OLYMPIC GAMES’ PROJECTS

THE CONTRIBUTION OF EXORIXI S.A.
TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS OF THE GREAT EVENT

Hellas is not only the birthplace of the Olympic Games (776 B.C.), but also the country where the modern Olympic Games revived, almost one hundred years ago (1896). Nowadays, both Athens and its wider district (Attica) consist a metropolitan centre of 5 million people. Therefore, modernization, improvement and adaptation to modern infrastructure have been the additional demands and necessities of major or critical importance for the 2004 Olympic Games.

EXORIXI S.A. provided and provides blast consulting services and technical support in rock excavation activities in Projects, which constitute the fundamental infrastructure and support for the accomplishment of the 2004 Olympic Games.

There is a variety of construction projects related to the Olympic Games 2004 that we have participated – contributed while providing consulting services.
According to their specifications, these projects could be classified in the following categories which compose the EXORIXI’s OLYMPIC BLASTING PANORAMA

Surface blasting in construction projects

Contractor:	MECHANIKI S.A. – HOCHTIEF A.G.
Project:	Construction of “ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS” the New Athens International Airport in Spata.
EXORIXI:	Blast Design and Vibration Monitoring. Removal of the Northern Hills (1/97-1/2000)

Contractor:	HOCHTIEF A.G.- ATHENA AETBE
Project:	Construction of “ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS” the New Athens International Airport in Spata.
EXORIXI:	Blast Design and Vibration Monitoring of the general excavations in the runways area (5/97)

Contractor:	MECHANIKI S.A.
Project:	Deviation of Kavala – EGNATIA ODOS MOTORWAY (Area Palio Kavalas)
EXORIXI:	Blast Design and Vibration Monitoring

Contractor:	J/V OSE PROJECT – EYTAXIA TUNNEL
Project:	New Railway Athens – Corinth, surface works close to urban areas
EXORIXI:	Blast Design, implementation and Vibration Monitoring of the surface blasting in the urban area of Loutropigi (9-10/97)

Contractor:	TEB S.A. (J/V ATTIKI ODOS MOTORWAY)
Project:	Surface excavations around the “Mavri Ora” Tunnels (ATTIKI ODOS MOTORWAY)
EXORIXI:	Blast Design and Blasting Vibration Monitoring for Tunnels and Surface excavations. Blasting close to the water-supply canal from Mornos, close to the gas-pipe of DEPA, close to archaeological founds and close to buildings of Liosia urban area, which were already damaged from the recent earthquakes (5/98 – 2/02)

Contractor:	J/V AKTOR – ATTIKAT – TEB (J/V ATTIKI ODOS MOTORWAY)
Project:	Construction of the Western Peripheral Road of Ymittos (ATTIKI ODOS MOTORWAY – A22, A21)
EXORIXI:	Blast Design and Blasting Vibration Monitoring in urban areas and close to the Nuclear Reactor EKEFE “DEMOKRITOS” (6/1998 – 7/2003)

Contractor:	J/V SARANTOPOULOS S.A. – ASTALDI S.p.A.
Project:	CONSTRUCTION OF EGNATIA ODOS MOTORWAY – Section: Krystallopigi – Psilorachi
EXORIXI:	Design, Supervision and Blasting Vibration Control (8/98- 3/99)

Contractor:	J/V TECH. OLYMPIAKI S.A. – MOCHLOS S.A.
Project:	EGNATIA ODOS MOTORWAY, SECT: LADOCHORI – LYKOPODI (1+100 – 8+000 km)
EXORIXI:	Blast Design and Blasting Vibration Monitoring close to an old Church (4/99)

Contractor:	J/V HEL.TECHODOMI S.A. – J&P (HELLAS) S.A. (J/V ATTIKI ODOS)
Project:	ATTIKI ODOS MOTORWAY CONSTRUCTION – Sections A15-A16-A17
EXORIXI:	Blast design and basting vibration Monitoring, in a rocky trench of Paeania area (5/99-12/2000)

Contractor:	J/V METON – AKTOR – TEB – AEGEK
Project:	Construction of the traffic axis: Patra – Thessaloniki – Evzoni Sect.: The Railway Project by Kakia Skala
EXORIXI:	Study – Design and Surface Blasting Vibration Monitoring by the entrances and the tunnels (7-12/1999)

Contractor:	PANTECHNIKI S.A.
Project:	Construction of the WESTERN PERIPHERAL MOTORWAY OF AEGALEO – SOUTHERN JOINT CROSSING OF SKARAMANGA
EXORIXI:	Blast Design and Blasting Vibration Monitoring (10/99-11/02) – close to Military Fuel Tanks – close to archaeological founds – close to the natural gas pipeline (DEPA).

