InnoTrans 2026 and International Tunnel Forum of the STUVA

Even in 2026, STUVA will once again organise the International Tunnel Forum as part of the InnoTrans Convention. Since its inception in 2008, the Tunnel Forum has addressed current issues facing the industry and has developed into a highly successful and well-established event. Leading experts discuss the latest developments and challenges in mobility and tunnelling with an audience of industry professionals and specialists. As in previous years, the Forum will be moderated on both days by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Roland Leucker, Managing Director of STUVA e. V., Cologne.

The programme has now been finalised and is as follows:

Wednesday, 23 September 2026

The leading theme on the first day will be "Tunnels – Key to Ecology and Quality of Life".

Tunnels provide much more than just efficient transport and supply routes. They are a key component of sustainable infrastructure, as they preserve valuable open spaces at ground level, protect sensitive natural habitats and improve the quality of life in towns and cities. In this context, innovative building materials, sustainable planning approaches and the development of sustainability expertise in urban transport planning are becoming increasingly important. At the same time, it is important to assess new projects holistically, taking into account not only economic but also environmental and social considerations. Ultimately, mobility needs must be reconciled with all sustainability objectives. During the forum, four presentations followed by a panel discussion will present different perspectives on the contributions of tunnel construction to the three pillars of sustainability – economy, ecology and sociology – and discuss these using current practical examples.

• Standardised Assessment – A Basis for Decision-Making in Tunnel and Transport Projects
• Dipl.-Vw. Bernd Kollberg, Managing Director, Intraplan Consult GmbH, München
  
  
• Climate-Efficient and Resource-Saving Concretes for Tunnel Construction
  Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Haist, University of Stuttgart, President of German Committee for Structural Concrete (DAfStb), Stuttgart
  
  
• Change Agents – Improving Quality of Life by Strengthening Sustainability Skills
  Dr.-Ing. Peter Hoffmann, Project Management, Planning and Design of Major Infrastructure Projects, Schüßler-Plan Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH, Düsseldorf
  
  
• Ecology meets Mobility – Pathways to Sustainable Railway Tunnels
  Johanna Theilmann, Railmap Climate-Neutral Rail Infrastructure, Planning, Environment and Technical Innovations, DB InfraGO AG, Berlin
  
  

Thursday, 24 September 2026

The Forum will address what is probably the most widely discussed topic in our industry at present: "Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence in Tunnel Construction and Operation".

Digitalisation made its way into the design, construction and operation of tunnel structures many years ago. Modern digital methods enable more efficient project management, improve collaboration between all stakeholders and lay the foundations for well-informed decisions throughout a structure’s entire life cycle. For some time now, artificial intelligence has been increasingly applied in many sectors of the economy. It offers new opportunities to analyse large volumes of data, automate processes and further optimise the safe and cost-effective operation of facilities. What opportunities does artificial intelligence offer for further improving digital design models, smart construction sites, or monitoring and maintenance systems in tunnel construction and operation? This question will be explored in four presentations followed by a panel discussion. Current developments, specific examples of application and future prospects will be presented and discussed.

• The AI Revolution in Tunnelling and Civil Engineering? An Assessment from a Planning Perspective
  Dr.-Ing. Andreas Bach, Managing Partner, Schüßler-Plan Digital, Düsseldorf
  
  
• Digital Construction Processes in Tunnelling – Current Practice and Future Prospects
  Dr.-Ing. Frank Abel, Head of the Austria and UK Division, Head of Tunnel Construction, Hochtief Infrastructure AG, Essen
  
  
• Automation and Artificial Intelligence for Improved Performance, Safety and Efficiency in Tunnel Boring Machines
  Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Wehrmeyer, Head of Product Management Traffic Tunnelling, Herrenknecht AG, Schwanau
  
  
• Semmering Base Tunnel: Managing Complexity through Lean Construction and Real-Time Data
  Clemens Oberschmied, Product Owner Digital Engineering, Rhomberg Sersa Bahntechnik, Bregenz, Austria
  
  

The STUVA events will take place on both days from 14:00 to 16:00 in CityCube Berlin, Level 3, M8.

Incidentally, STUVA will again be represented with its own exhibition stand at InnoTrans in 2026. Visit us in Hall 5.2, Stand No. 940. We are already looking forward to great conversations and many visitors!

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