Description

New roads are being planned every day. That's why companies and public administrations need engineers like you to build them" 

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Every day, millions of people around the world use different types of roads to get around. They do so with their own vehicles or by public transportation. And each of these people has a different reason: some go to pick up their children from school, others want to go shopping. There are also those who go to a leisure activity such as the cinema or theater, or go to work. All these people depend on perfectly constructed roads to be safe and durable. 

However, there are also other cases: an ambulance takes a patient to the hospital, a police car drives to a place where its presence is required, or a transport vehicle is on its route to drop off various errands, parcels and letters. Thus, roads are not just a way to get from one place to another: they are a public service on which the health and safety of the population depends. 

For this reason, there is a need for highly specialized professionals who can respond to the demand of companies and public institutions that require competent personnel. Without such personnel, the roads on which most people travel would be defective and unsafe, and societies and countries would function with difficulty. 

This advanced master’s degree in Geotechnics and Road Construction responds to this demand, offering the best knowledge for engineers and professionals to become true experts in the construction of this type of roads. To this end, it combines specific knowledge in road construction and geotechnics, so that graduates have the most complete education, integrating both branches to obtain the best possible results. 

Think of all the people who travel by road every day. You could help make their commute fast, safe and enjoyable" 

This advanced master’s degree in Geotechnics and Road Construction contains the most complete and up-to-date educational program on the market. The most important features include:   

  • The development of case studies presented by experts in civil, building and geotechnical engineering 
  • The graphic, schematic, and eminently practical contents with which they are created, provide scientific and practical information on the disciplines that are essential for professional practice 
  • Practical exercises where the self-assessment process can be carried out to improve learning 
  • Its special emphasis on innovative methodologies in geotechnical and road construction 
  • Theoretical lessons, questions to the expert, debate forums on controversial topics, and individual reflection work 
  • Content that is accessible from any fixed or portable device with an Internet connection 

This knowledge will make you the greatest road construction expert around" 

Its teaching staff includes professionals belonging to the civil engineering field, who contribute their work experience to this program, as well as renowned specialists from reference societies and prestigious universities. 

The multimedia content, developed with the latest educational technology, will provide the professional with situated and contextual learning, i.e., a simulated environment that will provide an immersive training experience designed to train for real-life situations. 

This program is designed around Problem-Based Learning, whereby the student must try to solve the different professional practice situations that arise during the academic program. For this purpose, the professional will be assisted by an innovative interactive video system created by renowned and experienced experts.

If you want to give your career a boost, combine the specialties of geotechnics and road construction with this advanced master’s degree"

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Geotechnics applied to road construction will lead you to master all types of projects and make every company want to count on you"

Objectives

The main objective of this Advanced Master's Degree in Geotechnics and Road Construction is to offer its students the best contents in planning and construction of all types of road projects. Thanks to the integral nature of this degree, professionals who complete it will be able to cover several disciplines, thus being able to apply knowledge from all these fields to solve problems and bring planned projects to a successful conclusion. 

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You will get to build the great roads of your country"   

General objectives

  • Deepen in the soils both in their typology and in their behavior And, not only in the evident differentiation of stresses and deformations of soils and rocks, but also under particular but very common conditions, such as the presence of water or seismic disturbances 
  • Efficiently recognize the needs for soil characterization, being able to design campaigns with the optimal means for each type of structure, optimizing and giving added value to the study of materials 
  • Identify the behavior of slopes and semi-subterranean structures such as foundations or walls in their different typologies. This complete identification must be based on understanding and being able to anticipate the behavior of the terrain, the structure and its interface. Know in detail the possible faults that each set can produce and as a consequence have a deep understanding of the repair operations or improvement of materials to mitigate damage 
  • Receive a complete tour of tunnel and gallery excavation methodologies, analyzing all drilling procedures, design constraints, support and lining 
  • Master the different phases of the life of a road, and the associated contracts and administrative procedures, both nationally and internationally 
  • Achieve a detailed knowledge of how a company is managed and the most important management systems  
  • Analyze the different phases in the construction of a road and the different types of bituminous mixes  
  • Detailed knowledge of the factors that affect the safety and comfort of the road, the parameters that measure it and the possible actions for its correction 
  • Deepen in the different methods of tunnel construction, the most frequent pathologies, and how to establish a maintenance plan 
  • Analyze the singularities of each type of structure, and how to optimize its inspection and maintenance 
  • Learn about the different electromechanical and traffic installations in tunnels, their function and operation and the importance of preventive and corrective maintenance 
  • Analyze the assets that comprise a road, what factors should be taken into account in inspections, and what are the actions associated with each one of them 
  • Accurately understand the life cycle of the road and associated assets 
  • In-depth breakdown of factors affecting occupational risk prevention 
  • know in detail the fundamental aspects of the operation of a road: applicable regulations, processing of files or authorizations 
  • Understand how a predictive traffic model is performed and its applications 
  • Mastering the fundamental factors affecting road safety  
  • Understanding precisely how winter maintenance is organized and managed 
  • Analyze the operation of a tunnel control center and how different incidents are managed 
  • Know in detail the structure of the operation manual and the actors involved in tunnel operation 
  • Break down the conditions for defining the minimum conditions under which a tunnel can be operated, and how to establish the associated methodology for fault resolution 
  • In-depth understanding of BIM methodology and how to apply it to each phase: design, construction and maintenance and operation 
  • Make a comprehensive analysis of the most current trends in terms of society, environment and technology: connected vehicle, autonomous vehicle, Smart Roads 
  • Have a firm grasp on the possibilities that some technologies are offering In this way, combined with the student's experience, it can be the perfect alliance when designing the actual application or improving existing processes 

