Ladies and Gentlemen,

due to constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we did not organize the 14th International Conference on Underground Infrastructure of Urban Areas last year. When making this decision, we hoped that in 2021 the event would be held without restrictions. Unfortunately, the reality turned out to be different, so we decided to organize the Conference in a hybrid form. It is justified by the expectation of the scientists and experts to exchange knowledge and thoughts on all topics related to research, design and construction of underground infrastructure facilities, as well as the construction of the underground network and its management during operation.

The need for such a meeting stems from the constantly intensified worldwide development of this area of construction. This is evidenced by the ongoing expansion and renovation of underground infrastructure networks in cities, as well as new investments in tunnel construction undertaken to improve road and rail networks. It is encouraging that thanks to that this year’s lectures and discussions will be exceptionally interesting.

I am also delighted that we are co-creating this project with the Cracow-based publishing house Wydawnictwo Inżynieria, which will undoubtedly have a positive impact on its outcome.

In line with tradition, the Conference is endorsed by the International Tunnelling Association – ITA and we expect the active participation of ITA representatives.

We are also expecting presentations of the results obtained during the research conducted by the Polish scientific community. To meet the expectations of the environment, we have decided that the papers will be published in a special issue of the journal Studia Geotechnica et Mechanica.

We encourage you to participate in the Conference. We are convinced that the information provided during the conference presentations, as well as the conclusions drawn from the discussion, will be very useful in designing, implementing and operating modern underground structures.

We believe that despite the pandemic, the Conference will be held as planned – in the hybrid model. We are also prepared for a situation, in which this will not be possible – we will move the event to online mode only.

Best regards – and I hope to see you in Wrocław.