Seoul City Infrastructure Headquarters ordered report 'Plan to secure economic feasibility for revitalizing shield TBM'. Korean Tunneling and Underground Space Association (KTA) prepared report. Aim is to revitalize TBM effectively. Report manager was Professor Hang-Seok Choi, Vice-Chairman of KTA.

In Korea most tunnel work is Drill & Blast methods for example New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM).  This will change. Because more urban tunnel work is done. Tunnel Boring Machine mechanical method is more suitable due to Drill & Blast noise and vibration. In Korea authorities want to encourage companies use for TBM method. This is why KTA report is prepared.

Report look into 3 areas:

- Manufacture and Re-manufacture of TBM

- Segment design and production

- Standardization of TBM specification, TBM workforce, Segment quality and TBM cost

Even with there areas met, NATM is still cheaper Professor Choi say. But when you look in other advantages of TBM, it is certain that TBM will be used more.

According to me, it is inevitable that Korea must develop Tunnel Boring Machine manufacture technology and factories. Japan already has best technology to produce most complex TBM in the world. China has TBM companies increase like mushroom in numbers. Chinese companies also produce every day more complex TBM machines. They also produce many. Korea wants to use more TBM and it can not continue to import from other countries.

Some information from this news on Engineering Journal.

http://www.engjournal.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=1197