Tunnelling Technologies (Large and Small Profile)
Our areas of expertise are geotechnics, construction management, and mechanized tunneling in particular.
Our comprehensive consulting services focus on both the individual disciplines and the equally important interfaces between them.
For example, we advise you on the technical specifications of TBMs of all sizes and for all geological conditions; furthermore, we advise you on the Final Acceptance Test (FAT) of your TBM at the manufacturer or on any construction site (OFTA) worldwide – which we can also conduct on-site for you. For our consulting on tunneling performance, we utilize internationally recognized theoretical tunneling models as well as our valuable 30 years of practical experience. Statements regarding tunneling costs are a highly sensitive consulting topic that we are happy to share with you responsibly.
The goal of our consulting is always to optimally align theory and practice so that both sides benefit – you and us.
Dr. Ulrich Rehm
Tunnelling Technologies (Large and Small Profile)
TBM Penetration Rates
TBM Tunnelling Strategies
TBM Wear Assessments
Soil Conditioning Concepts
Separation Technology
Tunnel Lining Concepts
TBM Design and Technical Specifications
TBM Final Acceptance Testing
Muck Handling Concepts
Construction Interfaces, etc.
Geotechnical Evaluations and Interpretations
Further expertises see references
The success or failure of a project is largely determined during the planning phase. Therefore, a comprehensive feasibility study with detailed risk and interface analysis should form the foundation of any planning.
Our feasibility study will show you, among other things, the fundamental feasibility of your tunnel project and the advantages and disadvantages of different construction techniques.
Our parameter studies consider numerous data points and findings from comparable projects to ensure reliable forecasts for your project.
We also conduct practical investigations on the construction site, for example, regarding soil conditioning, bentonite technology, and to other important technologies.
We would be happy to show you whether your project is feasible and affordable.
Dr. Ulrich Rehm
Risks in tunnel construction are multifaceted – whether technical or administrative – and always impact project efficiency. In most cases, they endanger the staff life.
Based on our many years of experience with international projects, both in urban and remote areas of the world, we have a thorough understanding of the diverse technical and administrative project risks.
We prepare analyses for you covering geology, mechanical and process engineering, construction operations, management, and administrative factors.
We quantitatively assess the resulting project risks according to international standards, considering their probability of occurrence and monetary impact.
Analyzing projects and identifying and assessing risks are the crucial first steps – reducing, overcoming, and managing project risks are the decisive steps that follow.
Risk analyses are the essential foundation for the success of your project – we consult you at every stage.
Dr. Ulrich Rehm
Facts are not a matter of opinion – their interpretation, however, is.
This requires expert opinions, which we can provide for you based on our extensive, worldwide practical experience in construction.
Our expert work includes a comprehensive assessment of the current project status, taking into account all technical and administrative facts, i.e., national and international guidelines, recommendations, and standards.
Whether it's a damage assessment or an expertise on technical or administrative matters – as experts in geotechnics, construction management, and mechanized tunneling, we analyze the current project situation for you and bring clarity to complex issues through our expert reports.
We have already worked as independent experts in worldwide disputes (Germany, USA, Canada, Chile, Austria, Australia, India), always representing the facts.
We would be pleased to prepare expertise for your tunneling-related technical needs.
Dr. Ulrich Rehm
Unforeseen additional expenses, often stemming from incomplete tender documents, must be compensated through change orders.
In most cases, the reasons for change orders lie in differing geotechnical ground conditions or their underestimated effects during the dynamic excavation process: excessive tool wear, severe clogging during tunneling, soil liquefaction, significant swelling or squeezing of the rock mass, gas release, or excessive groundwater inflow often lead to substantial additional costs and construction delays—in some cases, they even jeopardize the project's feasibility.
As globally experienced geotechnical, process, and mechanical engineers, assessing the ground conditions and their dynamic effects on the tunneling system during its operation is part of our expertise.
Together with a detailed analysis of the tender and contract documents as well the TBM data we support you either in submitting or defending against change orders, depending on your position.
We are also happy to personally assist you during appearances before legal authorities.
Dr. Ulrich Rehm
Tunnel construction is a fascinating and complex field encompassing many individual disciplines.
Throughout our many years of professional experience working with design offices, on tunnel job-sites, with TBM manufacturers, in courts, with clients, and with contractors, we have gained expertise that we can tailor to specific topics and present to select professional audiences.
Dr. Rehm initially spent five years as a lecturer in mechanized tunneling and shotcrete construction at the Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences (HfT), teaching master's students. Since January 2026, he has been a lecturer in tunnel construction at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).
He also regularly speaks at international workshops worldwide, sharing his practical professional experience in an engaging and accessible way with a broad professional audience.
Dr. Rehm is happy to visit you and illustrate highly practical tunnel construction topics, either at your office, via video sessions, or directly on the construction site.
Dr. Ulrich Rehm
Consulting made in Germany
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