Contractor:	J/V ALPINE MAYREDER – ATTIKATT – EYCLEIDES
Project:	EGNATIA ODOS MOTORWAY SECT.: NEA KARVALI – CROSSING OF CHRYSOUPOLIS
EXORIXI:	Blast Design and Blasting Vibration Monitoring of Petropigi Excavation. Installation of a permanent Vibration Monitoring Control Network (3/2000 -12/2001)

Contractor:	J/V THEMELIODOMI S.A.- HEL.THECHNODOMIKI S.A.- PASSAVANT WERKE A.G.- GIOVANNI PUTIGNANO & Figli S.r.l.
Project:	Study and Construction 1^st stage of the Athens’ biologic sewage treatment plant by Psytallia island
EXORIXI:	Blasting Vibration Monitoring Program (3/99-12/99)

Contractor:	J/V THEMELIODOMI S.A.- HEL.THECHNODOMIKI S.A.- PASSAVANT WERKE A.G.- GIOVANNI PUTIGNANO & Figli S.r.l.
Project:	Study and Construction 2^nd stage of the Athens’ biologic sewage treatment plant by Psytallia island
EXORIXI:	Blast design and risk managment at the excavation site close to concrete structures and the biogas flare unit (8/01-4/02)

Contractor:	ELLINIKI TECHNIKI S.A.
Project:	Construction of the sea-side road connection Piraeus-Drapetsona-Keratsini. Sect. Lipasmata-Customhouse crossing.
EXORIXI:	Blast design and blasting vibration monitoring close to urban areas, preservative structures and fuel tanks of BP (4/2000 – 5/2002)

Contractor:	J/V AKTOR S.A. – ERGAS S.A.
Project:	EGNATIA ODOS MOTORWAY – Construction of 6 glen-bridges by the section II – Kavala Deviation
EXORIXI:	Blast design and blasting vibration monitoring close to the pedestal of the glen-bridge No 4. and the natural gas pipeline (DEPA)(11/2000- 2/2001)

Contractor:	J/V ABAX S.A. – BIOTER S.A. – G.E.K. S.A.
Project:	Olympic Village Construction & its Post-Olympic adaptation – Section D´
EXORIXI:	Blast design and blasting vibration monitoring of the general excavations of the area and the excavations at the foundations (9-11/2001)

Contractor:	PANTECHNIKI S.A.
Project:	ATTIKI ODOS MOTORWAY – SECTION A06 (Zefyri region)
EXORIXI:	Blasting vibration monitoring (4-10/2001)

Contractor:	J/V AKTOR S.A. – ETETH S.A. – THEMELI S.A. – THEMELIODOMI S.A.
Project:	ANILIO TUNNEL & AG. NIKOLAOS TUNNEL (3.3) EGNATIA ODOS MOTORWAY
EXORIXI:	Blast vibration monitoring program of the tunneling project. Surface excavations for the western inlets of the tunnels (7-8/2002)

Contractor:	DEH S.A. (Hellenic Public Power Corporation)
Project:	ATHERINOLAKKOS New Power Plant. Earthmoving and excavation works. Environment modulation – Blast vibration monitoring and risk control
EXORIXI:	Vibration monitoring program for surface and underwater blasting and control – estimation of the effects on green concrete structures (9/02 – 3/03)

Contractor:	EYKLIDES S.A.
Project:	Vertical Axis of EGNATIA ODOS MOTORWAY – Ring Road of Thessaloniki.
EXORIXI:	Design, technical support and implementation of controlled blasting, avoiding flyrock in the rocky excavation of the K9 crossing (7/2003)

Contractor:	TERNA S.A.
Project:	Vertical Axis of EGNATIA ODOS Motorway, Siatista – Krystallopigi, final works on the section Koromilia – Dispilio
EXORIXI:	Blasting vibration monitoring (2002-2003)

Contractor:	ATHINAIKI TECHNIKI S.A.
Project:	New Ring-road of Volos.
EXORIXI:	Support and blasting vibration control in the excavation site close to Industried Area in Volos (10/2003)

Contractor:	KLEARCHOS G. ROUTSIS S.A.
Project:	EE/02 ROAD VARI-KOROPI, Section km 6+914 to km 11+145
EXORIXI:	Blast Consulting & Engineering Services and blasting vibration monitoring during the opening of the rainwater drainage canal on the road (5/2003 – 5/2004)

