The International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA-AITES) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in 1974, comprising currently 78 member nations and 266 corporate or individual affiliate members, aiming to encourage the use of the subsurface for the benefit of public, environment and sustainable development, and to promote advances in planning, design, construction, maintenance and safety of tunnels and underground space. The organization is made up of a community of professionals very involved in the tunnels and underground space industry: engineers, building owners, urban planners, architects, industrial designers, companies specialized in public works and major works, suppliers of construction equipment and materials, lawyers, political representatives, researchers and academics, economists, finance experts, and other stakeholders.
Since 1987, ITA has got the Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC, the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. It has been involved in Habitat II, studies for crossing of the Gibraltar Strait, reduction of poverty program, World Urban Forum.
The General Assembly is host by a Member Nation at the occasion of the yearly World Tunnel Congress.
ITA has four committees: Committee on operational safety of underground facilities, committee for education and training, committee on underground space (ITACUS) and committee on new technology (ITAtech). Officially created in 2014, the ITA Young Members Group (ITAym) is currently present within more than 20 Member Nations.
Working groups
ITA has a total of 15 Active Working Groups:
Working group 2: Research
Working group 3: Contractual Practices
Working group 5: Health and Safety in Works
Working group 6: Maintenance and Repair
Working group 9: Seismic Effects
Working group 11: Immersed and Floating Tunnels
Working group 12: Sprayed Concrete Use
Working group 14: Mechanized Tunnelling
Working group 15: Underground and Environment
Working group 17: Long Tunnels at Great Depth
Working group 19: Conventional Tunnelling
Working group 20: Urban Problems, Underground Solutions
Working group 21: Life Cycle Asset Management
Working group 22: Information Modelling in Tunnelling
Working group 23: Design & Construction of Shafts
ITA Tunnelling awards
Since 2015, the international competition "the ITA Tunnelling and Underground Space Awards" seeks and rewards the most ground-breaking innovation and outstanding projects in tunnelling and underground construction. With 8 categories, this competition aims to identify the most important ongoing underground works and technologies that help cities change and enable habits and ways of life to evolve in order to build smart and sustainable urban areas.
The first edition was held in charming and fascinating Hagerbach test gallery in Switzerland in July 2015. After the successful launch in 2015, with 110 nominations and 11 awards for projects and personalities, the second program for the ITA Tunneling Awards was held in Singapore Nov. 10-11, 2016 and supported by the TUCSS - Tunnelling and Underground Construction Society, Singapore, with 98 nominations from 25 countries competing for awards in nine categories. The 2017 edition took place on the 15th of November 2017, in Paris during the AFTES 15th International Congress from 13 to 16 November 2017. The 2018 edition took place in Chuzhou, China, Nov. 7 2018. The 2019 edition took place in Miami, in conjunction with Cutting Edge Conference of UCA of SME. The 2020 and 2021 editions ware held virtually due to the Covid Pandemic.
ITA COSUF
ITA COSUF is the Centre of Excellence for world-wide exchange of information and know-how regarding operational safety and security of underground facilities. its objectives are to develop and maintain a network to exchange knowledge and to facilitate the creation of dedicated teams and groups to perform specific (research or other) activities, promote safety and security by fostering innovation and by supporting the development of improved regulations and standards regarding safety and security of underground facilities in operation.
It currently has four Activities Groups: