Background
Knut F. Garshol holds an M.Sc. in Geo-engineering from the Norwegian Institute of Technology, Trondheim (1969). His career spans the full spectrum of underground construction: as resident engineer and geological engineer on major hydropower and road tunnel projects; as chief engineer and section manager at a large Norwegian general contractor; as owner and CEO of a specialist sub-contracting company; as senior manager, regional director, and technical adviser for an international underground construction chemical group; as senior resident engineer for a major EPCM firm; and, since 2015, as an independent consultant through his own company KGRE AS.
This breadth of roles — contractor, sub-contractor, manufacturer's specialist, owner's representative, and independent expert — gives Garshol an unusually complete understanding of how underground projects succeed or fail in practice, and makes him equally effective advising contractors on bid strategy and construction methodology, or advising owners on design review, specifications, and dispute resolution.
He has been permanently based in Norway, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Hong Kong, and Sweden at various points in his career, and has delivered expert services on projects across Europe, North and South America, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Areas of Expertise
Groundwater Control & Pre-Excavation Grouting
Four decades of hands-on experience designing and supervising grouting programmes in hard rock — from Norwegian fjord crossings to deep sub-sea tunnels in Hong Kong. Author of the industry handbook Pre-Excavation Grouting in Rock Tunneling (2003; 2nd ed. 2007). Currently completing an updated international guide on the subject.
Sprayed Concrete (Shotcrete) Technology
Co-author of Sprayed Concrete for Rock Support (Tom Melbye, UGC International). Six years as leader of ITA Working Group 12 — Shotcrete (1999–2005), coordinating international technical development and best practice across ITA member countries. Co-Chairman, Shotcrete for Underground Support XI conference, Davos (2009). Award-winning author on permanent watertight shotcrete linings.
Tunnelling Methods & Excavation
Comprehensive experience with drill-and-blast, roadheader, and full-face TBM excavation. Introduced and managed a company's first three TBMs (1970s). Adviser on TBM vs D&B selection for several major Norwegian rail and water-supply projects. Controlled blasting and vibration monitoring on sensitive urban projects.
Rock Support & Ground Stability
Design and specification of rock bolting, shotcrete, concrete lining, and combined support systems. Experience with swelling, running, and squeezing ground conditions. Spray-on membrane groundwater barriers. Rock support in sub-sea tunnels and high-pressure conditions up to 83 bar.
Expert & Dispute Resolution
Multiple appointments as Expert Witness in arbitration and court proceedings involving grouting, tunnelling methods, and contractual claims — in Norway, Hong Kong, and Sweden. Member of arbitration tribunals and technical review panels for major infrastructure projects.
Standards, Committees & Industry Leadership
Swiss representative on CEN TC 104/WG10 (Sprayed Concrete standardisation). Norwegian representative in ITA Working Groups on Shotcrete and Subsurface Planning. Chairman of Norwegian committees on grouting and shotcrete for over a decade. Director of the Norwegian Tunnelling Network (NTN), 2015–2021.
Career Highlights
present
Principal Consultant
Independent advisory practice covering pre-excavation grouting, groundwater control, tunnelling method selection, expert witness assignments, and dispute resolution for contractors and owners worldwide.
2014
Senior Resident Engineer – Grouting
Responsible for groundwater control by pre-excavation grouting across 20 km of sub-sea tunnelling at up to 150 m below sea level. Contracts 23 and 24.
2009
Director / Manager UGC, Latin America & NAFTA
Regional leadership for the Underground Construction Group across the Americas, combined with technical advisory roles on major tunnel projects from Stockholm to San Bernardino. Based partly in Zurich and the USA.
1999
Senior Manager, then Assistant Director
Global specialist advisory work from HQ in Zurich. Expert Witness for the Hong Kong Government in SSDS arbitration. Member of expert group for the Romeriksporten high-speed railway tunnel water ingress case.
1994
Manager & Owner
Independent geo-engineering consulting, including design review for the Saudi Strategic Storage Programme (underground petroleum storage caverns) on assignment for Electrowatt Engineering Services, Riyadh.
1990
Senior Adviser & CEO (from 1988)
Specialist advisory in rock support, sprayed concrete, and grouting. Training of shotcreting personnel for mines in China, Australia, and Chile. Adviser on environmental protection shotcrete for the Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture.
1987
Manager & Part Owner
Commercial and technical responsibility for specialty works in rock sealing, shotcrete, concrete repair, and high-pressure water-jet demolition.
1983
Geological Engineer → Chief Engineer → Section Manager
Twelve years with one of Norway's leading general contractors, responsible for geological engineering, rock support, and grouting across approximately 20 km of tunneling per year. Introduced the company's first three TBMs. Developed early wet-mix shotcrete processes on the Aurland hydropower scheme.
Key Publications
Pre-Excavation Grouting in Rock Tunneling
Comprehensive industry handbook. First edition published 2003; revised second edition 2007. Published under MBT/BASF Construction Chemicals. Widely used by contractors and designers as a reference for grouting design and execution.
Sprayed Concrete for Rock Support
Co-authored with Tom Melbye (Director, UGC International) and Ross Dimmock (Technical/Marketing Director, UGC International). Published by UGC International / Degussa Construction Chemicals. A leading reference on wet-mix shotcrete technology and application in tunnelling. 10th edition 2005; 11th edition 2006.
2006
Watertight Permanent Shotcrete Linings in Tunneling and Underground Construction
Shotcrete Magazine, Fall 2007, Volume 9, Issue 4. Recipient of the American Shotcrete Association's Carl Akeley Award for outstanding technical article.
Engineering Geological Approach for Assessment of Grout Quantities and Programme for Deep Tunnels in Hong Kong
Co-authored with J.W. Tattersall, J.K.W. Tam & K.C.K. Lau. HKIE Geotechnical Division Annual Seminar 2012. Winner of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers Geotechnical Paper Award 2014.
Tunneling Without Water Problems – Grouting for Groundwater Control in Hard Rock Tunnels: An International Guide
New independent handbook in preparation, authored by Knut F. Garshol through KGRE AS. Builds on Scandinavian tunnelling practice as a foundation while addressing global project conditions and current grouting technology. Publication forthcoming.
Many papers, reports and lectures
Numerous technical papers and conference presentations on geological engineering, tunnelling, rock support, shotcrete, pre-excavation grouting, and sprayable membrane groundwater control — presented to the Norwegian Society of Chartered Engineers, ITA, ASA, and other bodies over five decades.
Awards & Recognition
HKIE Geotechnical Paper Award — Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, for the paper on engineering geological assessment of grout quantities for deep tunnels in Hong Kong (co-authored with J.W. Tattersall, J.K.W. Tam & K.C.K. Lau).
Carl Akeley Award — American Shotcrete Association, for the outstanding technical article "Watertight Permanent Shotcrete Linings in Tunneling and Underground Construction," Shotcrete Magazine, Fall 2007 (co-authored with L. Lacerda).