In 2002, the Institute of Internal Combustion Engines and Thermodynamics organized an International Conference on Tunnel Safety and Ventilation. The aim of that conference was to provide a forum for information exchange among operators, users, technicians, scientists and companies involved in the design, construction and equipping of road and rail tunnels. The success of the 2002 conference led to the organization of biennial follow up meetings.

Each conference has been accompanied by an exhibition, and each year, like the conference itself, the exhibition has grown. The success of the exhibitions has forced us to leave the confines of our University campus and to move to the roomier facilities of the trade fair centre.

Our interest and focus have also changed and this is reflected in our topics. Our first conferences were strongly influenced by the tunnel incidents of the late 1990’s and related environmental concerns are of major interest.