Tunnel Inspection Robot Course
Online course of 300 hours in inspection robots in tunnels. 6 modules covering tunnel inspection needs, robotic platforms, on-board sensors, navigation and localisation, and data processing and analysis, 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
Identify the inspection needs that robotics can cover in tunnels.
Compare robotic platforms according to the type of tunnel.
Select on-board sensors for each type of defect.
Apply GNSS-free navigation and localisation techniques.
Process inspection data with computer vision and point clouds.
Plan safe and efficient robotic inspection campaigns.
Design a complete robotic inspection solution for a tunnel.
Who it's for
- Applied robotics engineers
- Infrastructure inspectors
- Computer vision specialists
- LiDAR survey technicians
- Tunnel maintenance managers
- Autonomous systems developers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into railway maintenance
What you'll work with
- ISO 10218-1 (robots and robotic devices: safety requirements for industrial robots)
- Directive 2006/42/EC (Machinery Directive)
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (rules and procedures for the operation of unmanned aircraft)
- ISO 13482 (robots and robotic devices: safety requirements for personal care robots)
- UNE-EN 13306 (maintenance terminology)
- Royal Decree 635/2006 (minimum safety requirements for tunnels on the Spanish State road network)
- ISO 18436 (condition monitoring: requirements for qualification of personnel)
- ROS 2
- CloudCompare
- OpenCV
- PyTorch
- Leica Cyclone
6 modules
1.1Defects to be detected in tunnels1.2Limitations of manual inspection1.3Inspection windows and impact on traffic1.4Types of robotic platform1.5Personnel safety and confined spaces1.6Accuracy and resolution requirements1.7Inspection of hydraulic tunnels and flooded galleries1.8Inspection during TBM construction1.9State of the art of robotics in tunnels1.10Case study: manual versus robotic inspection comparison
2.1Road-going inspection vehicles2.2Rail-mounted robots2.3Drones for GNSS-denied confined spaces2.4Quadruped and tracked robots2.5Climbing and cable-mounted robots2.6Underwater vehicles for hydraulic tunnels2.7Energy autonomy and communications2.8Mechanical design for aggressive environments2.9Safety regulations in robotics2.10Workshop: selecting a platform for a service tunnel
3.1High-resolution line-scan cameras3.2Mobile LiDAR laser scanning3.3Infrared thermography of surfaces3.4Ground-penetrating radar on a mobile platform3.5Ultrasound and impact-echo3.6Gas and air quality sensors3.7Multi-sensor data fusion3.8Calibration and synchronisation3.9Data compression and storage3.10Laboratory: camera and LiDAR calibration
4.1GNSS-free localisation in tunnels4.2SLAM with LiDAR and vision4.3Odometry and inertial measurement units4.4Referencing to the tunnel axis and chainage4.5Trajectory planning4.6Teleoperation and supervised autonomy4.7Obstacle avoidance4.8ROS robot operating systems4.9Field testing and validation4.10Practical exercise: SLAM map of a gallery with ROS
5.1Unrolled orthoimages of the intrados5.2Automatic crack detection with computer vision5.3Segmentation of damp patches and spalling5.4Comparison between successive inspections5.5Deformation models from point clouds5.6Integration into asset management systems5.7Automatic inspection reports5.8Algorithm reliability and human validation5.9Trends in artificial intelligence for inspection5.10Case study: analysis of a robotic campaign on a metro
6.1Definition of the tunnel and inspection objectives6.2Selection of platform and sensors6.3Navigation and localisation strategy6.4Campaign plan and working windows6.5Data processing workflow6.6Results delivery format6.7Cost and productivity analysis6.8Risks and safety measures6.9Report 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 ROS 2, CloudCompare, OpenCV, PyTorch and Leica Cyclone, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for automated inspection of metro linings, LiDAR surveys of railway tunnels and crack detection with computer vision. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: ISO 10218-1; Directive 2006/42/EC; Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947; ISO 13482; UNE-EN 13306; Royal Decree 635/2006; ISO 18436.
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 ROS 2, CloudCompare, OpenCV, PyTorch and Leica Cyclone, 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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