International Symposium on Tunnel Safety and Security - The 7th International Symposium is about to take place in Montreal

Montreal, March 14, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Montreal will host the 7^th International Symposium on Tunnel Safety and Security (ISTSS) from March 16^th to 18^th 2016 at the Marriott Chateau Champlain organized by SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden. Attracting more than 250 delegates from all over the World, this Symposium is renowned to be the largest and most prominent forum on tunnel Safety and Security.

Safety and security have been high on the scientific agenda for decades. The catastrophic consequences of the tunnel fires (e.g., the Mont Blanc tunnel, 1999, the Austrian Kaprun funicular tunnel, 2000, and the Swiss St. Gotthard tunnel, 2001) not only resulted in loss of life, severe property damages, but also left the public with a lack of confidence in using such systems

"The success of the International Symposium on Tunnel Safety and Security (ISTSS) is a tribute to the pressing need for continued international research and dialogue on these issues, in particular connected to complex infrastructure such as tunnels and tunnel networks", says Haukur Ingason, Professor and tunnel fire expert at SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden.

More than 50 conferences and 2 technical visits are on the agenda

This year, nearly 100 extended abstracts were received. A scientific committee formed by 12 internationally recognized experts selected 50 full papers to be presented. This resulted in two parallel sessions during the three day symposium and six keynote paper presentations from Canada, United States and United Kingdom. The program will give a unique insight in what is presently being studied internationally in terms of research, design and regulatory activities.

Two technical visits are also plan during the Symposium. The delegates will have the privilege of visiting the Metro Global Command Center and the Underground Fire Prevention Training Center of the Société de Transport de Montréal and the Montreal Tunnels Traffic Management Center and the Ville-Marie Tunnel infrastructure underground interchange of the Ministère des Transports, de la Mobilité durable et de l'Électrification des transports. The MTMDET has been an active leader in initiating applied tunnel fire safety research projects in North America, contributing to safer infrastructures.  SP Technical Research Institute is proud to be associated with the Ministère as its principal event partner.

Opening speakers to this event are Ms. Anne-Marie Leclerc, Assistant Deputy Minister and Coordinator of emergency measures at the MTMDET and François Massé, Director and Fire Chief of the Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal.

Complete program of the event can be found on the event Website at www.istss.se

 About SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden

SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden develops and disseminates technology to assist the development and competitiveness of industry, to improve safety in society, to support sustainable development and to help protect the environment.

SP Fire Research is one of the leading institute on fire safety and research on tunnel fires. SP has performed tests and done research in the area of tunnel safety since 1992. Many papers and reports have been published on the subject.

www.sp.se/en

SOURCE SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden

Fredrik Rosén, SP Fire Research, Tel. : [phone], [email protected]; Arielle Mathieu, Octane Stratégies Communication, Tel. : [phone], poste 226, Cell: 514 260-4372, [email protected]