Tunnel engineer (degree)
Engineering and manufacturing
Level 7 -
To plan, construct and maintain or repair tunnels and associated underground space structures in line with regulations and health and safety and environmental requirements, and to manage these processes.
Reference: OCC1344
Status:
SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 2121/99 Civil engineers n.e.c.
- 1122/00 Production managers and directors in construction
- 2121/02 Geotechnical engineers
Technical Education Products
Employers involved in creating the standard:
COWI UK, London Bridge Associates, HS2, CMR, Ramboll, Bechtel, Arup, Dr. Sauer & Partners, Strabag, NDA, CECL Global, Hyperbaric & Tunnel Safety Ltd, Jacobs, Morgan Sindall, Murphy, Hewson Consulting Engineers, Bemo Tunnelling
Summary
This occupation is found in the civil engineering sector and deals with the engineering of tunnels and associated underground space structures. Tunnel engineers may work for contractors including large international companies through to Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs), asset owners and operators, consultants, developers and regulatory bodies.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to plan, construct and maintain or repair tunnels and associated underground space structures in line with regulations and health and safety and environmental requirements, and to manage these processes. They may work in part or throughout the project lifecycle, namely concept, feasibility, project selection, design, contracts, construction, testing, commissioning and handover, maintenance or repair and assets-in-service. At the planning stage of tunnels and associated underground space structure projects, tunnel engineers specify ground investigations, determine tunnel alignments through optioneering and identify the potential impacts of tunnelling or underground space works on the environment (urban, rural and natural). During the design phase, they model and analyse tunnels and associated underground space structures, considering face stability, soil-structure interaction and geotechnical and structural performance, impact on adjacent structures (surface and sub-surface) as well as serviceability and functional requirements. They manage construction activities during the undertaking of tunnel and ancillary underground space projects onsite with responsibilities including, but not limited to health and safety, quality control, temporary works, logistics, scheduling and risk management including ‘live’ monitoring. They also undertake operational and maintenance tasks associated with tunnels and associated underground space structures, during service, covering inspections, monitoring, as well as overseeing design and management of repair works. They are also responsible for producing technical reports across all stages of the project lifecycle and devising future maintenance strategies.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with their direct team within the organisation in which they work, as well as other internal teams, managers, and senior employees. External to the organisation in which they work, they will interact with representatives from suppliers such as material and services, contractors, engineers, asset owners and operators, regulatory bodies, developers, and clients. They will typically report to team leaders and directors within the organisation in which they work. Additionally, they will usually have technicians and junior engineers who report to them. Some interaction with members of the public may also be necessary. They may work within a permanent employer’s office or on site or a combination of both.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for managing tunnel and associated underground space structure projects in relation to sustainability, risk, cost, programme, resource, health and safety, and the environment. Tunnel engineers need to understand the standards, codes and regulations that they are required to comply with. Many design standards cannot be directly applied to tunnels and associated underground space structures, and a specialist knowledge base and specific experience within tunnelling projects is therefore required. The tunnel engineer understands and is able to evaluate the impact of commercial, contractual and legal requirements that are relevant to the projects they work on. They work within and adhere to their organisation’s processes and management systems. They undertake continued professional development, to keep abreast of recent tunnelling advances, regulations and processes in the field and support and actively encourage their teams to do the same. They must undertake all tunnelling duties professionally and ethically to represent their organisations appropriately in all aspects of their work, adhering to all relevant regulations and codes of practice.
Employers involved in creating the standard:
COWI UK, London Bridge Associates, HS2, CMR, Ramboll, Bechtel, Arup, Dr. Sauer & Partners, Strabag, NDA, CECL Global, Hyperbaric & Tunnel Safety Ltd, Jacobs, Morgan Sindall, Murphy, Hewson Consulting Engineers, Bemo Tunnelling
Typical job titles include:
Keywords:
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
Duties
Duty D1
Develop alignment and construction options for tunnel and associated underground space structure projects by interpreting geological, stratigraphy or hydrogeological data and existing infrastructure such as tunnels and utilities data in order to better consider client and project requirements.
Duty D2
Analyse, interpret and critically evaluate the data from ground investigation via desk study research, using for example, historical maps and planning records to plan future tunnel and associated underground space structure engineering investigations and construction activities.
Duty D3
Analyse planned tunnel and associated underground space structure projects options for their impact on the environment using techniques and processes such as Building Damage Assessment; Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of construction; cost and benefit impact and societal impact on the local and wider community.
Duty D4
Identify, assess, mitigate and manage risks throughout the life of a tunnel and associated underground space structure project such as during planning, design, construction, operation and repair. These risks may include health and safety, technical, building damage or commercial.
Duty D5
Undertake constructability feasibility assessments to identify suitable methods of construction including material choices and lining methods for tunnels and associated underground space structures, and be able to critically assess the sustainability, risks and opportunities associated with these methods in relation to the project. This applies to the design and construction of new tunnels and associated underground space structures and to their repair.
Duty D6
Undertake detailed assessment and analysis using appropriate tunnelling specific methods and software, for example, empirical, analytical, numerical, critical analysis of the ground behaviour and tunnel (soil-structure) interaction, including properties of rocks and soils, and their response to natural or proposed engineering activities and proposed approaches.
Duty D7
Interpret monitoring data or existing tunnel and associated underground space structure projects in order to learn about the effect of tunnelling on the environment or assets and the tunnel, and how that compares to the design assumptions, and interpret ongoing results to assess day-to-day management of mitigation measures and required monitoring.
Duty D8
Design and oversee construction of tunnels and associated underground space structures for example, tunnels, shafts, cross passages, junctions and deep basements or station platforms including optioneering and detailed design, allowing for full consideration and integration of: health and safety such as ventilation, confined space working, fire risk, sustainability, constructability and ground conditions including temporary works. This applies to the design and construction of new tunnels and associated underground space structures and to their repair.
Duty D9
Review and assess pre-construction predictions of ground and structure movement, and monitoring data during construction to decide the mitigation measures to be adopted, and any subsequent change of frequency of monitoring or implementation of supplementary instruments.
Duty D10
Produce and oversee the production of technical reports throughout all tunnel and associated underground space structure project phases, from investigation to design and construction for stakeholders, engineers and clients. Provide tunnel engineering support to stakeholders for example, engineers and clients and guidance throughout the life-cycle of a project, including post-handover (such as for maintenance and repair purposes).
Duty D11
Manage tunnel and associated underground space structure projects including: planning, programming, design, risk, budgets, costs and resources. Manage, supervise and develop other engineers or professionals and stakeholders. Communicate and negotiate with other engineers, clients, sub-contractors and regulatory bodies.
Duty D12
Develop and oversee future tunnel and associated underground space structure maintenance strategies and their implementation including costing and input to budgets. Recommend practical interventions for tunnel and associated underground space structure asset management such as repair, rehabilitation and replacement.