Shaft sinking for underground transportation purposes is a very complex technological process in mining and geotechnology which requires specific and specially designed technological equipment. This technological process is dealt with for a long time, since mining is one of the oldest industries in the world.

This book presents the technical papers that were presented at the International Mining Forum 2015. The International Mining Forum (IMF) is a meeting place of scientists and professionals who are engaged in confronting ideas and experience, evaluating  solutions implemented, and discussing new ideas that might change the image of the mining industry. The IMF is an international activity of the School of Underground Mining, the major branch event organized both by the Mineral & Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences and AGH–University of Science & Technology of Cracow, which gathering approximately 500 people from Poland and other countries every year.

This year's edition of the International Mining Forum was related to specialistic underground construction. Experts presented papers related to the implementation and operation of the vertical and decline shafts.  Experience from China, Germany, Serbia, Slovenia and Poland were shared at the meeting.

The topics of papers submitted include:

• Application of TBM for driving declines shafts



• State-of-the-Art in Blind Shaft Drilling



• Ground freezing



• Technology of shaft sinking in low-strength rocks and high natural hazards probabilities



• Static calculations of the shaft linings



• Determinants of forecasting deformation in a shaft