Lectures (in portuguese)
Selmo Chapira Kuperman
Civil engineer graduated from the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo. Holds a Master’s and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the same institution. Currently the Director of DESEK, he has 54 years of experience in the design and consulting of concrete structures, including buildings, wind towers, hydroelectric power plants, tunnels, and dams in Brazil and abroad.
He is an Honorary Member of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and the Brazilian Concrete Institute (IBRACON), where he also served as President.
His recent areas of expertise include mass concrete for foundation blocks, alkali-aggregate reaction, delayed ettringite formation, concrete cooling, roller-compacted concrete, and performance evaluation systems for civil dam structures.
Among the awards he has received, the “International Outstanding Dam Engineer” distinction in 2019 stands out, granted by the Committees on Large Dams of China, Spain, and Brazil.
Prof. Dr. Paulo Fernando da Silva
- Ph.D. in Infrastructure from ITA
- Master’s Degree in Engineering from POLI-USP
- MBA in Project Management (FGV)
- Professor of Shotcrete – Postgraduate Program
- Author of 6 technical books, including the notable: “MANUAL DE CONCRETO PROJETADO: TÚNEIS, SOLO GRAMPEADO, RECUPERAÇÃO DE ESTRUTURA” (the only Brazilian book on the subject)
- International Consultant
- Director at NÚCLEO Engenharia
- “Master in Troubleshooting Concrete” (USA)
- “Master in Repair” (USA)
Engenheiro Felipe Gobbi
Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, with a sandwich Ph.D. at the University of Coimbra.
He has conducted research and engineering projects in the fields of Soil Mechanics and Rock Mechanics, with publications in national conferences as well as national and international journals.
Currently, he serves as the Technical Director of FGS Geotecnia and the Technical Manager for Brazil at Geobrugg AG.
He was President of ABMS/NRRS during the 2011–2012 and 2013–2014 terms and is currently the Chair of the ABMS Slope Commission and a member of the JTC1 Technical Committee of ISSMGE.
Ivo Teixeira
Engineering Manager at Acciona, working on the construction of São Paulo’s Line 6-Orange metro project.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Geotechnical Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto.
Throughout his career, he has participated in significant infrastructure projects such as São Paulo’s Line 5, the Lisbon Metro, the London Underground, and globally as an Infrastructure Specialist at the IFC (World Bank) in Washington, DC.
Gustavo Aguiar
Graduated in Civil Engineering from Poli-USP in 2009. Master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering with a focus on mechanized excavation, completed in 2017.
He worked as a designer for underground works, including the executive design of the Sacomã Station on Line 2 and the basic design for Line 5 of the São Paulo Metro. During the construction of Line 5, he participated with Camargo Correa in the execution of Brooklin Station, the tunnels constructed by tunnel boring machines (TBM), and VSEs.
From 2017 to 2021, he worked at BabEng GmbH in Germany, involved in project development, planning, and specialized consulting for TBM projects. Notable projects include the Albvorlandtunnel in Stuttgart, the Red Line in Tel Aviv, the Ahmed Hamdi Road Tunnel under the Suez Canal in Egypt, and the executive design of Line 5 of the Hamburg Metro.
Since 2021, he has been involved in the construction of Line 6 of the São Paulo Metro with Acciona, serving as Geotechnical Manager, responsible for the projects and oversight of the mechanized tunnels and NATMs on the line.
Karin Bäppler
Dr. Karin Bäppler, Head of Business Development and Pre-Sales, Traffic Tunneling Group, Herrenknecht AG, Germany
Karin graduated in Civil Engineering from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany, and completed her postgraduate studies with a Ph.D. at the Colorado School of Mines, USA. She joined Herrenknecht in 1997 and has since specialized in geotechnology, research, and development.
From 2008 to 2024, Karin managed the Geotechnical and Consulting Department of the Traffic Tunneling Division at Herrenknecht’s headquarters in Schwanau, Germany. In her current role, she is responsible as Head of Business Development and Pre-Sales.
Since June 2013, Karin has also been a member of the Supervisory Board of Herrenknecht AG.
She is a guest lecturer in postgraduate programs at universities in France, Germany, Italy, and the USA on the topic of tunnel excavation and tunnel boring machines. Additionally, she gives lectures at international conferences on mechanized tunnel excavation technology.
Selmo Chapira Kuperman
Civil engineer graduated from the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo. Holds a Master’s and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the same institution. Currently the Director of DESEK, he has 54 years of experience in the design and consulting of concrete structures, including buildings, wind towers, hydroelectric power plants, tunnels, and dams in Brazil and abroad.
He is an Honorary Member of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and the Brazilian Concrete Institute (IBRACON), where he also served as President.
His recent areas of expertise include mass concrete for foundation blocks, alkali-aggregate reaction, delayed ettringite formation, concrete cooling, roller-compacted concrete, and performance evaluation systems for civil dam structures.
Among the awards he has received, the “International Outstanding Dam Engineer” distinction in 2019 stands out, granted by the Committees on Large Dams of China, Spain, and Brazil.
