This project supports participation by seven U.S. scientists in an Indo-U.S. workshop on underground space technology to be held in New Delhi, India in March 1991. The Indian counterpart is Dr. B. Singh, Director, Central Mining Research Station in Dhanbad, India. The three-and-half days workshop will cover the following areas: planning and design of underground space for various purposes; methods of construction including rapid tunnelling; underground excavation and much transportation; monitoring of behavior during construction and thereafter, ventilation, drainage, lighting and worker's safety; site evaluation and geotechnical design, and prediction of geomining conditions and excavation problems. In addition to evolving technology for the Indian conditions, the workshop will identify areas where U.S.-Indian collaboration would be useful. Scope: This field is in an area of increasing importance due to the increazsed need for maximum utilization of space and in economy in heating and cooling in addtion to the other conditions requiring underground construction such as tunnels, mines, and safety shelters. The topic is timely for India and for the U.S. It is likely that the exchange of information by U.S. and Indian scientists will benefit both sides from the experiences gained heretofore, and that avenues for cooperation on areas that need research will be identified. Workshop report will be published and distributed to the U.S. community and in India.
