Frequently Asked Questions
About Amberg Engineering
Company & positioning
Amberg Engineering is a boutique engineering office for complex underground and civil infrastructure. We plan, design, manage, and transform tunnels, shafts, caverns, and adjacent structures — and we increasingly go beyond tunnelling into adjacent fields such as civil structures, underground energy systems, infrastructure (asset) management, and mining support.
We are both specialists and orchestrators: we lead in underground engineering, but we deliberately push beyond tunnel-centric thinking to address adjacent and converging infrastructure challenges throughout an asset's full project lifecycle.
We don't compete on volume — we compete on clarity of thought, quality of execution and relevance of outcome. We are highly specialised, intentionally selective and focused on creating value where others overlook it.
Our difference lies in: a deep understanding of clients' pain points and tailored solutions; close collaboration with clients, suppliers and other Amberg Group companies; the early and pragmatic adoption of digital tools; and the ability to deliver value across the entire lifecycle of infrastructure assets.
Amberg Engineering is part of the family-owned Amberg Group, a leader in engineering and surveying services for around 60 years, today bringing together more than 600 employees across seven companies. Amberg Engineering itself draws on more than 50 years of tunnelling and underground infrastructure experience worldwide.
We are headquartered in Switzerland (Regensdorf-Watt) and maintain a flexible market presence that combines permanent branch offices with project-related temporary activities. Permanent offices are located in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany and Switzerland.
Yes. We offer integrated engineering services across the full project lifecycle of an infrastructure asset — from feasibility studies and design through construction support and site supervision to operation, maintenance, renewal, and refurbishment. We design projects as systems that perform over time and across disciplines.
Yes. Amberg Engineering is one of the companies within the family-owned Amberg Group. Within the Group, Amberg Engineering acts as an integrator: thanks to our presence across the full project lifecycle, we ensure that innovations are applied consistently from planning through operation, and we combine the complementary competences of Group companies in our projects.
- Amberg Technologies — surveying systems and tunnel guidance technology
- Amberg Infra 7D — digital services such as geo-monitoring and mobile mapping
- Amberg Loglay — construction logistics and smart-city solutions
- Amberg Infocon — design, BIM services and IT solutions
- VersuchsStollen Hagerbach — underground research and testing facility
- QAECY — AI-powered document analysis for construction
Services — how we work
Amberg Engineering structures its offering into six services that cover the full project lifecycle. They can be flexibly combined and delivered by our specialist disciplines across all sectors.
Engineering & Design
We provide integrated engineering and design services covering the full project lifecycle, from feasibility and planning through detailed design, construction support and site supervision. Our scope covers feasibility studies and concept design; preliminary and detailed engineering; execution and construction design; site supervision and technical support; coordination of multidisciplinary interfaces; and design optimisation and buildability reviews.
We design all types of underground structures — tunnels, shafts, galleries, caverns and underground space — for rail, road, metro, hydro and utilities, in ground ranging from soft soil to hard rock.
We are experienced in all major methods — conventional tunnelling (NATM), tunnel boring machines (TBM), drill & blast, and mechanically assisted excavation (road headers, excavators, rippers). We select and combine methods based on geology, project constraints, cost and risk.
Yes. Feasibility studies, variant studies, and concept design are core parts of our work. They help clients understand technical options, cost ranges, risks and programme before committing to a preferred solution.
Advisory & Expert Services
We provide independent technical advisory services to support clients, owners, and stakeholders in making robust, risk-informed, and value-driven decisions throughout the project lifecycle. This includes independent design reviews, technical due diligence, second opinions and peer reviews, value engineering and optimisation, expert assessments and reports, as well as claims support and dispute resolution.
These services draw on the same deep disciplines as our design work, so our advice is grounded in real engineering and construction experience.
Yes. We act as an independent design checker and provide independent design verification, design checks, and accredited checking — for owners, contractors, and regulatory authorities — for example, for shaft and tunnel designs.
