Cities running out of surface space, and transport networks crossing mountains or rivers, increasingly rely on one solution: going underground. But driving a tunnel through rock or soil means confronting geology, groundwater, structural loads and safety risks that change from one metre to the next. This Tunnelling and Underground Infrastructure training course by Arab British Fellowship Training Academy walks participants through that full journey — from reading ground conditions, to choosing an excavation method, to designing, building, monitoring and keeping a tunnel safe throughout its operational life.

Positioned within the Construction and Civil Engineering Training course specialization and classified under Engineering maintenance and operation, the programme builds working knowledge of geotechnical engineering, modern tunnelling methods and underground construction practice. Participants leave able to assess ground and groundwater conditions, choose and apply suitable excavation and support techniques, control construction risk, and manage tunnel performance across its lifecycle.

• Assess geological, geotechnical and groundwater conditions that shape tunnel projects.
• Apply geotechnical engineering principles to tunnel planning and design.
• Compare modern tunnelling methods and select the right excavation approach for given ground conditions.
• Evaluate tunnel lining, waterproofing, ground support and structural systems.
• Understand core underground construction techniques and safe excavation practice.
• Identify construction hazards and tunnel-specific risks, and apply mitigation strategies.
• Understand tunnel instrumentation, monitoring and emergency response requirements.
• Apply tunnel inspection, maintenance and rehabilitation practices to extend service life.
• Support the safe, efficient and cost-effective delivery of underground infrastructure using current best practice.

Target Audience

• Civil and Tunnel Engineers
• Geotechnical and Structural Engineers
• Underground Construction Engineers
• Construction Project Managers and Site Supervisors
• Infrastructure and Transportation Professionals
• Risk Management and Safety Officers
• Tunnel Inspection and Maintenance Specialists
• Engineering Consultants working on tunnel engineering, underground construction and infrastructure projects

Module 1: Why Underground Infrastructure Needs Specialized Engineering

• The growing role of tunnels in transportation and urban infrastructure
• Types and classification of tunnels
• Tunnel lifecycle, from planning to decommissioning
• Performance and safety expectations for underground structures
• Core engineering principles behind Tunnel Engineering

Module 2: Reading the Ground Before You Dig: Geological and Geotechnical Site Assessment

• Geological investigations for tunnel projects
• Rock and soil characteristics relevant to tunnelling
• Groundwater conditions and their influence on design
• Site investigation techniques and geotechnical data interpretation
• Ground behavior, stability and geotechnical engineering principles

Module 3: Selecting the Right Excavation Method

• Overview of modern tunnelling methods
• Drill and blast excavation
• Cut-and-cover construction
• Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology
• Sequential excavation methods
• Matching excavation method to ground and support conditions

Module 4: Designing the Tunnel: Geometry, Loading, Lining and Ventilation

• Tunnel alignment, geometry and cross-sections
• Structural loading and design considerations
• Tunnel lining systems
• Waterproofing and drainage
• Ventilation and operational requirements

Module 5: Ground Support and Underground Construction Execution

• Principles of underground construction
• Excavation and material removal
• Ground support and stabilization
• Rock bolts, shotcrete and steel supports
• Tunnel lining installation and construction sequencing

Module 6: Managing the Build: Planning, Resources and Site Coordination

• Construction planning and scheduling
• Equipment and resource management
• Construction productivity and quality control
• Site safety management
• Environmental considerations during construction

Module 7: Tunnel Risk Management: Hazards, Ground Instability and Water Ingress

• Identification of tunnel construction risks
• Geotechnical and geological hazards
• Ground collapse and instability risks
• Water ingress and flooding
• Equipment and operational hazards
• Risk assessment and mitigation strategies

Module 8: Monitoring, Safety and Emergency Response

• Tunnel instrumentation and monitoring
• Ground movement and deformation monitoring
• Structural health assessment
• Ventilation, fire and life safety systems
• Emergency response planning

Module 9: Keeping Tunnels in Service: Inspection, Maintenance and Modern Practice

• Tunnel condition assessment and inspection methods
• Lining deterioration, defect identification and rehabilitation strategies
• Waterproofing and drainage maintenance
• Digital technologies for tunnel monitoring
• Sustainable construction, lifecycle asset management and integrated safety practice