ABOUT CIVIL (TUNNEL ENGINEERING)

Tunnel engineers are primarily involved in underground passage construction, otherwise known as tunnels. Tunnels, by definition, is an underground passage system that permits the transportation of passengers, goods, water, gases, and some are sewers. Tunnels are also used for ventilation purposes. The development of tunnels has made transportation purposes a lot easier.

WHAT IS CIVIL (TUNNEL ENGINEERING)?

Tunnel engineering is an exciting branch of civil engineering which have led to an advancement in the underground building of transportation channels for both animate and inanimate things. Tunnel engineers are highly specialised civil engineers who are expected to involve in every bit of the construction process, beginning from the initial planning stage to the final day; the first transport happens. They finalise the tunnel/project design.

Tunnel Engineer Requirements:

A Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, geotechnical engineering or any related field is compulsory to pursue a career as a tunnel engineer from an accredited university. This is a Four-year long course that can be taken both online and offline depending on one's preference. This field of civil engineering is the most challenging and demanding.

They should master the skills like NATM and TBM excavation techniques, excellent project management skills, and detailed knowledge of geology and structural engineering.

NATM:

The new Austrian tunnelling method, otherwise known as the sequential excavation method [SM] compared to other methods, is a cost-effective and flexible process suited for a short range of less than 2km in a variable soil condition. This method involves ultra-modern monitoring, which boosts wall reinforcement based on different types of rocks dwelled/encountered.

TBM:

Tunnel boring machines are the ones that enable drilling in a circular cross-section irrespective of the hardness of the rock. These are used to construct a variety of tunnels [water supply, drainages, conveyance of ore and water diversions. 

People with proven previous work experience in hard and soft rock conditions and problem-solving solid skills make excellent tunnel engineers.

Advantages of Tunneling Include:

➜ Avoids traffic congestion
➜ Provides short routes
➜ Carry railway lines, roads etc. across streams and mountains
➜ Protection against weathering agency
➜ Easy transportation in crowded areas
➜ Avoid acquisition of costly land property
➜ Carry water for generating power etc.

Disadvantages of Tunneling:

➜ Initial construction cost higher than open cut
➜ Longer construction time
➜ Require specialised and sophisticated equipment
➜ Skilled labour
➜ Strict supervision required etc.

Open cut or open pit is generally dug downwards for the search for minerals. Open cut trench method is done when the depth is beyond a limit. Tunnelling is more economical as the surface activities like transportation etc., are not much disturbed when tunnelling is undergone. So, when compared to open-cut, regular tunnelling finishes at a faster rate.

ELIGIBILITY AND CAREER IN CIVIL (TUNNEL ENGINEERING)

Currently, there are 842 tunnel engineering jobs available in India. A tunnel engineer with good experience and posting salary ranges from 8 lakhs [ highest] to approximately five lakhs (lowest) per year. The improvement in this expected is a 2% increase in 2019-2029.