Project Delivery Support
Yes. We offer overall project and programme management as well as individual services tailored to the client's needs. Our scope includes client representation, project support, BIM and GIS management, procurement (tendering and evaluation), cost, schedule and contract management, claim management, public relations, and the set-up and operation of project collaboration platforms.
The targeted use of digital tools improves the project overview as well as cost, schedule and risk management.
Our site supervision represents the owner in relation to the contractor and manages the construction site. It combines technical expertise with monitoring of time, cost and quality: we define and monitor construction methods, coordinate test and acceptance procedures, oversee construction logistics and safety, review construction invoicing, and support handover and commissioning.
Yes. For contractors, we are a partner across all project phases (prequalification, tender, construction). We provide value engineering to reduce costs and accelerate the programme; tender and gap analysis; identification and assessment of critical areas; review of alternative ideas from a designer's perspective; independent design verification; on-site troubleshooting; quality control; as-built documentation; and geological monitoring.
Ground & Construction Engineering
This service turns ground conditions into safe, efficient and buildable solutions. It covers ground characterisation and geotechnical interpretation; ground improvement and stabilisation concepts; excavation and support systems; temporary works and construction engineering; construction methods selection and optimisation; construction staging and sequencing; TBM, drill & blast, and mechanised tunnelling support; and shaft and cavern engineering.
Yes. Shafts are a particular specialism. We design shallow shafts for metro and urban projects (entrance and reception shafts for TBM drives, circular and rectangular shafts, diaphragm and pile walls in soft soil), deep shafts in rock and soft ground (vertical shafts of 400 m at up to 12 m diameter, shafts deeper than 1,000 m as intermediate access points), and raise-bored / reamed shafts up to 800 m deep.
Our scope includes geotechnical, structural, and waterproofing design; hoisting and logistics concepts; ventilation; risk and rescue concepts; and support during shaft sinking — from shallow metro shafts in soft soil to deep shafts in alpine crossing tunnels.
Risk & Safety Management
We provide comprehensive risk management and safety engineering services supporting the planning, design, construction and operation of complex underground and infrastructure projects. This includes tunnel and infrastructure safety concepts; risk and hazard identification; quantitative and qualitative risk assessments; fire and life safety engineering; emergency preparedness and evacuation planning; safety assessments; approvals and regulatory support; and operational safety and resilience strategies.
Services span hazard and risk assessment for construction and operation, incident and crisis management concepts, response planning, training and emergency exercises, and acting as safety officer.
Yes. We provide fire and life safety design, fire and smoke simulation, thermo- and aerodynamic modelling of fire incidents, fire and life safety design calculations of structures and components, and the simulation, analysis and evaluation of evacuation processes.
Quantitative risk assessment (QRA) assesses the likelihood and consequences of hazardous events in a structured, numerical way. We provide scenario-based and quantitative risk assessments to support safety cases, design decisions, and approvals for tunnels, shafts, and underground facilities in both the construction and operational phases.
Infrastructure Management & Digital Solutions
We deliver integrated asset management and digital solutions that transform infrastructure data into actionable insights. This includes asset management strategies and systems; infrastructure condition assessment and monitoring; lifecycle performance and deterioration modelling; digital twins and asset information models; BIM, GIS, and enterprise system integration; data platforms; analytics and visualisation; and decision-support tools, automation, and AI-enabled workflows.
This service turns data generated across design, construction, and operations into actionable insights for infrastructure owners throughout the whole life of an asset.
Yes. Much of the world's tunnel and infrastructure stock is ageing, and renewal is a major focus. We assess the condition of existing structures (laser scanning, high-resolution visual inspection, material testing, TunnelMap recording), analyse the data, classify the condition, and recommend remedial measures — with realistic, transparent cost estimates to support reliable budget planning.
Based on the assessment, we develop maintenance plans and refurbishment concepts and recommend future-proofing strategies that balance cost, availability and long-term performance — minimising shutdown times.
