Course on Drainage and Pumping Systems in Tunnels
Online course of 300 hours in tunnel drainage and pumping systems. 6 modules covering hydrogeology of underground works, tunnel drainage systems, pumping stations, drainage for spills and fires, and operation and maintenance, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Estimate infiltration inflows in underground works.
Design drainage systems suited to the type of tunnel.
Size pumping stations and their automation.
Prevent fire from spreading through the drainage system.
Manage spills and contaminated water in tunnels.
Plan the maintenance of drainage and pumping systems.
Design the drainage and pumping system of a real tunnel.
Who it's for
- Hydraulic engineers
- Tunnel designers
- Building services and installations engineers
- Tunnel maintenance managers
- Hydrogeologists
- Road operations technicians
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into road tunnels
What you'll work with
- Royal Decree 635/2006 (minimum safety requirements for tunnels on the Spanish State road network)
- Directive 2004/54/EC (minimum safety requirements for tunnels in the trans-European road network)
- UNE-EN 752 (drain and sewer systems outside buildings)
- UNE-EN 858 (separator systems for light liquids (hydrocarbons))
- UNE-EN 12056-4 (gravity drainage systems: wastewater lifting plants)
- Standard 5.2-IC (Spanish road surface drainage standard)
- UNE-EN 13252 (geotextiles: characteristics required for use in drainage systems)
- EPANET
- SWMM (EPA)
- MODFLOW
- Grundfos Product Center
- AutoCAD Civil 3D
6 modules
1.1Aquifers, permeability and transmissivity1.2Groundwater flow towards underground excavations1.3Goodman and Heuer formulae for inflows1.4Lugeon and pumping tests1.5Water chemistry and aggressiveness1.6Carbonate precipitation and encrustation1.7Impact of drainage on the water table and at the surface1.8Drained versus watertight tunnels1.9Water at the face during construction1.10Case study: estimating infiltration inflows
2.1Waterproofing membrane and geotextile2.2Longitudinal sidewall drains2.3Central collector and inspection chambers2.4Separation of infiltration water and carriageway water2.5Road tunnel drainage with siphon gullies2.6Drainage in railway and metro tunnels2.7Minimum gradients and self-cleansing velocities2.8Clogging prevention and cleaning2.9Drainage in galleries and emergency exits2.10Workshop: designing the drainage of a typical section
3.1Pump sumps at low points3.2Submersible pumps and their selection3.3Characteristic curves and duty point3.4Sizing the sump volume3.5Pumping water contaminated with hydrocarbons3.6Hydrocarbon separators and ponds3.7Redundancy and emergency power3.8Level control and automation3.9Water hammer in rising mains3.10Practical exercise: sizing a pumping station
4.1Flammable liquid spills in tunnels4.2Fire-stop gullies and siphons4.3Spill evacuation capacity4.4Firefighting water and its management4.5Spill retention ponds4.6Preventing fire spread through collectors4.7Requirements of Royal Decree 635/20064.8Integration with the tunnel SCADA4.9Response protocols for spills4.10Case study: tanker spill scenario
5.1CCTV inspection of collectors5.2High-pressure jetting5.3Treatment of limescale encrustation5.4Maintenance of pumps and electrical panels5.5Discharge control and permits5.6Sludge and waste management5.7System performance indicators5.8Renewing drainage in old tunnels5.9Preventive maintenance plans5.10Case study: maintenance plan for an existing drainage system
6.1Hydrogeological and alignment data6.2Estimation of design flows6.3Layout of the drainage system6.4Sizing of collectors and gullies6.5Design of the pumping station6.6Management of spills and hydrocarbons6.7Operation and maintenance plan6.8Budget for the solution6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Delivered 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the course can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is EPANET, SWMM (EPA), MODFLOW, Grundfos Product Center and AutoCAD Civil 3D, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for designing road tunnel drainage, sizing underground pumping stations and managing spills in tunnels. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: Royal Decree 635/2006; Directive 2004/54/EC; UNE-EN 752; UNE-EN 858; UNE-EN 12056-4; Standard 5.2-IC; UNE-EN 13252.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with EPANET, SWMM (EPA), MODFLOW, Grundfos Product Center and AutoCAD Civil 3D, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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