Tunnel Design, Construction and Rehabilitation

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Define key tunnel design and construction approaches and how they relate to ground conditions, risk considerations, and project constraints
• Understand common tunnelling methods, including TBM, drill and blast, cut and cover, and immersed tube systems, and recognize factors influencing their selection
• Identify typical geotechnical, construction, and operational risks across the project lifecycle and outline common mitigation strategies
• Address approaches to settlement control, monitoring, and construction impact assessment
• Discuss rehabilitation strategies and performance considerations for existing tunnels and underground infrastructure

Description

Tunnel projects present complex technical and execution challenges driven by ground uncertainty, urban constraints, safety requirements, and high construction risk. Decisions made during planning, design, and construction have significant implications for cost, performance, and long‑term asset integrity.

This course provides a practical framework for evaluating and executing tunnel projects across a range of methods and conditions. Key considerations include geotechnical investigation and baseline reporting, alignment selection, construction methods, support systems, and risk allocation. Emphasis is placed on understanding how design choices influence constructability, safety, and project outcomes.

Through applied examples and case-based discussion, this course builds the capability to make informed decisions across tunnel design, construction, and rehabilitation. The focus is on real-world application, enabling immediate use of concepts in project planning, execution, and asset management.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for:

• Engineers and engineering technologists involved in underground infrastructure projects
• Technical professionals working in geotechnical, civil, and construction environments
• Early‑career to senior practitioners responsible for design, construction, or project delivery decisions
• Professionals involved in risk management, inspection, rehabilitation, or asset management of tunnels

• Introduction of tunnelling and types of tunnels
• Tunnel Planning and configuration
• Geotechnical investigation and reporting: geotechnical data report, interpretive report, and geotechnical baseline report (GBR)

• Cut and Cover tunnels and underground structures
• Rock Tunnels
• Rock Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM)
• Shaft design and construction

• Soft Ground Tunnels
• Soft Ground Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM)
• Precast Concrete Segmental Liner (PCTL)
• Sequential Excavation Method (SEM)

• Tunnelling in urban areas
• Settlement analyses and Construction Impact Assessment
• Instrumentation and Monitoring
• Ground improvement methods

• Tunnel construction in difficult ground conditions
• Inspection, assessment, and rehabilitation of existing tunnels and underground facilities

• Risk management
• Construction planning, logistics and constructability aspects
• Project delivery methods
• Recent advancements in tunnel design and construction including AI and robotics