Disciplines — our technical expertise
Our services are delivered by six core disciplines. Knowledge is shared across disciplines and sectors, which is one of the key advantages of our breadth of experience.
Geotechnics & Engineering Geology
Our geotechnical services include site investigations and ground characterisation; geological and geotechnical modelling; numerical analysis and simulations (continuous and discontinuous); groundwater and hydrogeological studies; geotechnical design and support systems (shotcrete, rock bolts); and construction support and performance evaluation. We translate ground behaviour into safe, economical design decisions.
We work in all challenging ground conditions — soft ground, squeezing and swelling ground, fault zones, and water- and gas-bearing ground. For large-span caverns, we develop geotechnically optimal configurations and support designs, backed by detailed ground characterisation, numerical modelling and monitoring.
We seamlessly transfer complex geometries from 3D BIM models into numerical modelling software, enabling efficient analysis with state-of-the-art constitutive laws (Mohr-Coulomb, Hoek-Brown, Hardening Soil, and custom empirical laws).
Structural & Civil Engineering
We deliver project-specific, customised structural design for underground and civil structures: 2D and 3D finite-element analysis of complex structures, tunnel linings and internal structures (reinforced, steel-fibre-reinforced and non-reinforced concrete), cross-passages and branch-offs, shafts, ventilation and utility buildings, integral watertight structures, intermediate slabs, and the refurbishment of concrete structures.
Yes. Our services include fire design and thermal analysis — evaluating temperature distribution and temperature-dependent material behaviour with non-linear, time-stepped analysis. We work to a wide range of national and international codes, including Eurocodes (EN 1990–EN 1998) and their national annexes (Switzerland, Germany, Austria, the UK, Sweden and others).
Construction Methods & Temporary Works
We develop specialised expertise in construction methods, temporary works and underground construction engineering, ensuring safe, efficient and practical project delivery. This includes construction methodology development and optimisation, method selection and buildability assessments, TBM and drill & blast support, shaft and cavern engineering, temporary works design and buildability reviews.
Monitoring, Instrumentation & Data Analytics
Yes. We provide integrated instrumentation & monitoring (I&M) solutions: monitoring scheme design, data acquisition and management, real-time monitoring platforms, predictive analytics and reporting and interpretation. We design monitoring schemes for tunnels, shafts, and surrounding structures and interpret the data to confirm that the ground and structures behave as predicted — and to trigger corrective action where needed.
Safety, Risk, Ventilation & Tunnel Systems
We design ventilation systems for tunnels in both the operational and construction phases, optimise ventilation control to reduce energy consumption, and carry out comprehensive aerodynamic, climate, fire and smoke simulation. We also support tendering, realisation, commissioning and the training of operational and safety staff.
For high-speed rail, we carry out compressible tunnel aerodynamics — evaluating train-induced pressure and wind loads, minimising aerodynamic loads and micro-pressure waves, optimising cross-sections, and ensuring compliance with health and passenger-comfort criteria.
Yes. We analyse the dispersion of emissions and pollutants (for example, NO2 concentration at tunnel portals) and plan corrective actions, alongside cost-benefit assessments, second opinions and scenario-based risk assessments.
Digital Engineering (BIM, GIS & Data)
We provide digital engineering solutions that connect data, people and infrastructure across the lifecycle. Our offering includes BIM strategy, implementation, and coordination; digital twin development and integration; GIS and spatial data management; Common Data Environments (CDE) and data platforms; information management and governance; workflow automation and digital processes; data analytics and decision-support solutions; and AI-enabled engineering and asset management applications.
We increase value creation across the entire project lifecycle through the targeted use of digital technologies — applying digitalisation exactly where it enables better ways of working for our customers.
No. We integrate BIM standards even into otherwise traditional projects and remain fully compatible with conventional planning. We advise each client on the right level of BIM for their project, requirements, and budget, and we can use BIM throughout operations and asset management, not just for design.
