This apprenticeship is in development and is subject to change
Why is this apprenticeship not ready for delivery?
An apprenticeship is only available for delivery when both the standard and assessment plan is approved and a funding band (core government contribution) has been assigned to the standard.
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If you'd like to get involved and contribute to the development of this apprenticeship, please read about developing standards and assessment plans. You can email the trailblazer contact using the details on this page.
Key information
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Status: Standard in development
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Proposal approved
Occupational standard approved
End-point assessment plan approved
Funding approved
- Reference: ST1344
- Level: 7
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Typical duration to gateway:
30 months - Typical EPA period: 9 months
- Route: Engineering and manufacturing
- Review: this apprenticeship will be reviewed in accordance with our change request policy.
Contents
Contents
Details of the occupational standard
Occupation summary
This occupation is found in the civil engineering sector and deals with the engineering of tunnels and associated underground space structures. Tunnel engineers may work for contractors including large international companies through to Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs), asset owners and operators, consultants, developers and regulatory bodies.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to plan, construct and maintain or repair tunnels and associated underground space structures in line with regulations and health and safety and environmental requirements, and to manage these processes. They may work in part or throughout the project lifecycle, namely concept, feasibility, project selection, design, contracts, construction, testing, commissioning and handover, maintenance or repair and assets-in-service. At the planning stage of tunnels and associated underground space structure projects, tunnel engineers specify ground investigations, determine tunnel alignments through optioneering and identify the potential impacts of tunnelling or underground space works on the environment (urban, rural and natural). During the design phase, they model and analyse tunnels and associated underground space structures, considering face stability, soil-structure interaction and geotechnical and structural performance, impact on adjacent structures (surface and sub-surface) as well as serviceability and functional requirements. They manage construction activities during the undertaking of tunnel and ancillary underground space projects onsite with responsibilities including, but not limited to health and safety, quality control, temporary works, logistics, scheduling and risk management including ‘live’ monitoring. They also undertake operational and maintenance tasks associated with tunnels and associated underground space structures, during service, covering inspections, monitoring, as well as overseeing design and management of repair works. They are also responsible for producing technical reports across all stages of the project lifecycle and devising future maintenance strategies.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with their direct team within the organisation in which they work, as well as other internal teams, managers, and senior employees. External to the organisation in which they work, they will interact with representatives from suppliers such as material and services, contractors, engineers, asset owners and operators, regulatory bodies, developers, and clients. They will typically report to team leaders and directors within the organisation in which they work. Additionally, they will usually have technicians and junior engineers who report to them. Some interaction with members of the public may also be necessary. They may work within a permanent employer’s office or on site or a combination of both.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for managing tunnel and associated underground space structure projects in relation to sustainability, risk, cost, programme, resource, health and safety, and the environment. Tunnel engineers need to understand the standards, codes and regulations that they are required to comply with. Many design standards cannot be directly applied to tunnels and associated underground space structures, and a specialist knowledge base and specific experience within tunnelling projects is therefore required. The tunnel engineer understands and is able to evaluate the impact of commercial, contractual and legal requirements that are relevant to the projects they work on. They work within and adhere to their organisation’s processes and management systems. They undertake continued professional development, to keep abreast of recent tunnelling advances, regulations and processes in the field and support and actively encourage their teams to do the same. They must undertake all tunnelling duties professionally and ethically to represent their organisations appropriately in all aspects of their work, adhering to all relevant regulations and codes of practice.
Typical job titles include:
Entry requirements
Typically, an honours degree in a relevant subject, such as engineering, science, geoscience or mathematics. Entrants could also come from within the sector with existing practical experience.
