TE3 – Tunnelling Operation and Impact Assessment

Dr. Yeo Chong Hun teaches vector calculus, differential equations, numerical methods, linear algebra, ground improvement, soil behaviour and finite element method. His research background include tunnel heading stability, ground shock, liquefaction and deep mixing. He has extensive experience in soil tests, field instrumentation, physical modelling and numerical modelling. He is a technical assessor in the fields of soil tests, rock tests and pile tests. In the area of teaching, he is designing applied methods in the teaching and learning of engineering mathematics. His present research interest is in advanced soil tests and geotechnical model tests.

Massimo is a Chartered Civil Engineer (CEng MICE, MIES, MIEAust) holding an MSc (Civil Engineering & Construction Management) from Heriot Watt University and a GC (Geotechnical Engineering) from the National University of Singapore. After his first overseas tunnelling experience in the east (1996-1997), he moved to Taiwan working as a site/technical manager for construction companies. He was involved in major infrastructure projects such as the East Coast Railway, 2nd Freeway, Hydropower Plant & High-Speed Railway) and experienced in mined tunnelling characterised by difficult ground, large cross sections (up to 170 m2), and high overburden (over 500m). In Singapore since 2006, he has worked on tunnelling for Circle Line, Downtown Line, Cable Tunnel (independent reviewer), Thomson-East Coast Line and the upcoming Cross Island Line. Since 2014, he has been serving as a committee member/honorary secretary of the Tunnelling and Underground Construction Society of Singapore. His areas of interest and expertise are mined tunnelling in soft ground, ground improvement, excavation management system, and slurry quality & treatment for mechanised tunnelling.

Antonio obtained his MSc in Geotechnical Engineering from the Complutensian University of Madrid and his MSc in Geology from the University of Salamanca. This combination allows him to appreciate the risks of underground design and construction with a holistic approach. He has almost 20 years of experience in Geotechnics and Tunnelling, from different projects in Spain and Singapore. He has worked in almost all the branches of the Geotechnical Engineering, including Laboratory and In-situ testing, Forensic Engineering, Foundations, Underground Civil Structures and also Roads and High Speed Rail. In Singapore since 2013, he worked on Downtown Line 3, Thomson East Coast Line and currently working on the Thomson East Coast Line Extension and on the upcoming Cross Island Line. Antonio specialises in mechanised tunnelling and pipe jacking. His area of interest and expertise are Soil Conditioning, Drilling Fluids and Excavation Management, fields where he conducted investigations and published technical papers.

Chee Keong joined the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in 2002. He graduated with a 2nd Class Honours from the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore (NTU). He is currently a Principal Project Manager in LTA and holds a concurrent position as the Assistant Chief Specialist (Mechanised Tunnelling). At the core, Chee Keong is a passionate tunnelling engineer. After successfully managing and completing LTA tunnelling projects up till 2012, he was handpicked and seconded full time to Singapore Power for its very challenging cable tunnel project. Upon the landmark completion of the tunnelling works for the cable tunnel project, he was again seconded to PUB’s DTSS2 project before returning to LTA in 2019. The practical exposure to and tunnelling experience in varied and demanding ground conditions in Singapore has equipped and enabled him to harness a healthy appreciation of the different types of tunnelling methods and tunnel boring machines (TBMs).

Mr. Jeyatharan obtained his Bachelor of Science from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and received his doctorate from the University of Cambridge. He has worked with few consultants designing major infrastructure for about 10 years before moving to Land Transport Authority to plan and manage designs of major infrastructure projects. He has over 30 years of geotechnical and tunnel engineering experience and has been involved in the design aspects of several road and rail infrastructure projects in Singapore, including site investigations and testing, geotechnical interpretation, earth retaining structures, tunnels, foundations, instrumentation and monitoring and ground improvement. He conducts technical studies on topics such as geotechnical interpretations of deep excavation and tunnelling works etc. and shares his findings regularly in local conferences and seminars.

Kok Hun obtained his Bachelor of Engineering and Masters of Engineering from the National University of Singapore, and received his doctorate from the University of Cambridge. He has about 20 years of geotechnical and tunnel engineering experience and has been involved in the design aspects of several road and rail infrastructure projects in Singapore, including site investigations and testing, geotechnical interpretation, foundations, earth retaining structures, and tunnels. He conducts technical studies on topics such as deep excavation and tunnelling effects, building impact assessment, pile foundations, etc. and shares his findings regularly in local conferences and seminars. He is registered as a professional engineer in civil engineering as well as a specialist professional engineer in geotechnical engineering in Singapore, and a chartered professional engineer.

Melvyn Thong has over 30 years of experience in design, supervision and project management of electrical and mechanical installation for power plants, industrial, commercial and institutional, road and railway transit projects. Over 20 years of experience in the design, supervision and project management of Singapore Road and Rapid Transit Systems having been involved in the Thomson East Coast Line (TEL), Downtown Line (DTL), Compass Line (NSEW Line) asset renewal, North East Line (NEL), Circle Line (CCL), Sengkang Punggol LRT (SPLRT), Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) and future RTS and Road Tunnel network in Singapore. Melvyn has extensive experienced in the design and implementation of Mechanical and Electrical requirements for Roads and Rapid Transit Systems for RTS and LRT networks. A certified Chartered Electrical Engineer (UK) and Professional Engineer in Singapore, Melvyn is a Licensed Electrical Engineering in Singapore for design (unlimited voltage levels) and for electrical safety switching (up to 22kV). He has also contributed in development and review of many international and local standards such as the CP for fire safety for RTS and Roads, NFPA 502, etc. As Head of Business Unit in MSI Global Pte Ltd, have successfully delivered technical support to clients from Japan, Malaysia and Singaporean, regional and international projects in Egypt, Dubai, Vietnam and Malaysia. Currently, he is also the Project Manager leading the independent Design Verification Engineer scope for the Doha MRT project that is now in revenue service.

Charlie Lim Lean Wan has more than 39 years of working experience in mechanical services such as tunnel ventilation system (TVS), environmental control system (ECS) and fire protection system. He is a registered Professional Engineer (Mechanical Engineering) and a Chartered Engineer (Railway Systems) in Singapore. He has been involved in design of the mechanical services for the Singapore MRT and road projects. He also led the in-house team in design of the TVS for some of the MRT and road projects and was the Qualified Person for these projects. He also worked 7 years at the Singapore MRT Limited where he was responsible for maintenance of the ECS and TVS for the NSEW Line His current responsibilities include provision of specialist advice, spearhead research and development, and upkeep of standards pertaining to the mechanical services. His responsibilities also include conducting training to the LTA and operators’ staff on mechanical services on behalf of the Singapore Rail Academy and Land Transport Authority.