Environmental and climatic protection is gaining an ever increasing position of prominence within society. This applies all the more against the background of an ever growing world population. The related need for mobility can only be accomplished in part by underground transportation facilities on account of the limited amount of available space. Underground route alignments for the transportation of man and goods bring together in an ideal manner mobility while at the same time saving resources and preserving environmental and climatic protection.

Nonetheless it has been revealed in Germany at least by recent projects that approval and planning processes can last a very long time with the outcome that there is a lack of acceptance on the part of the general public once a project is tackled. As a result we wish to examine this topic in the form of a keynote address.

Following the great amount of positive feedback relating to our jubilee celebrations for the first time within the scope of a “regular” STUVA Conference we intend providing talented up-and-comers with the chance to report on the fascination of tunnelling during the “Youth Forum”.

With our Conference we provide you with an international platform for exchanging views on all sectors of underground construction. The accompanying exhibition and the excursions scheduled for Day 3 complete the programme and afford a further opportunity to consolidate existing contacts and establish new ones.

We invite you to attend interesting discussions at the

STUVA Conference ’11

and look forward to welcoming you to the Exhibition Grounds Berlin.

Research Associationfor Underground Transportation Facilities – STUVA –

Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Ziegler     Dr.-Ing. Roland Leucker
Chairman of the Board                     Managing Director