BIM Course in Underground Infrastructure
Online course of 300 hours in BIM for Underground Infrastructure: 6 modules covering BIM methodology for underground works, terrain and geological modelling, tunnel and station modelling, coordination and 4D/5D simulation, and BIM for operation and maintenance, with an assigned technical tutor.
BIM Course in Underground Infrastructure — studying from New Zealand
Civil engineering is one of New Zealand's largest engineering employers, driven by the need for earthquake-resilient infrastructure, roading, water and wastewater systems across a seismically active country. Major projects include Auckland's City Rail Link and Wellington's transport upgrades, with rail maintained largely by KiwiRail. Engineers work for consultancies, contractors and councils, and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment administers the Building Act and related standards, while Waka Kotahi manages the national land transport network.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$887 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
What is the recognition pathway for civil and rail engineers in New Zealand?
Engineering New Zealand administers Chartered Professional Engineer registration, which is the main recognised professional standard for civil engineers. Rail is regulated through the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and the Ministry of Transport. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by a national body, so employers or the relevant body decide how much weight to give them.
Who hires civil, rail and smart city engineers in New Zealand?
Employers include city and regional councils, central government agencies, consultancies, contractors, and rail and transport operators. Smart city roles increasingly combine infrastructure knowledge with data and digital systems. Hiring usually depends on registration, experience and project records, so a private qualification is a supporting credential rather than a guaranteed entry point.
Will I need a visa, and how do fees and employer funding work?
No student visa is needed to study from home, because all programmes are 100% online and taught in English. Each programme includes an assigned technical tutor and a final project. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Master's programmes take 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and specialist courses 300, so check the time commitment against your workload.
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
Apply the ISO 19650 series to underground infrastructure projects.
Model the terrain and geology in BIM environments.
Model tunnels, segmental linings and stations parametrically.
Coordinate disciplines and detect clashes.
Simulate the construction process in 4D and control costs in 5D.
Prepare models for operation and maintenance.
Develop a complete BIM project for an underground infrastructure.
Who it's for
- Infrastructure BIM managers moving into tunnels and metro projects.
- BIM coordinators working on underground works.
- Civil engineering BIM modellers who need to handle linear and underground assets.
- Tunnel engineers adopting BIM workflows.
- Digital twin technicians focused on infrastructure assets.
- Digital transformation consultants in civil engineering.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter underground construction.
What you'll work with
- UNE-EN ISO 19650-1 (organisation and digitisation of information about buildings and civil engineering works: concepts and principles)
- UNE-EN ISO 19650-2 (delivery phase of the assets)
- ISO 16739-1 (Industry Foundation Classes (IFC))
- UNE-EN 17412-1 (level of information need)
- UNE-EN ISO 19650-3 (operational phase of the assets)
- Real Decreto 1515/2018 (Spanish decree creating the Interministerial Commission for the adoption of the BIM methodology)
- Ley 9/2017 (Spanish Public Sector Contracts Act)
- Autodesk Civil 3D
- Autodesk Revit
- Autodesk Navisworks
- Leapfrog Works
- Bentley OpenTunnel Designer
6 modules
1.1Particularities of BIM in tunnels1.2ISO 19650 standards and information flows1.3Employer's information requirements1.4BIM execution plan1.5Common data environment1.6Level of information need1.7Classification and coding of linear elements1.8IFC 4.3 and its extension to tunnels1.9Roles and responsibilities1.10Case study: BIM execution plan for a metro
2.1Digital terrain models2.2Three-dimensional geological modelling2.3Boreholes and geotechnical data in the model2.4Geological uncertainty in the model2.5Integration of affected utilities2.6Federation of terrain and structural models2.7Interoperability with geotechnical software2.8Updating with excavation data2.9Visualisation of geotechnical units2.10Lab: geological model from borehole data
3.1Parametric alignments and axes3.2Typical cross-sections and assembly-based modelling3.3Segmental lining rings and their breakdown3.4NATM support in the model3.5Stations, shafts and galleries3.6Services and systems in the model3.7Visual programming with Dynamo3.8Design change management3.9Extraction of drawings and quantities3.10Practical: parametric modelling of a segmentally lined tunnel
4.1Clash detection4.2Coordination with railway systems4.34D simulation of the construction process4.45D cost control4.5Tracking the TBM in the model4.6Integration of monitoring data4.7Virtual reality for design reviews4.8Multidisciplinary collaboration in the model4.9Model quality audit4.10Workshop: 4D simulation of TBM advance
5.1As-built model and final handover5.2COBie and data for operation5.3Integration with CMMS5.4Digital twin of the tunnel5.5Management of inspections in the model5.6BIM and GIS for underground networks5.7Asset document management5.8Tendering with BIM requirements5.9Digitalisation roadmap5.10Case study: digital twin of a metro station
6.1Case definition and BIM scope6.2BIM execution plan6.3Geological-geotechnical model of the alignment6.4Tunnel and station model6.5Coordination and clash detection6.64D simulation and quantities6.7Deliverables for operation6.8Evaluation of the workflow6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with your tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training 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 the intake, so it can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Autodesk Civil 3D, Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Navisworks, Leapfrog Works and Bentley OpenTunnel Designer, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Cases are studied on real procedures for modelling segmentally lined tunnels, coordinating services in metro stations and 4D simulation of underground works. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrated project.
Standards covered: UNE-EN ISO 19650-1; UNE-EN ISO 19650-2; ISO 16739-1; UNE-EN 17412-1; UNE-EN ISO 19650-3; Real Decreto 1515/2018; Ley 9/2017.
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 Autodesk Civil 3D, Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Navisworks, Leapfrog Works and Bentley OpenTunnel Designer, 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 only 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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