Specific objectives

  • Establish the main differences between dynamic and static characterization and behavior of soils and rocks 
  • Present the most important geotechnical parameters in both cases and their most commonly used constitutive relationships 
  • Detailed knowledge of the different behaviours of terrain and the most commonly used elastic and plastic models for all types of terrain 
  • Make a presentation of the most common stress cases in practice Soil behavior at different degrees of saturation, swelling and compaction in soils The fundamental principles of these constraints and their application
  • Throughout the development of terrain dynamics and statics are the parts that are applicable and objective for this module
  • Discern the set of parameters, stresses, stress types and concepts for soils and rocks. In the same way, which are for each of the cases, the constituent models of the terrain to be used depending on the characteristics of each of the actions to be approached 
  • Define the characteristics to be contained in a specific geotechnical study applied to each particular soil and application requirements 
  • Establish the concepts included in the most important international standards for sampling and field testing, making a comparison of each one of them 
  • Acquire in-depth knowledge of the data obtained in field surveys and their interpretation 
  • Recognize the need to complement field tests with other complementary tests, such as dynamic and static penetration tests 
  • Acquire the necessary knowledge regarding drilling fluids, both for field testing and for other types of drilling features, applications, performance, etc.
  • Deepen in the practical utility of permeability tests, identifying their fields of application and their convenience 
  • Make special emphasis on the correct planning of a geotechnical survey campaign, establishing the timing and performance of each phase 
  • Extend in a practical way the knowledge of laboratory tests Not in terms of definition, which is a known fact, but in terms of being able to foresee the results to be obtained and to identify inappropriate results and malpractice in their execution 
  • Establish the usefulness of geophysical survey systems 
  • Recognize the elements to be monitored and their real application on site and analyze the new technologies for continuous monitoring 
  • Identification of the presence of water in the behavior of soils and acquiring a correct knowledge of the different storage functions and characteristic curves 
  • Discuss the terms of effective and total pressures and determine the exact influence of effective and total pressures on the loadings of the land 
  • Identify the most common errors regarding the use of these terms of effective and total pressures, and show practical applications of these concepts that are of great importance 
  • Apply knowledge of the behavior of semi-saturated soils in data collection and sample analysis, with regard to laboratory tests: drained and undrained tests 
  • Determine the uses of soil compaction as a measure to reduce soil saturation correct handling of the compaction curve by analyzing the most common errors and their applications 
  • Analyze the most common saturation processes such as swelling, suction and liquefaction in soils, describing the characteristics of the processes and their consequences in soils 
  • Apply all these concepts to the modeling of stresses and their variation according to the degree of saturation of the soil 
  • Know in detail the applications of saturation in surface works and saturation removal processes in superficial linear works 
  • Correctly define the zonal hydrogeology in a project or work determining the concepts that should encompass its study and the long-term consequences it may have on structural elements 
  • Go in detail into the definition of preconsolidation processes as a way to provide soils with improved mechanical properties by reducing soil saturation 
  • Flow modeling, permeability concept and its actual application in interim and final construction states 
  • Identify the effects induced in the ground by seismic action, as part of the non-linear behavior of the ground 
  • Deepen your understanding of the particularities of the terrain, discretizing between soils and rocks, and of the instantaneous behavior under seismic loads 
  • Analyze the most important regulations in the field of seismic, especially in areas of the planet where earthquakes are frequent and of significant magnitude 
  • Analyze the changes that the seismic action produces in the identifying parameters of the terrain and to observe how they evolve depending on the type of seismic action 
  • Delve into the different practical methodologies for the analysis of ground behavior under seismic conditions both semi-empirical simulations as well as complex finite element modeling 
  • Quantify the impact of seismic disturbances on foundations, both in terms of their definition in the design and final sizing 
  • Apply all these conditions to both shallow and deep foundations 
  • Perform a sensitivity analysis of the above-mentioned behaviors in containment structures and in the most common elements of subway excavations  
  • Apply the study of seismic wave disturbances to other elements that can propagate along the ground, such as the study of noise and vibration transmission in the ground 
