Excavation Engineering and Earth Mechanics Institute (EMI)

Since 1974, EMI at Colorado School of Mines has been a global leader in excavation technology, tunneling, and drilling solutions for mining and civil underground construction. Our cutting-edge research, advanced testing, and performance modeling drive innovation in mechanical excavation, project costing, and tool design.

What We Do:

Tunneling & Boring – Hard rock & soft ground TBMs, microtunneling, shaft boring.
Mining Technology – Continuous miners, roadheaders, longwall shearers.
Drilling & Excavation – Oil, gas, water well drilling, jet-assisted cutting.
Optimization & Innovation – Performance modeling, automation, cutter development.

Why EMI?

🔹 50+ years of expertise with real-world validation.
🔹 Industry partnerships driving cost-effective, high-performance solutions.
🔹 State-of-the-art testing and predictive modeling for excavation tools.

Partner with EMI to revolutionize excavation technology.

Excavate, Innovate, Dominate.

Group picture on 6.26.25 ARMA meeting A large blue and white tunnel boring machine head being lowered into a construction site, with a worker in a red hard hat observing.