Sectors — where we deliver
We organise our market presence into broad infrastructure sectors. This replaces the former segment view (Rail / Road / Metro / Utility / Underground Space) and reflects our expansion beyond tunnelling into adjacent and converging infrastructure.
Transport Infrastructure
We support rail, metro and road projects across their entire lifecycle — planning, construction and operation — covering new lines as well as the upgrade and renewal of existing tunnels, in both mountain and urban settings. This includes high-speed rail (with the associated aerodynamic, comfort and ventilation aspects), long base tunnels, conventional railway tunnels, urban metro lines and stations, and road tunnels.
Our references include landmark schemes such as the Gotthard Base Tunnel, Brenner Base Tunnel, Semmering Base Tunnel, Follo Line (Norway), Stuttgart 21, the Gubrist Tunnel and the Stockholm Bypass, alongside metro projects in Delhi, Mumbai, Singapore, Grand Paris Express, Stockholm, Munich, São Paulo and more.
Metro construction takes place beneath dense, living cities, with shallow overburden, difficult water-bearing ground, proximity to sensitive buildings and the risk of settlement. We combine robust design, modern tunnelling technologies, ground-improvement measures and comprehensive instrumentation & monitoring to predict, observe and control ground movement so that nearby structures remain safe.
We select the most suitable station construction method (top-down, bottom-up, or mixed) and tunnel geometry for each site, and design the associated safety, fire, ventilation, and SCADA systems to meet international standards.
Modern road tunnels rely on escape galleries and cross-passages, smoke-extraction ventilation with detection systems, clearly defined escape routes, and utility ducts, ventilation shafts and technical plant rooms. These safety features increase the space required, often leading to large, asymmetric cross-sections that are particularly demanding in soft ground.
Urban & Civil Structures
This sector covers sophisticated urban infrastructure projects in complex environments - underground spaces, complex civil structures and hybrid infrastructure. Utility tunnels protect, consolidate and future-proof critical networks with minimal surface disruption, including water, wastewater, energy and telecommunications infrastructure.
Utility tunnels protect, consolidate and future-proof critical networks with minimal surface disruption. Our experience spans water-supply and water-diversion tunnels, wastewater and disposal tunnels, and baggage and transport tunnels (e.g. at Zurich Airport).
Energy & Subsurface Solutions
Energy & Subsurface Solutions cover engineering services for underground energy infrastructure and subsurface applications, including underground energy systems, storage and geothermal solutions. We bring geotechnics, cavern design, construction methods, digital engineering, and safety expertise to energy infrastructure that is increasingly built underground.
We bring our underground DNA — geotechnics, cavern design, construction methods, and safety — to energy infrastructure that is increasingly built underground.
Mining & Resources
Mining & Resources covers specialised underground engineering services focused on safety and operational efficiency. We apply our ground and construction engineering, risk and safety management, project delivery support, construction methods, ventilation and geotechnical expertise to underground mining infrastructure, shafts and access, and operational optimisation.
Our deep- and inclined-shaft expertise (for example, raise-bored shafts and deep hoisting concepts) is directly relevant to mining access and logistics.
Infrastructure Management (Asset Owners)
We provide lifecycle-oriented solutions for long-term operational performance: condition assessment, maintenance strategies, digital inventories and digital twins, asset management systems and decision-support tools. We help owners manage their infrastructure strategically throughout its entire lifecycle, supported by monitoring, data, and analytics.
Research & Special Projects
Research & Special Projects bring multidisciplinary engineering expertise to technically demanding and unique infrastructure projects, including large-scale scientific infrastructure such as the Einstein Telescope, research test galleries and other complex one-offs.
These projects combine our underground, structural, geotechnical and digital expertise to solve problems that have no standard solution.
Yes. Nuclear waste management is a complementary innovation area we have developed over more than 25 years. A deep geological repository stores intermediate- and high-level waste in a stable geological formation, typically more than 500 m deep, based on the multi-barrier principle.