Occupation duties
| Duty | KSBs |
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Duty 1 Develop alignment and construction options for tunnel and associated underground space structure projects by interpreting geological, stratigraphy or hydrogeological data and existing infrastructure such as tunnels and utilities data in order to better consider client and project requirements. |
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Duty 2 Analyse, interpret and critically evaluate the data from ground investigation via desk study research, using for example, historical maps and planning records to plan future tunnel and associated underground space structure engineering investigations and construction activities. |
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Duty 3 Analyse planned tunnel and associated underground space structure projects options for their impact on the environment using techniques and processes such as Building Damage Assessment; Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of construction; cost and benefit impact and societal impact on the local and wider community. |
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Duty 4 Identify, assess, mitigate and manage risks throughout the life of a tunnel and associated underground space structure project such as during planning, design, construction, operation and repair. These risks may include health and safety, technical, building damage or commercial. |
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Duty 5 Undertake constructability feasibility assessments to identify suitable methods of construction including material choices and lining methods for tunnels and associated underground space structures, and be able to critically assess the sustainability, risks and opportunities associated with these methods in relation to the project. This applies to the design and construction of new tunnels and associated underground space structures and to their repair. |
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Duty 6 Undertake detailed assessment and analysis using appropriate tunnelling specific methods and software, for example, empirical, analytical, numerical, critical analysis of the ground behaviour and tunnel (soil-structure) interaction, including properties of rocks and soils, and their response to natural or proposed engineering activities and proposed approaches. |
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Duty 7 Interpret monitoring data or existing tunnel and associated underground space structure projects in order to learn about the effect of tunnelling on the environment or assets and the tunnel, and how that compares to the design assumptions, and interpret ongoing results to assess day-to-day management of mitigation measures and required monitoring. |
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Duty 8 Design and oversee construction of tunnels and associated underground space structures for example, tunnels, shafts, cross passages, junctions and deep basements or station platforms including optioneering and detailed design, allowing for full consideration and integration of: health and safety such as ventilation, confined space working, fire risk, sustainability, constructability and ground conditions including temporary works. This applies to the design and construction of new tunnels and associated underground space structures and to their repair. |
K2 K3 K4 K5 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 |
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Duty 9 Review and assess pre-construction predictions of ground and structure movement, and monitoring data during construction to decide the mitigation measures to be adopted, and any subsequent change of frequency of monitoring or implementation of supplementary instruments. |
K1 K2 K4 K5 K9 K10 K11 K12 K14 K15 K19 K20 K21 K22 |
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Duty 10 Produce and oversee the production of technical reports throughout all tunnel and associated underground space structure project phases, from investigation to design and construction for stakeholders, engineers and clients. Provide tunnel engineering support to stakeholders for example, engineers and clients and guidance throughout the life-cycle of a project, including post-handover (such as for maintenance and repair purposes). |
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Duty 11 Manage tunnel and associated underground space structure projects including: planning, programming, design, risk, budgets, costs and resources. Manage, supervise and develop other engineers or professionals and stakeholders. Communicate and negotiate with other engineers, clients, sub-contractors and regulatory bodies. |
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Duty 12 Develop and oversee future tunnel and associated underground space structure maintenance strategies and their implementation including costing and input to budgets. Recommend practical interventions for tunnel and associated underground space structure asset management such as repair, rehabilitation and replacement. |
KSBs
Knowledge
K1: Ground investigation techniques and solutions to derive soil and rock parameters: geological, hydrogeological, stratigraphy, to inform tunnel and associated underground space engineering activities: intrusive and non-intrusive in situ techniques, laboratory tests, and instrumentation and monitoring techniques.
Back to Duty
K2: Tunnel and associated underground space structure construction methods, plant and equipment for temporary and permanent works, and for associated groundworks.
Back to Duty
K3: Types, designs, suitability and construction methods of tunnel lining and ground support systems.
Back to Duty
K4: Soil and rock behaviour and mechanics: impact of excavation, changes in load and environmental conditions, and impact on the performance of tunnel and associated underground space structures.
Back to Duty
K5: Analysis techniques for the design and assessment of tunnels and associated underground space structure engineering problems: tunnel face stability, lining analysis, ground settlement, building damage assessment and soil-structure interaction. Awareness of the limitations of these techniques.
Back to Duty
K6: Techniques and considerations for developing route alignment and feasibility plans for tunnels and associated underground space structure projects, including ground investigation data, existing built environmental constraints and project and stakeholder requirements.
Back to Duty
K7: Techniques for appraising options using project-specific criteria.
Back to Duty
K8: Properties and uses of construction materials under working conditions.
Back to Duty
K9: Construction logistics: on-site support for the construction process, site logistics, temporary works and resource management.
Back to Duty
K10: Design principles and methods for tunnels and associated underground space structures, design codes, standards and best practice and their limitations. Industry developments and research of case studies.
Back to Duty
K11: Design principles for buildability, safe by design and consideration of long-term asset performance during the design stage.
Back to Duty
K12: Construction methods and management approaches used post-construction for the repair, maintenance and operation of tunnels and associated underground space structures.
Back to Duty
K13: Project management, planning and commercial techniques for tunnel and associated underground space structure engineering activities: estimating, programming, cost and budget control and resource management.
Back to Duty
K14: Risks and risk management techniques: uncertainties inherent in tunnels and associated underground space structures engineering activities, controlling risks related to the environment, risks arising during construction including for emergency situations, risks on the tunnel and associated assets, worker wellbeing, programme and budget risks, commercial and financial risks.
Back to Duty
K15: Legal requirements relating to health and safety at work and the construction design management (CDM) regulations.
Back to Duty
K16: Ethical principles, social responsibilities, environmental protection and sustainability.
Back to Duty
K17: Commercial and contractual requirements: forms of contract, mechanisms of payment, specifications, and procurement, insurance, and third party undertakings.
Back to Duty
K18: Time management techniques.