Prof. Dr. Paulo Fernando da Silva
- Ph.D. in Infrastructure from ITA
- Master’s Degree in Engineering from POLI-USP
- MBA in Project Management (FGV)
- Professor of Shotcrete – Postgraduate Program
- Author of 6 technical books, including the notable: “MANUAL DE CONCRETO PROJETADO: TÚNEIS, SOLO GRAMPEADO, RECUPERAÇÃO DE ESTRUTURA” (the only Brazilian book on the subject)
- International Consultant
- Director at NÚCLEO Engenharia
- “Master in Troubleshooting Concrete” (USA)
- “Master in Repair” (USA)
Engenheiro Felipe Gobbi
Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, with a sandwich Ph.D. at the University of Coimbra.
He has conducted research and engineering projects in the fields of Soil Mechanics and Rock Mechanics, with publications in national conferences as well as national and international journals.
Currently, he serves as the Technical Director of FGS Geotecnia and the Technical Manager for Brazil at Geobrugg AG.
He was President of ABMS/NRRS during the 2011–2012 and 2013–2014 terms and is currently the Chair of the ABMS Slope Commission and a member of the JTC1 Technical Committee of ISSMGE.
Ivo Teixeira
Engineering Manager at Acciona, working on the construction of São Paulo’s Line 6-Orange metro project.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Geotechnical Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto.
Throughout his career, he has participated in significant infrastructure projects such as São Paulo’s Line 5, the Lisbon Metro, the London Underground, and globally as an Infrastructure Specialist at the IFC (World Bank) in Washington, DC.
Gustavo Aguiar
Graduated in Civil Engineering from Poli-USP in 2009. Master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering with a focus on mechanized excavation, completed in 2017.
He worked as a designer for underground works, including the executive design of the Sacomã Station on Line 2 and the basic design for Line 5 of the São Paulo Metro. During the construction of Line 5, he participated with Camargo Correa in the execution of Brooklin Station, the tunnels constructed by tunnel boring machines (TBM), and VSEs.
From 2017 to 2021, he worked at BabEng GmbH in Germany, involved in project development, planning, and specialized consulting for TBM projects. Notable projects include the Albvorlandtunnel in Stuttgart, the Red Line in Tel Aviv, the Ahmed Hamdi Road Tunnel under the Suez Canal in Egypt, and the executive design of Line 5 of the Hamburg Metro.
Since 2021, he has been involved in the construction of Line 6 of the São Paulo Metro with Acciona, serving as Geotechnical Manager, responsible for the projects and oversight of the mechanized tunnels and NATMs on the line.
André Cezar Zingano
Prof. André Cezar Zingano (Full Eng.) – Graduated in Mining Engineering (1990) from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, PhD in Engineering in 2002. He is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Mining Engineering at UFRGS, teaching Engineering Geology and Rock Mechanics for the Mining Engineering and Civil Engineering courses. He works in postgraduate studies as a master's advisor for dissertations in ground control and underground mining. He participates in geomechanics projects for the mining industry in the areas of rock mass control, underground coal mining projects, and retreat mining operation projects using backfill. He has performed in-situ stress measurements in a highway tunnel, at the Votorantim Cimentos Baltar Mine, and at the JMC Jacobina mine. Stability analysis and design of limestone mine slopes (Votorantim Cimentos, Nexa Resources, Cemento Avellaneda, and Cemento Artigas). He has published several articles in congresses and journals.
Artur Siqueira
Senior Civil Engineer
OEC
Production Coordination Engineer at OEC.
Extensive experience in large-scale civil construction projects, with a focus on underground excavations. Notable expertise demonstrated during the execution of tunnels in the port region of Rio de Janeiro, which involved significant geological complexities, requiring various types of treatments during excavation. Currently oversees the production for the implementation of the Campo Grande ring road and connecting roads.
Lúcio Rosa
Senior Mining Engineer
Tunnel Production Coordination Engineer at OEC
Expertise in urban, careful, and underwater rock blasting, as well as in quarries, mining, road cuts, and underground excavations.
Experience in highway projects, small hydroelectric plants (PCHs), large hydroelectric power plants (Santo Antônio and Teles Pires HPPs), tunnels, and metro projects (Line 6 – São Paulo).
Currently excavating the Luis Bom and João Vicente tunnels in Campo Grande, Rio de Janeiro.
Marcos Massao Futai
Financial Director of ABMS
Professor of Infrastructure at the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo (USP), where he coordinates the GeoInfraUSP Laboratory. Specialist in Geotechnical Engineering applied to infrastructure projects, mining, energy, and civil construction. He has published over 70 articles in renowned international journals, 15 book chapters, and approximately 180 papers in conference proceedings. He has supervised dozens of graduate students at the master's and doctoral levels. Currently, he serves as the Financial Director of ABMS, is a former president of CBMR and NRSP-ABMS, Vice-Chair of the Technical Committee on Tropical Residual Soils (TC107), and Director of the Press-in International Association.
