Associate Professor Dr Brian Sheil and his team have been recognised in Melbourne with an award for one of the best papers published in Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology in 2024. The award was presented at the Joint International Conferences on Construction Technology in Tunnelling and Underground and Tunnel Boring Machines in Difficult Grounds 2026.
The award-winning paper was led by visiting researcher Wei Lin from Tongji University and co-authored by former University of Cambridge postdoctoral researcher Pin Zhang. The recognition reflects the strength of international collaboration and its contribution to research in tunnelling and underground engineering.
The award was announced during the landmark joint CTTU and TBM DiGs 2026 conference, held in Melbourne between 19 and 23 January, which brought together two internationally recognised conference series for the first time. Convened under the theme Innovating Underground Resilient and Intelligent Solutions for Next Generation Tunnelling, the event attracted scientists, engineers, researchers, industry professionals and policymakers from around the world.
In addition to the award, Dr Sheil delivered a keynote address titled Digital Reconstruction of Underground Infrastructure as part of the conference programme. His participation formed part of a technical agenda covering advances in tunnelling technologies, tunnel boring machines, geotechnical engineering, digital and data-driven approaches, and underground construction management.
Dr Sheil’s participation and the team’s award success underscore the strong research presence and global engagement showcased at the joint CTTU and TBM DiGs conference, reinforcing the importance of collaboration between academia and industry in shaping the future of resilient, intelligent underground solutions.
Many congratulations to Dr Sheil and his team!