Course on Anchors and Screens in Urban Tunnels
Online course of 300 hours in ground anchors and diaphragm walls in urban tunnels, structured in 6 modules covering urban tunnels and their support, walls in tunnels and shafts, ground anchors, design and modelling and execution, control and durability, with an assigned technical tutor.
Course on Anchors and Screens in Urban Tunnels — studying from the United States
Civil and transportation engineering is a large and visible sector in the United States, supported by federal infrastructure investment and active state and municipal programs. Major firms such as AECOM, Jacobs and Kiewit work on highways, bridges, rail and water systems nationwide. Rail engineering, centered on corridors in the Northeast, Midwest and California, is expanding with passenger and freight modernization. Smart city initiatives in cities like Pittsburgh, Boston and Austin integrate sensors, data platforms and digital twins into infrastructure planning and operations.
Fees for the United States: US$890 (US Dollars), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United States
Typical roles
Questions from the United States
What US professional bodies and licences apply to civil and rail engineering?
In the US, civil engineers can obtain the Professional Engineer (PE) licence from state boards, which is often required for public infrastructure sign-off. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is the main professional body. Rail is overseen federally by the Federal Railroad Administration. SEIUM's private qualifications are not official degrees or PE-equivalent credentials, so employers and licensing boards decide any recognition.
Do US civil, rail and smart-city employers value private online engineering qualifications?
US public agencies and engineering firms typically require ABET-accredited degrees, PE licensure for certain roles, and relevant project experience. A private online qualification can support specialist knowledge in areas such as smart infrastructure, but it is not a standard requirement for licensed roles. Its usefulness depends on the employer's policies and on your practical background.
Can a US professional study this part-time while working, and what does the commitment look like?
Yes, the programmes are online, taught in English, and do not require a student visa. The time commitment is about 1,900 hours for a master's, 800 hours for a postgraduate diploma, or 300 hours for a specialist course, so planning is important. Each student has an assigned technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments, and some employers sponsor training, so check with yours.
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
Understand the construction methods for urban tunnels.
Design walls for cut-and-cover tunnels and launch shafts.
Size ground anchors and plan their testing.
Model the interaction between tunnel, wall and ground.
Control the execution of walls and anchors on site.
Assess durability and long-term behaviour.
Develop the design of an urban tunnel with diaphragm walls and anchors.
Who it's for
- Tunnel engineers.
- Geotechnical engineers.
- Retaining structure designers.
- Specialist foundation site managers.
- Anchor control technicians.
- Monitoring managers.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to work in tunnel construction.
What you'll work with
- UNE-EN 1537:2015 (execution of ground anchors)
- UNE-EN 1538:2011 (execution of diaphragm walls)
- UNE-EN 1997-1 Eurocode 7 (geotechnical design)
- UNE-EN ISO 22477-5 (testing of grouted anchors)
- Structural Code Royal Decree 470/2021 (Spanish structural code)
- UNE-EN 1536 (execution of bored piles)
- Spanish Ministry of Public Works guide for the design and execution of ground anchors in road works (national anchor design guidance)
- ITA WG 2 Guidelines for the design of tunnels (international tunnel design guidance)
- PLAXIS 3D
- GEO5
- Midas GTS NX
- AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Oasys FREW
6 modules
1.1Construction methods for urban tunnels1.2Tunnels between diaphragm walls and cut-and-cover tunnels1.3The Madrid and Belgian methods1.4The New Austrian Tunnelling Method in soils1.5EPB and slurry shield TBMs1.6Launch and retrieval shafts1.7Interaction with walls and anchors1.8Constraints imposed by the city1.9Experience from major urban projects1.10Case study: a tunnel between diaphragm walls in an urban area
2.1Continuous reinforced concrete diaphragm walls2.2Pile walls in cut-and-cover tunnels2.3Execution with grab and hydromill2.4Bentonite slurries and their control2.5Joints between panels2.6Circular TBM launch shafts2.7TBM break-out and break-in openings2.8Roof slabs and inverts2.9Tolerances and verticality2.10Workshop: design of a launch shaft
3.1Types: temporary and permanent3.2Fixed anchor length and free length3.3Ground-grout bond capacity3.4Corrosion protection3.5Investigation and acceptance tests3.6Suitability tests3.7Stressing and lock-off3.8Interferences with utilities and properties3.9De-stressing and removal3.10Practical exercise: sizing a temporary anchor
4.1Earth pressures on tunnel walls4.2Design of anchored walls4.3Tunnel-wall interaction4.4Design of circular shafts4.52D and 3D finite element models4.6Stressing and excavation stages4.7Face stability in TBMs4.8Structural verification of the wall4.9Effects on buildings4.10Lab: tunnel-wall interaction in PLAXIS
5.1Execution control plan5.2Slurry and concreting control5.3Integrity testing of walls5.4Anchor load measurement5.5Movement monitoring5.6Management of site incidents5.7Durability and watertightness of joints5.8Safety during execution5.9As-built documentation5.10Case study: load loss in anchors
6.1Description of the alignment and surroundings6.2Geotechnical model6.3Construction method6.4Diaphragm wall design6.5Anchor design6.6Numerical model6.7Control and monitoring plan6.8Construction programme6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
The programme is 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 you can combine it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is PLAXIS 3D, GEO5, Midas GTS NX, AutoCAD Civil 3D and Oasys FREW, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: design of a cut-and-cover tunnel between diaphragm walls, anchor sizing for a TBM shaft and tunnel-wall interaction analysis. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: UNE-EN 1537:2015, UNE-EN 1538:2011, UNE-EN 1997-1 Eurocode 7, UNE-EN ISO 22477-5, Structural Code Royal Decree 470/2021, UNE-EN 1536, Spanish Ministry of Public Works guide for the design and execution of ground anchors in road works, ITA WG 2 Guidelines for the design of tunnels.
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 PLAXIS 3D, GEO5, Midas GTS NX, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Oasys FREW, 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 capable of running 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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