The talk, on Friday 4 March, will be closely based on the Hinton Lecture 2015, delivered by Professor Mair at the Royal Academy of Engineering in November, and demonstrates the size, technical challenges and complexity of modern underground construction.

The seminar will address the challenges of creating urban underground infrastructure, in particular the development of subterranean transport that is environmentally essential for many of our future cities.

Lord Mair will explore what can go wrong with developments of this type and raise important questions such as whether buildings above will be damaged by subsidence, how buildings can be protected and ways in which existing underground infrastructure might be affected by new construction.

The talk highlights the key role of geotechnical engineering in addressing these questions. Examples of projects from around the world will be given, including the Crossrail project in London.

The lecture also describes recent research advances and innovations at Cambridge, and presents novel techniques for monitoring construction and whole-life performance using fibre optic technology and wireless sensor networks.

The Laing O’Rourke Centre seminar is on Friday 4 March, at 4pm in Lecture Room Four at Cambridge University, Department of Engineering, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ.  All welcome.