Back to Duty
K19: Teamwork and leadership techniques: negotiation, conflict management and development techniques and, diversity, equity and inclusivity considerations.
Back to Duty
K20: Communication techniques: oral, written, drawings and presentations.
Back to Duty
K21: Information technology: digital tools for research, analysis, and presentation of data, building information modelling, digital communication and collaboration packages.
Back to Duty
K22: Daily review and assessment process during construction, and response to real-time information as excavation progresses to determine requirements on monitoring and construction activities going forward.
Back to Duty
K23: Research techniques: desk study, geotechnical data sources, access to standards, industry publications. Importance of critical review of published sources.
Back to Duty
Skills
S1: Specify ground investigations to obtain geotechnical data, including in situ techniques, laboratory tests and instrumentation and monitoring techniques.
Back to Duty
S2: Interpret, analyse and critically evaluate ground investigation, geological, hydrogeological, stratigraphy and existing built environment data.
Back to Duty
S3: Develop feasibility plans and route alignments for tunnel and underground space structure projects.
Back to Duty
S4: Analyse and interpret project, desk study and monitoring data to develop an engineering understanding of tunnel and associated underground space structures and ground behaviour, and how these impact design solutions in the short and long-term.
Back to Duty
S5: Interpret client requirements and translate into actions for the design, construction, use, maintenance, repair and decommissioning of tunnel or underground space structures.
Back to Duty
S6: Evaluate design options for tunnels and associated underground space structures and make recommendations.
Back to Duty
S7: Apply research techniques.
Back to Duty
S8: Deliver tunnel and associated underground space structure engineering solutions, and evaluate their potential impact on economic sustainability, ethical, societal and environmental and sustainability perspectives, and practical considerations such as buildability and long-term asset management.
Back to Duty
S9: Produce designs for tunnel linings and other associated underground space structures.
Back to Duty
S10: Interpret engineering drawings.
Back to Duty
S11: Interpret materials specifications for the construction, repair and maintenance of tunnels and associated underground space structures.
Back to Duty
S12: Interpret work method statements for the construction, repair and maintenance of tunnels and associated underground space structures.
Back to Duty
S13: Communicate with colleagues and stakeholders, both verbally and written, including the production of technical reports.
Back to Duty
S14: Assess onsite logistics to support proposed construction methodology, for example site layouts, spoil management, impacts on the local population and local area as part of an environmental impact assessment, reduction of noise or vibration.
Back to Duty
S15: Apply project management, planning and handover techniques.
Back to Duty
S16: Identify and comply with legal and statutory requirements, including those related to health and safety, environmental protection and sustainability.
Back to Duty
S17: Apply risk management techniques to identify, quantify, assess, mitigate and manage risks associated with tunnel and associated underground space structure engineering activities, including emergency situations.
Back to Duty
S18: Plan and manage own time.
Back to Duty
S19: Apply teamwork and leadership techniques.
Back to Duty
S20: Use information technology: for example digital tools for research, analysis, and presentation of data, building information modelling, digital communication and collaboration packages.
Back to Duty
S21: Produce as-built records to facilitate handover of assets using digital tools.
Back to Duty
Behaviours
B1: Prioritise and promote ethical, sustainable and socially responsible practices.
Back to Duty
B2: Be adaptable, flexible and resilient in challenging and changing environments.
Back to Duty
B3: Work with autonomy. Take responsibility for own work whilst recognising the limits of own capabilities.
Back to Duty
B4: Promote and support a risk-aware culture.
Back to Duty
B5: Advocate a whole-lifecycle view of tunnels and associated underground space structures in their tunnel engineering activities.
Back to Duty
B6: Committed to continued professional development of self and others, and be open to innovation.
Back to Duty
B7: Collaborate and promote teamwork across internal and external teams.
Back to Duty
Qualifications
English and Maths
English and maths qualifications must be completed in line with the apprenticeship funding rules.
Other mandatory qualifications
Professional recognition
This standard partially aligns with the following professional recognition:
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The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) for Chartered Engineer
This programme has been designed to align with the requirements of the engineering profession. This does not guarantee recognition by either the Engineering Council or the professional engineering institutions (PEIs) it licenses, unless the programme has been formally recognised (approved or accredited) by one or more PEIs and listed on the Engineering Council’s recognised course search database which can be found on their website. Anyone seeking professional registration or further advice is advised to contact the appropriate PEI to discuss their application.
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The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) for Chartered Engineer
This programme has been designed to align with the requirements of the engineering profession. This does not guarantee recognition by either the Engineering Council or the professional engineering institutions (PEIs) it licenses, unless the programme has been formally recognised (approved or accredited) by one or more PEIs and listed on the Engineering Council’s recognised course search database which can be found on their website. Anyone seeking professional registration or further advice is advised to contact the appropriate PEI to discuss their application.
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