Tunnelling and Underground Construction Management

Introduction

Tunnels and underground structures for metros, roads, water, sewers, utilities and energy are among the most complex and risky construction projects. Ground uncertainty, groundwater, settlement of surrounding structures, confined working spaces and specialised equipment create technical, safety and commercial challenges that require careful planning and management.

This Tunnelling and Underground Construction Management training course provides a comprehensive overview of how underground projects are planned, procured, designed and delivered. Participants learn about ground investigation and characterisation, tunnelling methods including tunnel boring machines and sprayed concrete linings, shafts and caverns, ground movement and monitoring, safety in underground works and contractual risk allocation.

The course is designed for managers and engineers who need a broad, practical understanding of underground construction, whether they are new to the sector or seeking to deepen their expertise.

Course Objectives

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

• Explain the main types and purposes of underground construction
• Interpret ground investigation information for tunnelling decisions
• Compare tunnelling methods and their suitability for different ground
• Understand tunnel boring machine selection and operation in overview
• Manage shafts, caverns and sprayed concrete lining works
• Control ground movement and protect adjacent structures
• Apply safety management principles to underground works
• Understand risk allocation and contracts for tunnelling projects

Target Audience

This training course is suitable for a wide range of professionals, including:

• Project managers and construction managers in infrastructure
• Tunnel and geotechnical engineers
• Client and owner representatives
• Design and consulting engineers
• Health and safety managers in underground works
• Commercial and contracts managers

Training Methodology

The course uses technical briefings, project case studies and practical exercises. Participants interpret ground investigation data, select tunnelling methods for scenarios, review monitoring results and discuss risk allocation on case study projects. Lessons from tunnelling incidents are examined throughout.

Target Competencies

• Ground information interpretation
• Tunnelling method selection
• Underground works planning
• Ground movement control
• Underground safety management
• Tunnelling contract risk awareness

Day One: Underground Construction Overview

• Types and purposes of tunnels and underground structures
• Key stages of an underground project life cycle
• Distinctive risks of underground construction
• Lessons from major tunnelling projects and incidents
• Stakeholders, permits and third-party interfaces
• Environmental and community considerations
• Exercise: identifying risks for a metro tunnel project

Day Two: Ground Investigation and Characterisation

• Planning ground investigation for tunnels
• Soil and rock behaviour relevant to tunnelling
• Groundwater conditions and their effects
• Geotechnical baseline reports and their purpose
• Interpreting borehole logs and test results
• Dealing with ground uncertainty and contingency
• Workshop: interpreting ground investigation data

Day Three: Tunnelling Methods

• Tunnel boring machines and their types
• Earth pressure balance and slurry machines compared
• Sprayed concrete lining and sequential excavation
• Drill and blast tunnelling in rock
• Cut and cover and immersed tube methods
• Shafts, caverns and cross passages
• Exercise: selecting tunnelling methods for scenarios

Day Four: Ground Movement, Monitoring and Safety

• Causes and prediction of ground settlement
• Protecting buildings, utilities and infrastructure nearby
• Instrumentation and monitoring systems
• Trigger levels and response plans
• Safety in confined spaces and tunnel environments
• Ventilation, fire and emergency evacuation underground
• Case study: responding to excessive settlement

Day Five: Planning, Contracts and Delivery

• Programming and logistics for underground works
• Spoil handling, segment supply and site logistics
• Risk allocation and ground risk in tunnelling contracts
• Risk registers and joint risk management approaches
• Commissioning and handover of underground assets
• Digital tools and innovations in tunnelling
• Personal action plan for underground construction