The Colorado School of Mines' annual Microtunneling Short Course has established itself as the premier instructional venue for microtunneling worldwide. Now in it's 16th year, the course has already trained more than 1,600 students, ranging from contractors and engineers to owner agency representatives.

The 2009 Microtunneling Short course covers the latest in emerging technologies from this growing field. With more and more demand for underground services in urban areas, the need to use minimally invasive construction techniques will only increase.

The Microtunneling Short Course is a three-day, intensive course presented by a panel of international experts and organized by Prof. Levent Ozdemir of the Colorado School of Mines and Timothy Coss of Microtunneling, Inc. It also includes a one-day course on the emerging field of pilot tube microtunneling.

If you are involved with microtunneling or are planning to be involved, the Microtunneling Short Course is a must-attend event to obtain the latest technical information to ensure a successful project.

Microtunneling involves a suite of disciplines and topics that must be considered when planning or constructing a project. The Microtunneling Short Course takes an in-depth look at the subjects that can impact your job. Previous courses have included the following topics:

• Ancillary Equipment
• Construction Management
• Contractor Case History
• MTBM Production Estimation
• Engineer Case History
• Equipment Maintenance
• Ground Dewatering
• MTBM Head Design and Tool Selection
• Introduction to Microtunneling
• Layout and Logistics
• Long Distance Microtunneling
• Machine Innovations
• Microtunneling Pipe: Clay, Concrete, Fiberglass, Steel, Polymer Concrete
• Lab Tour
• Bidding
• Contingency Planning 
• Curved Microtunneling
• Geotechnical Fundamentals
• Ground Freezing
• Hard Rock Tunneling
• Shaft Construction
• Site Layout and Logistics
• Soils Dewatering & Belt Press Technology
• Solids Separation Systems
• Pilot Tube Microtunneling
• Polymer Technology
• Risk Mitigation and Claims Avoidance
• Shaft Freezing
• Soil Stabilization & Grouting Techniques
• Soils Investigation and Design
• Underground Anomaly Exploration
• Jacking Forces, Ground Cover and Obstructions
• Litigation and Legal Issues
• Lubrication, Bentonite and Polymers
• Manufacturer's Rights and Duties
• Microtunneling Specifications
• Owner Case Histories
• Project Design Considerations