Course on Pathology and Repair in Existing Tunnels
Online course of 300 hours in pathology and repair of existing tunnels. 6 modules covering lining degradation, inspection and diagnosis, structural assessment, repair and strengthening techniques and works under operation, with an assigned technical tutor.
Course on Pathology and Repair in Existing 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: 830 US$ (US Dollars), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United States
Typical roles
Questions from the United States
Are SEIUM qualifications accredited in the United States?
SEIUM qualifications are private qualifications and are not official state degrees or accredited higher education awards. Please check with the relevant employer or licensing board about how any credential will be viewed for your purposes.
Will this help me become a licensed Professional Engineer?
SEIUM programmes do not replace the education, examination and experience requirements set by state licensing boards. They can support your professional development, but licensure requirements must be confirmed directly with your state board.
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 most common deterioration mechanisms in tunnel linings.
Plan inspection campaigns using non-destructive techniques.
Diagnose the origin of defects from testing and observation.
Assess the residual structural capacity of a degraded tunnel.
Select repair and strengthening techniques suited to each pathology.
Organise rehabilitation works compatible with ongoing operation.
Draft a rehabilitation project for an existing tunnel.
Who it's for
- Tunnel maintenance engineers
- Infrastructure inspectors
- Structural pathology technicians
- Rehabilitation site managers
- Infrastructure conservation consultants
- Railway asset managers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into road conservation
What you'll work with
- UNE-EN 1504 (products and systems for the protection and repair of concrete structures)
- 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)
- Structural Code (Royal Decree 470/2021) (Spanish code for concrete and steel structures)
- UNE-EN 12504-1 (testing concrete in structures: cored specimens)
- UNE 112011 (determination of carbonation depth in hardened concrete)
- AFTES tunnel inspection guide (French tunnelling association guidance on tunnel inspection)
- Leica Cyclone
- CloudCompare
- GSSI RADAN
- Autodesk Civil 3D
- PLAXIS 2D
6 modules
1.1Lining types and how they age1.2Concrete deterioration mechanisms in underground environments1.3Carbonation and reinforcement corrosion1.4Sulphate attack and alkali-aggregate reaction1.5Seepage, leaching and efflorescence1.6Deterioration of brick and masonry linings1.7Freeze-thaw damage at portals1.8Effect of fire on concrete: spalling1.9Structural versus non-structural cracking1.10Case study: reading a defect catalogue
2.1Planning inspection campaigns2.2Visual inspection and defect record sheets2.3Laser scanning and photogrammetry of the intrados2.4Infrared thermography to detect damp2.5Ground-penetrating radar for thicknesses and voids behind the lining2.6Core extraction and laboratory testing2.7Carbonation depth and chloride tests2.8Condition indices and prioritisation of interventions2.9Data management in tunnel inventories2.10Practical exercise: diagnosis of a section with seepage
3.1Reconstructing the original design3.2Characterisation of the ground and current loads3.3Calculation models for degraded linings3.4Loss of section and residual capacity3.5Interaction with new nearby works3.6Stability assessment of masonry vaults3.7Verification against new clearance gauges and electrification3.8Safety criteria for keeping the tunnel in operation3.9Risk analysis of detachments3.10Case study: assessment of a 19th-century railway tunnel
4.1Scabbling and hydrodemolition of damaged concrete4.2Repair mortars and sprayed concrete4.3Crack injection with epoxy and polyurethane resins4.4Waterproofing and drainage of seepage4.5Rock bolting and strengthening anchors4.6Internal steel ribs and rings4.7Strengthening with carbon-fibre laminates and fabrics4.8Invert arches and underpinning of sidewalls4.9Passive fire protection in repairs4.10Workshop: selecting the technique according to defect type
5.1Possession windows and traffic closures5.2Site organisation in railway tunnels in service5.3Site organisation in road tunnels5.4Personnel safety in confined spaces5.5Quality control of repairs5.6Monitoring during strengthening works5.7Maintenance plan after rehabilitation5.8Costs and service life of the solutions5.9Lessons from major rehabilitations5.10Case study: planning a night-time renewal
6.1Selection of the tunnel and background6.2Proposed inspection campaign6.3Diagnosis and defect map6.4Structural assessment of the current condition6.5Definition of repair solutions6.6Works planning and phasing6.7Budget and analysis of alternatives6.8Subsequent monitoring plan6.9Report 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 Leica Cyclone, CloudCompare, GSSI RADAN, Autodesk Civil 3D and PLAXIS 2D, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for inspecting railway tunnels in service, diagnosing seepage and concrete degradation, and structurally strengthening old linings. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: UNE-EN 1504; Royal Decree 635/2006; Directive 2004/54/EC; Structural Code (Royal Decree 470/2021); UNE-EN 12504-1; UNE 112011; AFTES tunnel inspection guide.
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 Leica Cyclone, CloudCompare, GSSI RADAN, Autodesk Civil 3D and PLAXIS 2D, 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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