We support research activities and in situ experiments in underground research laboratories; repository pre-design and design (underground structures, plugs, civil works, BIM, and ventilation); implementation (planning, tendering, site supervision); and operation (monitoring of engineered barrier systems, ventilation, and logistics). References include HotBENT, the Prototype Repository, SANDWICH, MoDeRn and projects for Nagra, ANDRA, ENRESA, SKB and others.
Flagship offerings
From our broader portfolio, three flagship offerings are actively developed, marketed and scaled, giving Amberg Engineering clear market visibility. Complementary innovation areas — nuclear waste repositories, safety & ventilation, and facility management — continue to grow in response to client demand.
Infrastructure Management & Digital Solutions
Integrated solutions for the design, construction, operations and asset management of underground and civil infrastructure. We combine BIM, digital twins, GIS, monitoring data, and analytics into a continuous digital thread that supports decision-making throughout the whole life of an asset — turning data into measurable value for owners and operators.
Underground Energy Systems
Engineering and consulting for geothermal systems, energy storage and other subsurface energy solutions, together with the underground structures that house them. It applies our underground engineering expertise to the growing need for energy infrastructure built underground.
Mining Support & Transformation
Applying Amberg Engineering's underground expertise and digital tools to support safe, efficient and sustainable mining operations — from shafts and access to ventilation, safety, ground engineering and digital optimisation.
Sustainability, quality & certifications
Sustainability & circular economy
Sustainability is embedded in how we think and design, not treated as a passing trend. We aim to reduce material use through optimisation and innovation; support clients in reducing the carbon footprint of their infrastructure; foster circular design practices (adaptive reuse, modularity); promote sustainable construction with partners; and embed climate resilience and lifecycle performance in all new projects.
Every project is evaluated for quality, environmental, and sustainability considerations across the full infrastructure lifecycle.
We orient our developments, innovations and business processes around six key SDGs, so that we think in cycles both internally and externally:
- SDG 4 — Quality Education
- SDG 9 — Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- SDG 11 — Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 12 — Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 15 — Life on Land
- SDG 17 — Partnerships for the Goals
Quality & certifications
Our commitment is externally validated through:
- EcoVadis Silver Medal (since 2021) — among the top 25% of assessed companies
- ISO 9001:2015 — Quality Management
- ISO 14001:2015 — Environmental Management
- ISO 45001:2018 — Occupational Health & Safety
- IQNet certification
A central part of our strategy is the modernisation of our Quality Management System — moving from a paper-heavy approach to a fully digital, agile framework that ensures quality, efficiency and traceability across all projects. By embedding quality processes into digital workflows, compliance, innovation and performance go hand in hand. We also support sustainability assessment tools such as ESG2GO.
Innovation, the Amberg Group & working with us
Innovation & synergies
We use the right tools — digital or not — to solve the right problems. Within Amberg Engineering, coherent innovation processes with clear responsibilities turn practical challenges into applicable solutions. We intensify collaboration with universities, strategic partners, and third parties, and prefer to develop new products and services together with launch or prototyping partners (for example, via the Hagerbach Test Gallery), ensuring market-driven outcomes.
Amberg Engineering acts as an integrator. Thanks to our presence across the full project lifecycle, we ensure innovations are applied consistently from planning to operation, and we combine the complementary competences of Amberg Group companies within our projects — giving clients access to surveying technology, geo-monitoring, construction logistics, BIM/IT services, underground research facilities and AI-powered information management beyond our own specific scope.
Working with Amberg Engineering
We work with public and private owners, operators, contractors and project promoters across all our sectors — supporting them from the earliest feasibility studies through to long-term operation. We aim to be a trusted partner, not just a service provider.
You can reach us through the contact page on our website, where you will find our locations and contact details. We are happy to discuss your project and the best way we can support it. Website: ambergengineering.com
