Dr. Levent Ozdemir

Professor

Office Phone: (303) 273 3419
E-mail: lozdemir@mines.edu

Academic Appointment & Responsibilities

1985 – Present Colorado School of Mines, Mining Engineering Department

Professor

Teaches various courses in the CSM Department of Mining and Earth Systems Engineering in the areas of mechanical hard rock and soft ground/soil tunneling, raise boring and shaft drilling, design and construction of underground structures, site investigations, excavation project management, microtunneling, and underground mining. Supervises numerous Masters and Ph.D. students.

Courses include:

MNGN404 - Tunneling

MNGN410 - Excavation Project Management

MNGN590 - Mechanical Excavation in Mining

MNGN625 - Graduate Seminar

GOGN506 - Excavation Project Management

GOGN501 - Site Investigation and Characterization

1977 – Present Colorado School of Mines, Excavation Engineering and Earth Mechanics Institute

Director

Director of the Excavation Engineering and Earth Mechanics Institute (EMI) which is regarded as the leading research organizations in the world in the development of new mining and underground construction technologies. In this position, Dr. Ozdemir has developed and provided the technical and financial management of a large number of projects funded by a multitude of domestic and international mining and civil construction companies, equipment manufacturers, geotechnical and design firms, contractors, owners and various United States government agencies. In addition, has performed a significant amount of collaborative research with various well-known mining and underground construction research establishments in different countries. Has contributed to the development and introduction of numerous mechanical hard rock and soft ground mining, tunneling, raise and shaft boring and underground construction technologies. Responsible for the development of design optimization techniques, machine selection and performance evaluation of mechanical excavators including TBMs, EPB and Slurry machines. Has conducted extensive field work in hard rock and soft ground tunneling project sites around the world.

Professional Certifications

Professional Engineer in Colorado

Education

Colorado School of Mines

Ph.D. Mining Engineering, 1977

Minor Degree: Civil Engineering

Academic Emphasis: Tunneling and Underground Construction

M. Sc. Mining Engineering, 1975

Academic Emphasis: Tunnel Boring Machine Technology

B.Sc. Mining Engineering, 1973

Graduated with honors

Honors & Awards

Has received several technical awards, including: (1) the Engineering News Record (ENR) annual award for making a significant contribution to the advancement of underground construction technologies, (2) Honorary member, Geo-Environmental Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, (3) Professional Achievement Award, Istanbul Technical University.

Service to Professional Societies & Organizations (2005/2006)

Serves on the editorial review committee of the Trenchless Technology magazine and the Tunnel Business magazine. Also conducts publication peer reviews for the Mining Engineering magazine. Also served as the editor of proceedings for various international symposia, including the North American Tunneling Conference, the International Ground Support Conference and International Mine Mechanization and Automation Conference. Principal technical advisor to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on the development of rapid tunneling and underground construction technologies as part of the NATO Science for Stability program. Board member, American Underground Construction Association. United States representative to International Tunneling Association

Current Professional Organization Memberships (2005/2006)

Member of various national and international societies, including: AIME, ISDT, AUA, ITA, ISRM, TTC, WRBA, NSTT. Also, has served on numerous committees of professional societies dealing with various aspects of civil underground construction, tunneling, underground mining and microtunneling.

Professional Publications, Presentations & Short-courses

Author of over 140 technical papers and over 90 project reports dealing with various aspects of mechanical underground construction and mining. In addition, has given numerous keynote speeches and invited talks at various international conferences. Serves on the editorial board of several prominent international magazines. Has been featured in various newspaper/magazine articles and TV programs for making significant contributions to advancement of mechanical excavation and construction technologies. Also gives lectures at other universities overseas.

Teaches courses for the United Nations, World Bank, NATO and the Agency for International Development (AID) in tunneling and civil underground construction technologies to professionals from other countries.

Has organized and chaired numerous symposia and workshops dealing with various aspects of mine mechanization and the civil underground construction. Initiated and served as the chairman Unique Underground Structures and the Mine Mechanization and Automation Conferences. Also, served as the conference and session chair at various other international symposia. Served as the Proceedings Editor of various international symposia, including North American Tunneling, Mine Mechanization and Institute of Shaft Drilling Conferences.

Has organized and presented numerous short courses worldwide in mechanized mining and civil underground construction, including tunnel boring, raise and shaft drilling, microtunneling, roadheaders, mechanical mining, rock excavation and mine mechanization and automation. These courses cover all aspects of underground construction including geotechnical studies, design, construction (hard rock and soft ground, TBMs, EPBs, Slurry Shields, roadheaders, etc.), instrumentation, ground support, material handling, utilities, project scheduling and costing.

Research and Related Activities (2005/2006)

2002 - Present: Yucca Mountain Nuclear Repository Design and Construction, a renewable contract was awarded in 2004. This is a multi-year contract, under which Tasks are issued for different research projects.

2003 – Present: Hungarian Nuclear Repository Design and Construction, a multi-year contract with the Hungarian Government.

2004 – Present: Placer Dome, Development of Mechanical Seam Mining Equipment.

2005 – Present: Department of Energy, Development of a Flat Bottomed TBM for Emplacement Drift Excavation.