ITA Training Course - Raymond Sterling
Meet the ITA Training Course Speaker
Raymond Sterling

About the Speaker
Dr. Sterling is Professor Emeritus at Louisiana Tech University. From 1995 to 2009 he was the Contractors’ Educational Trust Fund Professor of Civil Engineering and Director of the Trenchless Technology Center at Louisiana Tech University. Previously, from 1977 to 1995, he was the founding director of the Underground Space Center at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Sterling received a B.Eng degree in civil and structural engineering from the University of Sheffield in 1970. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Minnesota in 1975 and 1977. He is a Past Chairman of the International Society for Trenchless Technology and the North American Society for Trenchless Technology, a Past Chairman of the U.S. National Committee on Tunneling Technology, and a Past Animateur for the International Tunnelling Association’s Working Group on Direct and Indirect Advantages of Underground Structures. In 2003, he received the Stephen D. Bechtel Pipeline Engineering Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers. He was selected as the Person of the Year by the Trenchless Technology Magazine in 2001 and as Most Valuable Professional by the Gulf Coast Trenchless Association in 1999. In 2009, he received the Gold Medal from the International Society for Trenchless Technology for outstanding contributions to the field. He has authored approximately 200 books, technical papers and reports on a wide range of topics related to underground space use, underground construction, geomechanics and trenchless technology and for the past 10 years has served as a Senior Editor of the international journal Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology. He is registered engineer in the U.S. and is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
About the ITA Training Course
Underground Space Use
Introduction for engineers, architects, planners and public administrators to the use of underground space to increase liveability and sustainability in urban areas and in other key public resource regions. The seminar will identify key issues that need to be considered when using underground space and will show how these key issues are dealt with on a worldwide basis. This course outline has been developed by the ITA Committee on Underground Space (ITACUS) in conjunction with the ITA Committee on Education and Training (ITACET).
About the ITACUS 'Think Deep' Open Session
Towards a new urban underground space agenda
The ‘Think Deep’ Open Session 2016 organised by ITACUS will show you where we stand in our quest towards an urban underground future. By looking at the past, present and future but also by challenging common perceptions we will ask ourselves what the new urban paradigm could be. This year in October, 30,000 people will gather in Quito, Peru, for the Habitat III conference that hopes to agree to a new urban agenda. Last year in Paris, the world agreed on measures to take to face the challenge of climate change during COP21. If one thing has become clear it is that cities are key to change and that change requires the public sector, the private sector and non-governmental organisations to work together. The new urban paradigm is not only needed, an urban underground future needs to be part of it. The ‘Think Deep’ Open Session will entertain you, provide you with provoking thoughts, challenge what you have always thought and engage you to become part of a movement that aims at creating an urban underground future for our cities. 25 Years after the Tokyo Declaration on Underground Space, time has come to renew our pledge and to affirm our commitment. A commitment to contribute to the new urban agenda, and to the future of cities that will be resilient, sustainable, inclusive and liveable; cities that we all need.