Contractor:	DEH S.A. (HELLENIC PUBLIC POWER CORPORATION)
Project:	New Power Plant at Atherinolakkos, Lasithi Crete.
EXORIXI:	Blast design and vibration monitoring during the trench opening between the Main Power Plant Building and the secondary Plant (14. January 2004)

TUNNELING BLASTING AND UNDERGROUND PROJECTS

Contractor:	ATTIKO METRO S.A.
Project:	Construction of the METRO of Athens Geophysical research between Syngrou Ave. – S. Analatou – S. Ag. Ioanni
EXORIXI:	Special blasting for the measurement program in the area of the tunnel (6/96)

Contractor:	MECHANIKI S.A.
Project:	Deviation of Kavala – Egnatia Odos Motorway (by Palio Kavalas)
EXORIXI:	Blasting vibration monitoring of the tunnel (8/97)

Contractor:	J/V TUNNEL PLATAMON – LEPTOKARYA – Section 1
Project:	Railway tunnel underneath Platamon Castle
EXORIXI:	Blast design and blasting vibration monitoring during the tunneling works, through the usage of a network of 7 vibration monitors (1/98 – 4/99)

Contractor:	TEB S.A. (J/V ATTIKI ODOS MOTORWAY)
Project:	Road tunnel of MAVRI ORA (ATTIKI ODOS MOTORWAY)
EXORIXI:	Blast design and blasting vibration monitoring during the tunneling and the surface excavations (5/98 – 2/2002)

Contractor:	J/V AKTOR – ATTIKAT – TEB (J/V ATTIKI ODOS MOTORWAY)
Project:	Construction of the Western Peripheral Ymittos Motorway (ATTIKI ODOS MOTORWAY – A22, A21)
EXORIXI:	Design and blasting vibration monitoring of the “DEMOKRITOS” tunnels (6/98 – 10/00)

Contractor:	J/V ABAX S.A. – KL. G. ROUTSIS S.A.
Project:	Construction of the Ring-road of Piraeus Sect. from Ag. Nicolaos anchorage to Ichthyoskala – Keratsini tunnels
EXORIXI:	Design, vibration monitoring and specifications of tunneling blasting under the Public Power Corporation (DEH) Building at Keratsini, close to the mills of Ag. Georgios and a preservative building. (11/98 – 5/99)

Contractor:	J/V METON – AKTOR – TEB – AEGEK
Project:	Construction of the traffic axis: Patra – Athens – Thessaloniki – Evzoni Section: Railway Project by Kakia Skala
EXORIXI:	Engineering, blast design, surface-entrances and tunneling blasting vibration monitoring (11/99 – 2/02)

Contractor:	J/V ATTIKI ODOS MOTORWAY
Project:	E.L.E.S.S. & W.P.Y.M. – “ATTIKI ODOS MOTORWAY” (WESTERN PERIPHERAL YMITTOS ROAD)
EXORIXI:	Design and blasting vibration monitoring of the “College” tunnels, under the Byzantine church of Ag.Ioannis (8/99 – 2/02)

Contractor:	J/V EYTAXIA TUNNEL
Project:	New railway line Athens – Corinth. tunneling at Eytaxia area.
EXORIXI:	Design and tunneling blasting vibration monitoring under the National Highway, with a thin overburden (6 – 7/00)

Contractor:	J/V PERISTERI METRO
Project:	METRO – EXPANDING OF THE LINE 2 – TUNNEL SEPOLIA -THEVON
EXORIXI:	Study – design and blasting vibration control during the tunneling (2-7/02). Test blasting in the area of the “Papandreou” shaft. [The first tunnel blasting ever done for the ATHENS METRO construction project]

Contractor:	J/V AKTOR S.A. – ETETH S.A. – THEMELI S.A. – THEMELIODOMI S.A.
Project:	ANILIO TUNNEL & AG. NIKOLAOU TUNNEL (3.3) OF EGNATIA ODOS MOTORWAY
EXORIXI:	Study – design and blasting vibration monitoring during the Anilio tunneling (a) Surface Excavations for the western inlet area (7-8/02) (b) Blasting vibration monitoring program during the passing of the tunneling blasting faces underneath the Anilio settlement, using stationary vibration monitoring network (9/2003 – in process)

