Tunnels are an essential element in the development of major transportation routes between cities. Tunnels shorten distances and overcome natural boundaries; they connect countries and regions and improve the service, safety, and environmental integration of roads and railroads.

In the urban environment, tunnels contribute to the efficient and sustainable mobility of people through metro networks. The undergrounding of urban roads and streets and the development of new facilities and uses for underground spaces reduce traffic problems and free up the surface for pedestrians, the construction of urban parks and new public spaces.

They require strict and recurrent protection and maintenance adapted to their technical level. This maintenance is costly and requires competent human resources as well as constant and adapted financial resources throughout the life of the tunnel. Lack of (or insufficient) maintenance leads to major breakdowns and failures of the installations, jeopardizing the functioning of the company and the safety of the users. Maintenance of roadside facilities is sometimes difficult and very disruptive and must be considered at the design stage.

There are many types of tunnels and functions that can be developed, and there are also many conditions and disciplines that must be integrated into the design and construction of a tunnel: geological context and geotechnical conditions, geometric design and functionality of the tunnel, the interaction between soil and structure, installations and equipment, safety and risk analysis, urban integration, environmental impact assessment and design of mitigation measures, etc.

Comprehensive services for the entire life cycle

Alermak has an interdisciplinary team of professionals who bring a holistic view to the field of tunnel development, enabling us to offer our clients efficient and innovative solutions adapted to project conditions and client needs in all types of tunnels.

Alermak provides planning, design, supervision, and consulting services during the operation and rehabilitation phases of tunnels. We provide our knowledge, experience, and added value of a wide portfolio of national and international references in this field and throughout the tunnel life cycle.

In all projects, Alermak integrates interdisciplinary teams of experts who respond to the client’s needs, study the project context and develop solutions adapted to the constraints of the problem, optimizing investments through creativity and value engineering to reduce project risks in all projects.

Identification, assessment, and management of risks

Unpredictability in tunnels cannot be avoided, but by incorporating a systematic approach to risk identification, assessment, and planning into tunnel projects, the impact on performance, cost, and lead times can be reduced.

This monitoring should be maintained both during construction and commissioning. The active and essential monitoring of these systems during the operation of the works helps to optimize the operating costs of the tunnel.

Using this methodology as a dynamic and transparent process to monitor and control risks at all stages of a tunnel’s life cycle not only helps engineers make decisions but also gives managers more confidence in the work.

Incorporating new technologies

Our design teams strive to find innovative solutions and apply the latest technologies to improve our services:

The software used to analyze the interaction between the ground and the tunnel structure allows us to include sensitivity analyses in our designs that evaluate the impact of possible changes in the geotechnical parameters and conditions considered.

The application of new technologies allows us to identify and predict interference problems at the design stage, reducing the likelihood of their occurrence during construction.

• Planning,
• Cost management,
• Sustainability
• asset management that we conduct client-focused studies with our expert teams.

Alermak’s experience in infrastructure planning helps us to understand tunnels holistically, taking into account all aspects of the project and the tunnel’s life cycle.