Mike Mooney

Mike Mooney is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines, holding the Grewcock Chair in Underground Construction & Tunneling. He directs the Center for Underground and leads the Heavy Construction Studio, focusing on advancing smart, rapid, and cost-effective construction technologies for urban tunneling and challenging ground conditions through instrumentation integration and field experimentation.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Civil Engineering, Northwestern University, 1996
• MS in Civil Engineering, University of California, Irvine, 1993
• BS in Civil Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, 1991
• BA in Physics, Hastings College, 1991

Mooney's research integrates instrumentation into tunnel boring machines and horizontal directional drilling systems, studying robotic excavation, soil transformation using polymers/foams, and ground-mechanical interactions via physics models and machine learning. His group conducts extensive field campaigns embedded in real construction projects worldwide, emphasizing data-driven approaches to complex geotechnical challenges.

Recent publications (2018-2023) demonstrate expertise in TBM performance optimization, boulder detection systems, soil conditioning, and machine learning applications for ground prediction. Key contributions include real-time vibration monitoring for Venice lagoon restoration, annular pressure management, foam stability analysis, and autonomous tunneling frameworks across major projects in Seattle, Toronto, Los Angeles, and New York City.

No scientific awards or fellowships were mentioned in the provided text.

Professor Mooney actively advises graduate students as evidenced by extensive student co-authorship in publications. His research is directly applied to international construction projects including the Venice lagoon restoration and urban tunneling initiatives. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Colorado (License #39682) and provides technical consultation for construction projects globally.

He directs the Center for Underground at Colorado School of Mines, where his Heavy Construction Studio develops instrumentation systems and conducts field experiments integrated into active construction sites. The lab specializes in real-time monitoring technologies, ground characterization methods, and machine learning applications for tunneling operations.