Contractor:	PANTECHNIKI S.A.
Project:	CONSTRUCTION OF THE WESTERN PERIPHERAL AEGALEO MOTORWAY – SOUTH JOINT – SKARAMANGA CROSSING
EXORIXI:	Blasting vibration control (10/1999 – 11/2002) – close to military fuel storing facilities, archaeological findings (Iera Odos) and natural-gas pipeline DEPA

Contractor:	“EDRASI – Ch. PSALIDAS” S.A.
Project:	DRAINAGE tunneling OF VARI-KOROPI ROAD
EXORIXI:	Blast design and blasting vibration monitoring of the drainage tunnel on the Vari-Koropi Road (1-7/03)

Underwater blasting

Contractor:	J/V ATHINA S.A. – ARCHIMEDES S.A. – ATTIKAT S.A.
Project:	Works in the main sea-harbour of PIRAEUS. New dock in the area VASSILIADI (North side)
EXORIXI:	The program for underwater blasting consulting-support and vibration monitoring. Risk management and damage prevention for the nearby Chemical Industry facilities, the urban area and some green-concrete structures (10/1997 – 5/1998)

Contractor:	J/V AEGEK – ABAX – ROUTSIS
Project:	Reform – modification of the main Port of PIRAEUS into an exclusively for passengers one. Works – project in the area PALATAKI – Stage B’
EXORIXI:	Underwater blasting design, support and vibration monitoring. Vibration effects – risk management at historic buildings, Hellenic Navy Facilities, archaeological findings in the region “Column of Themistocles” and annoyance from the urban area (12/2000 – 9/2002)

Contractor:	DEH (PPC – Public Power Corporation)
Project:	New Power Plant of ATHERINOLAKKOS (Lasithi-Crete). Area arrangement and excavation works.
EXORIXI:	A Program of surface and underwater blasting vibration control monitoring. Specifications, technical support and training on blast design to prevent harmful effects on green concrete structures of the Power Plant (9 – 11/2002).

QUARRIES AND QUARRYING PROJECTS

Contractor:	J/V GEFYRA & J/V NEW PORT OF PATRA
Project:	Supplying of aggregates for the Bridge RIO-ANTIRIO and the NEW SEA-PORT of PATRA
EXORIXI:	Study and Organization of the aggregate Quarry (4/98 – 1/99)

Contractor:	HOCHTIEF A.G.
Project:	New Athens International Airport, in Spata
EXORIXI:	Blasting Vibration Monitoring, design and application of big Blasting in the Rocky-Quarry Excavation of the region A23 (4/99-1/2000)

Contractor:	LATOMIA MARKOPOULOU S.A.
Project:	Aggregate Quarry in “MERENTA”, Markopoulo, Attiki
EXORIXI:	Blasting risks prevention management and survey of the existing situation with the use of LASER Surveying systems. Digital terrain modelling. Inspection and improvement of the line of sight from “ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS” the New Athens International Airport and the Olympic Equestrian Centre (2/2004)

Contractor:	K. STAVROU BROS S.A.
Project:	Aggregate Quarry in “MERENTA”, Markopoulo, Attiki
EXORIXI:	Blasting risks prevention management and survey of the existing situation with the use of LASER Surveying systems. Digital terrain modelling. Inspection and improvement of the line of sight from “ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS” the New Athens International Airport and the Olympic Equestrian Centre (3/2004)

CONTROLLED EXPLOSIVE DEMOLITIONS

Contractor:	J/V ALPINE MAYREDER – ATTIKATT – EYCLIDES
Project:	EGNATIA ODOS MOTORWAY – KARVALI SECTION
EXORIXI:	Sectional Demolition of the Draining Construction in the bed of Asprorema River under the twin Bridge of Egnatia Odos Motorway (5-28/6/2002)

Contractor:	J/V GEKAT ATE – K.I.SARANTOPOULOS S.A. (EGNATIA ODOS S.A.)
Project:	EGNATIA ODOS MOTORWAY – VERTICAL ROAD AXES OF EGNATIA ODOS BY THESSALONIKI PERIPHERAL (57.1-57.2) CROSSING K5, K7, K9 & CONNECTION ROAD K4-K5
EXORIXI:	Demolition of a Bridge, made of prestressed concrete, over the Katsimidi Road, close to the crossing K8 of the Thessaloniki peripheral Road (13/8/02)

Contractor:	EYCLIDES S.A.
Project:	CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AT No 1. HIGHWAY ATHENS-THESSALONIKI – SECTION AG. THEODOROI – ALMYROS
EXORIXI:	Demolition of the old concrete construction of Sourpi Toll Station, on the No 1. Highway, by 271 + 800 (25/9/02)

