Mike Mooney
Grewcock Distinguished Chair Professor of Underground Construction & Tunneling
Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Mike Mooney is the founding Director of the university-wide Center for Underground and Director of the Underground Construction & Tunnel Engineering graduate degree program. His research and teaching focuses on planning, analysis, design, construction, monitoring and rehabilitation of tunnels, underground civil structures, and other transportation/energy/utility infrastructure systems.
Dr. Mooney is a licensed Professional Engineer and, in addition to teaching and research, provides technical expertise to project owners, designers, contractors and equipment suppliers. He serves on project and agency expert panels and participates as an expert witness in project claims and litigation.
Labs and Research Centers
Education
- PhD Civil Engineering, Northwestern University, 1996
- MS Civil Engineering, University of California, Irvine, 1993
- BS Civil Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, 1991
- BA Physics, Hastings College, 1991
- Registered Professional Engineer, Colorado #39682
Recent Awards and Honors
- Inducted into US National Academy of Construction (2024)
- ASCE Martin S. Kapp Foundation Engineering Award (2024)
- Underground Construction Association Outstanding Educator Award (2024)
- Tan Swan Beng Endowed Visiting Professor, Nanyang Technical University, Singapore (2019)
- World Tunnels Congress Scientific Committee Chair (2016)
- Grewcock Distinguished Chair in Underground Construction & Tunneling (2013-present).
Recent Selected Publications
- Mooney, M., Proshchenko, V., Chiappalone, F., Nebbia, D. “Seattle Ship Canal TBM performance optimization using AI machine learning.” Proc. Rapid Excavation & Tunneling Conference, June 8-11, 2025, Dallas, TX.
- Mooney, M. “Rapid small diameter directional tunneling using simultaneous pilot bore and pipe-in-pipe concept.” Proc. Rapid Excavation & Tunneling Conference, June 8-11, 2025, Dallas, TX.
- Chao, Z., Geng, Z., Mooney, M.A., Cheng, H., Chen, R-P. “Earth pressure balance tunnel boring machine vibration-based classification charts for real-time ground type and composition detection.” Geotechnique, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.24.01356.
- Mooney, M., Zheng, H., Naito, C., Quiel, S., Ouyang, Z. “Experimental characterization of large diameter tunnel lining radial joint rotation behavior.” Proc. North American Tunneling Conference, June 23-26, 2024, Nashville, TN.
- Shetty, R., Bigdeli, M., Mooney, M. “Quantifying foam destruction during conditioning of fine-grained soils.” Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 2024, 153(105971, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2024.105971.
- Mooney, M., Zheng, H., Yu, H. “Three implementations to reduce geotechnical risk on underground projects using information engineering and AI.” Proc. Geotechnical Aspects of Underground Construction in Soft Ground – Zhou, Guan & Li (eds), Macao, China, June 14-17, 2024.
- Zheng, H, Mooney, M.A., Gutierrez, M. “Updating model parameters and predictions in SEM tunneling using a surrogate-based Bayesian approach.” Geotechnique, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.22.00299.
- Yu, H and Mooney, M.A. “Characterizing the as-encountered ground condition with tunnel boring machine data using semi-supervised learning.” Computers and Geotechnics, 2023, 154(105159), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2022.105159.
- Gangrade, R., Mooney, M.A., and Trainor-Guitton, W. “Quantification of Stratigraphic Transition Location Uncertainty for Tunneling Projects.” ASCE J. Geotechnical & Geoenv. Engineering, 2022, 148(8), https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002815.
- Gangrade, R, Grasmick, J, Trainor-Guitton, W and Mooney, M.A. “Risk-based Methodology to Optimize Geotechnical Site Investigations in Tunnel Projects.” ASCE J. Geotechnical & Geoenv. Engineering, 2022, 127 (104589), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2022.104589.
- Grasmick, J and Mooney, M.A. “A Probabilistic Geostatistics-Based Approach to Tunnel Boring Machine Cutter Tool Wear and Cutterhead Clogging Prediction.” ASCE J. Geotechnical & Geoenv. Engineering, 2021, 147(12), https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002701.
- Epel, T, Mooney, M.A., and Gutierrez, M. “The Influence of Face and Shield Annulus Pressure on Tunnel Liner Load Development.” Tunneling and Underground Space Technology, 2021, 117 (104096), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2021.104096.
- Zheng, H, Bragard, C, Herranz-Calvo, C, Mooney, M.A. and Gutierrez, M. “Observed Performance and Analysis of SEM Cavern Construction in Downtown Los Angeles.” ASCE J. Geotechnical & Geoenv. Engineering, 2021, 147(11), https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002639.
- Gangrade, R, Grasmick, J and Mooney, M.A. “Probabilistic Assessment of Void Risk and Grouting Volume for Tunneling Applications.” Rock Mech Rock Eng (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-021-02528-6.