction.
Theme: Safety, quality, logistics & the environment
Animateur: Alain Mercusot
Vice animateur: Elisa Béraud
Technical Committee ‐ WG 28 ‐ Surface shafts
This Working Group deals with the design and construction of shafts extending no deeper than 50 m, whether or not they open onto tunnels.
Pending Recommendation: Surface shafts
Theme: Conventional excavation
Animateur: Pascal Guédon
Technical Committee ‐ WG 30 ‐ Bolting design
This Working Group deals with the design and dimensioning of special support components for conventionally excavated tunnels.
Published Recommendation: Radial rock bolting in tunnels – design and sizing guide
Pending Recommendation: Design and sizing of pre-support processes
Theme: Conventional support and lining
Animateur: François Laigle
Vice animateur: Jean Launay
Technical Committee ‐ WG 31 ‐ Painting of underground structures
This Working Group is tasked with issuing painting specifications for the surfaces of underground structures.
Theme: Grouting and waterproofing
Animateur: François Paillette
Vice animateur: Serge Hamparian
Technical Committee ‐ WG 35 ‐ Excavated materials
The role of this Working Group is to issue recommendations intended to promote resource conservation and sustainable development practices relating to management of materials excavated from underground works carried out using either conventional or mechanised methods.
Published Recommendation: Management and use of excavated materials.
Theme: Safety, quality, logistics & the environment
Animateur: Jacques Burdin
Technical Committee ‐ WG 36 – Geometry, concrete, formwork and concreting of tunnel linings
This Working Group issues recommendations applicable to the design and execution of tunnel linings that are constructed and cast in place.
Published Recommendation: GT36R1A1
Theme: Conventional support and lining
Animateur: Alain Mercusot
Vice animateur: André Boeri
Technical Committee ‐ WG 37 ‐ Fire resistance of tunnels
After initially addressing fire resistance in road tunnels, this Working Group is now examining the case of railway tunnels.
Pending Recommendation: Consideration of fire risks in the structural design of railway and guided transport tunnels
Theme: Maintenance and rehabilitation
Animateur: Alain Bochon
Vice animateur: Bérénice Moreau
Technical Committee ‐ WG 41 ‐ Underground works and sustainable development
This Working Group deals with all sustainable development issues relating to the construction and operation of underground structures..
Pending Recommendation: Applying life cycle analysis (LCA) to underground structures.
Theme: Planning, socio-economic and legal aspects
Animateur: Laetitia D’Aloia
Technical Committee ‐ WG 43 ‐ Standards and regulations applicable to underground works
This Working Group permanently monitors changes to standards and regulations that impact the design of underground works.
Most recent Recommendation: Application of the new geotechnical engineering standard to underground construction
Theme: Ground conditions and soil-structure interaction.
Animateur: Michel Pré
Technical Committee ‐ WG 44 ‐ Asbestos-bearing rock
The role of this Working Group is to develop a method for managing the risk of encountering asbestos-bearing rocks while designing and executing underground works.
Theme: Ground conditions and soil-structure interaction
Animateur: Gilbert Castanier
Technical Committee ‐ WG 45 ‐ New digital technologies
This Working Group was established to create a permanent forum for discussing issues relating to the development of BIM in the underground construction field in France and internationally, and to assert the role of AFTES in the MINnD national project in France, and in ITA-AITES WG 22.
Theme: Planning, socio-economic and legal aspects
Animateur: Florent Robert
Vice animateur: Nataliya Dias
Technical Committee ‐ Special WG – Good practice guide for sealing underground structures
The specific purpose of this Working Group is to produce a “Best Practices Guide” for sealing underground structures.
Theme: Grouting and waterproofing
Animateur: Jean-Louis Mahuet
Vice animateur: Jean-Noël Louchart
Technical Committee ‐ Obs WG ‐ Observatory of contractual practices
This Working Group reports on progress achieved following publication of core AFTES recommendations in the area of risk contracting, and observes current practices by analysing a series of actual cases.
Theme: Planning, socio-economic and legal aspects
Animateur: Gilles Hamaide
Vice animateur: Elena Chiriotti