Contractor:	J/V AEGEK S.A. – EKTER S.A.
Project:	EGNATIA ODOS MOTORWAY – SECTION No 6 “KOULOURA – KLEIDI”
EXORIXI:	Controlled Explosive Demolition of the old Bridge Niseliou, on the National Road Thessaloniki – Veria (8/7/2003)

Contractor:	J/V RAHES – PELASGIA (EUROPEAN TECHNIKI S.A.)
Project:	CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AT No 1. HIGHWAY ATHENS-THESSALONIKI, SECT. RAHES – AG.THEODOROI
EXORIXI:	Demolition of the old concrete construction of the Pelasgia Toll Station, on the No 1. Highway (14/10/03)

Contractor:	EYCLIDES S.A.
Project:	CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AT No 1. HIGHWAY ATHENS-THESSALONIKI – SECTION AG. THEODOROI – ALMYROS
EXORIXI:	Demolition of the old concrete structure of Almyros Bridge, on the No 1. Highway, by 271 + 800 (27/11/03)

No	Organizer	Date	Conference subject	Paper title
1.	Technical Chamber of Greece (Limasol, Cyprus)	29-31 Oct.1996	12th HELLENIC CONFERENCE ON CONCRETE STRUCTURES	Control explosive demolition of highrise buildings The first application in Hellas by the 17-storey Red Cross Building demolition in Athens (PAPER)
2.	Technical Chamber of Greece (Athens)	2 Dec. 1999	Daily Conference on: CONTROLLED EXPLOSIVE DEMOLITION	LECTURES
3.	Technical Chamber of Greece – Central Macedonia Section (Thessaloniki)	11 May 2000	Daily Conference on: CONTROLLED EXPLOSIVE DEMOLITION	LECTURE
4.	Technical Chamber of Greece – West Macedonia Section (Kozani)	1 July 2000	Daily Conference on: CONTROLLED EXPLOSIVE DEMOLITION	LECTURE
5.	Technical Chamber of Greece in collaboration with the Technical & Scientific Chamber of Cyprus (Cos-GR)	15-17 Oct. 2003	14th HELLENIC CONFERENCE ON CONCRETE STRUCTURES	Control explosive demolition of concrete structures. Recent projects, experiences and applications from Hellas (PAPER)
6.	Technical & Scientific Chamber of Cyprus (ETEK) (Nicosia-Cyprus)	25 Oct. 2003	Daily Conference on: BLASTING TECHNOLOGY AND KNOW-HOW 2003	LECTURES
7.	EDA-European Demolition Association (Paphos, Cyprus)	12- 15 May 2004	CONFERENCE	LECTURE titled “Controlled Explosive Demolitions – Case histories from Hellas and our contribution to the 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES infrastructures”
8.	3rd Hellenic Conference on Road Construction Projects (Athens)	9-10 February 2012	CONFERENCE	Controlled explosive demolition of four bridges on the highway from Athens to Patras, Greece (paper)

Some major Olympic Games 2004 Projects are:

“ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS” the New Athens International Airport at Spata, East of Athens.
ATTIKI ODOS Motorway, the 70km new peripheral ring – road of Athens that crosses the northern side of the wider area of Athens (Attica), from the East (where the New Athens International Airport is located) to the West side (where the No 2 National Highway from Athens to Corinth is); it is also intersected by the No 1 National Highway from Athens to Northern Hellas.
The ATHENS’ METRO, the new network and the extension lines of the Metro system of the wider area of Athens.
Sections of the No.1 National Highway from Athens to the Northern Hellas.
Sections of the No.2 National Highway from Athens to the Western Hellas.
EGNATIA ODOS, the new Highway, 680 km long, that crosses Northern Hellas, from the Eastern to its Western side.
The National Railway (Hellenic Rail Corp.), which mainly concerns the construction of the new network for high speed trains all over Hellas
New arterial roads and traffic axes, mainly in the Western part of Athens. The new Aegaleo West Peripheral Motorway and the junction roads from the sea-port of Piraeus to Drapetsona and Keratsini.
New docks in the sea-port of Piraeus

In all of them we had to cope with and manage high risks and strict safety demands. Every single project has its own particularities and peculiarities. Each time we have to “encounter” something that “differs” from any case projects we previously faced and dealt with.

The main parameter and basis of all speculation lies on the caused vibrations. Especially in an urban – built and inhabited environment, such as the one of Athens, where fear and human annoyance have all to be faced. Another problem is the damage risk effect on both old (including archaeological finds and structures) and new buildings as well as the fact that the wider area of Athens is characterised for its seismic.

