Welcome to the Rapid Excavation and Tunneling Conference

Since 1972, RETC has been the premier forum where tunneling professionals gather to exchange practical knowledge, share lessons learned, and introduce transformative technologies. RETC is known for highlighting real-world challenges and successes from the field and offering invaluable insights. RETC is the only conference with a dedicated focus on the developments, technology, trends, and innovations that directly affect the tunneling and underground construction industry. Featuring a wide variety of technical sessions and speakers combined with our expansive exhibit hall, RETC will be a professional event you will truly enjoy and remember.

Acceptance of your abstract is a committment to attend the meeting and present the paper.  Please be certain to have obtained all necessary permissions to submit and abstract and a final paper BEFORE submitting an abstract for consideration.

The committee will consider all abstracts covering any/all aspects of the tunneling/underground construction industry including, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Contract Practices 
• Design
• Case Studies
• Successful Alternative Contract Delivery
• Overcoming Difficult Ground
• Drill and Blast 
• Environment, Health and Safety
• Future Projects
• Geotechnical Considerations for Managing Ground Risks
• Ground Control, Face Support and Monitoring
• Ground Support and Final Lining
• New Methods and Technology for Grouting and Ground Modification
• Advances and Achievements with Hard Rock TBMs
• Landmark International Projects
• Large Span Tunnels and Caverns
• Microtunneling and Trenchless Tunneling 
• New and Innovative Technologies and Concepts
• Pressure Face TBM Technology
• Project Planning 
• SEM/NATM
• Shafts 
• Mining
• Tunnel Rehabilitation
• Tunneling for Sustainability 

Dates & Deadlines

Please read the following information carefully and mark your calendar with important dates and deadlines.

Prospective authors are asked to submit a 100-word abstract. For detailed guidelines for submitting a successful abstract, please visit Abstract Submission. Submitters will be notified in September 2026 of acceptance or otherwise.