For example, in 13 tunneling projects that we had been involved, the most common parameters and risk subjects that we were asked to manage and deal with were:

– Underneath or too close to urban – built areas
– Archaeological findings and constructions
– Underneath roads with heavy traffic
– Simultaneous neighboring tunnels cutting
– Intervention or movements and alterations risks on the surface relief
– Underneath an electric power plant
– Close to a nuclear reactor
– Underneath or close to a distributing natural gas main
– Underneath or close to fuel pipelines
– Close to a central water canal
– Very low depth of overburden

So, the usage of modern equipment and reliable control – monitoring processes of caused vibrations in construction blasting proved to be absolutely necessary or sometimes even critical and significant.

The vibration monitors were and still are our essential great tools. They are our means to provide documented and improved blastings, harmful effects prevention, the conventional obligations control and the compliance with the specifications. There is a lack of official modern regulations and specifications regarding blast vibration monitoring in our country. Rarely do we start a blasting project with a view to designing or adjusting our ways to “eponymous” and modern specifications. Nevertheless, we have managed to import and use more than 60 INSTANTEL’s digital vibration monitors, with their advanced, potential software, in Hellas. We have introduced and set criteria regarding vibration evaluation in major and “widely-known” projects, even, at least, as a means of communication, reference and annotation.

The people of EXORIXI S.A. have designed and monitored (the caused vibrations and the prevention of other damage risk effects) some thousands blastings during the last 5-6 years in blasting projects for the preparation of Olympic Games infrastructures in the wider area of Athens and all over Hellas, as well.

We can conclude saying that the proper and reliable BLAST CONSULTING and ENGINEERING services was a basic condition for on-time preparation of Athens 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES infrastructures.

«Construction blasting in the City of 2004 Olympic Games»

by Elias Baliktsis (Mining Engineer, NTUA, EXORIXI SA, Hellas)
from the 1st World Conference on Blasting Technique
(pp 441 – 450, 9/2000 München, Germany)

Athens is the City of 2004 Olympic Games. It is also the capital of Hellas, the country where the Olympics were first held. Olympic Games mean a lot of construction projects, which prepare in-frastructure and supporting networks. Some projects are now being under construction and they have to be completed on time, since they are supporting the Event. Rocky excavations are neces-sary for these projects. So, proper managing of construction blasting is of great importance for the development of the projects and their time schedules. But blasting in the city or close to urban and sensitive areas, enforce us both to face and overcome problems dealing with blast consulting. Consequently, a very interesting experience has already been acquired and secured concerning construction blasting in urban areas. All these provide us with the flexibility, the necessary knowledge and the support needed to deal with construction blasting, in order to prepare Athens for the 2004 Olympics.

Tunneling blasting in urban and sensitive areas

«Tunneling blasting in urban and sensitive areas.
Risk Management and consulting experiences from case histories of some Hellenic Projects»
by Elias Baliktsis (Mining Engineer, NTUA, EXORIXI SA, Hellas)
from the 2003 EFEE – 2nd WORLD CONFERENCE ON EXPLOSIVES AND BLASTING TECHNIQUES
(10 – 12 September 2003, Prague, Czech Republic)

ABSTRACT

This paper deals with cases of blasting projects that refer to road and rail tunnels in Hellas. It also refers to a particular case history of underground mining. The most in number and also most characteristic examples of specific management, that we were required to deal with and imple-ment, were in the wider area of Athens. That is so because the construction of many tunnels falls within the infrastructure civil works program regarding the 2004 Olympic Games. In those underground works excavation had to be performed through blasting, though there were archaeo-logical finds and structures (some of which were even older than 2000 years), road junctions and traffic in operation, settlements, industrial installations, fuel and natural gas networks or any other facilities on the surface. Consequently, we had to pay particular attention and care to the damage risks that might occur. Also, we had to find ways of how to prevent them from happen-ing; we had to care for the compliance with strict specifications and regulations, the conventional and contractual obligations, the vibration monitoring and PPV limits, the proper blast design and materialization of blasting, the selection and implementation of specific blasting techniques, the staff training, etc. The facts, data and records concerning the above are presented through some of the case histories we faced and the experience we obtained while providing blast consulting and engineering services.

Facts and experiences from Hellenic projects regarding some 2004 Olympic Games infrastructures

Open File .Pdf

ALBUM

THE CONTRIBUTION OF EXORIXI S.A.TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS OF THE GREAT EVENT