  • Acquire a thorough knowledge of the different types of existing land treatments 
  • Analyze the range of existing typologies and their correspondence with the improvement of the different properties 
  • Know precisely the variables that are found in the processes of land improvement by injection Consumption, requirements, advantages and disadvantages  
  • Present, in an extensive way, gravel column treatments as elements of land treatment of relatively little use, but with remarkable technical applications 
  • In-depth presentation of soil treatments by chemical treatment and freezing, as little-known treatments, but with very good spot applications 
  • Define the applications of preloading (preconsolidation), which was covered in a previous module, as an element of soil treatment to accelerate the evolution of soil behavior 
  • Complete the knowledge of one of the most used ground treatments in subway works, such as micropile umbrellas, defining applications different from the usual ones and the characteristics of the process 
  • Deal in detail with soil decontamination as a land improvement process, defining the typologies that can be used 
  • Determine, for soils and rocks, the stability conditions and behavior of slopes, whether it is stable or unstable, and the stability margin 
  • Define the loads to which each part of the slope is subjected and the operations that can be carried out on them 
  • Investigate the potential mechanisms of slope failure and the analysis of practical cases of this type of failure 
  • Determine the sensitivity or susceptibility of slopes to different mechanisms or triggering factors, including external effects such as the presence of water, the effect of rainfall, earthquakes, etc 
  • Compare the effectiveness of different remediation or stabilization options and their effect on slope stability 
  • Learn more about the different options for improving and protecting slopes, from the point of view of structural stability and the conditions to which they may be subjected during their service life 
  • Design optimal slopes in terms of safety, reliability and economy 
  • Review the application of slopes in hydraulic works as a major part of the design and use of major slopes 
  • Detail the calculation methodologies associated with finite elements currently in use for the design of this type of elements 
  • In-depth knowledge of the conditioning factors that influence the design and behavior of shallow foundations 
  • Analyze the trends in the different international design standards, contemplating their differences in terms of criteria and the different safety coefficients used 
  • Recognize the different actions present in shallow foundations, both those that require and those that contribute to the stability of the element 
  • Establish a sensitivity analysis of the behavior of the foundations in the evolution of this type of loads 
  • Identify the different types of improvement of foundations already in use, classifying them according to the type of foundation, the soil on which it is located and the age at which it was built 
  • Break down, in a comparative way, the costs of the use of this type of foundations and their influence on the rest of the structure 
  • Identify the most common types of surface foundation failures and their most effective corrective measures 
  • Acquire a detailed knowledge of piles as deep foundation elements, analyzing all their characteristics, construction typologies, auscultation capacity, types of failure, etc 
  • Review other deep foundations of more specific use, for special structures, pointing out those types of projects in which they are used and with very particular practical cases 
  • Analyze the major enemies of this type of foundations, such as negative friction or loss of tip resistance, among others 
  • Have a high degree of knowledge of deep foundation repair methodologies and auscultation both initial execution and repairs 
  • Measure and size in a correct way and according to the particular characteristics of the work, the appropriate deep foundations 
  • Complete the study of deep foundations with the upper bracing elements and their grouping, with a clear development of the structural dimensioning of the pile caps 
  • Define and acquire a complete knowledge of the loads that the soil produces on the retaining structures 
  • Extend this knowledge with the analysis of the interaction of surface loads, lateral loads and seismic loads that may occur in the soil adjacent to this type of structures 
  • Go through the different types of retaining structures, from the most common continuous screens and piles, to other elements of more specific use such as sheet piling or Soldierpiles 
  • Deal with the deformational behavior of the backside of these elements, both in the short and long term With special interest in the calculation of surface seating in deep screens 
  • Learn more about the sizing and behavior of bracing structures, struts and anchors 
  • Analyze with current finite element calculation methods the most common safety coefficients in this type of structures as well as their correlation applying statistical reliability concepts 
  • Establish the different most common methodologies for tunnel excavation, both those excavated by conventional methods and those excavated by mechanical means 
  • Be clear about the classification of these methodologies according to the type of terrain, excavation diameters and end use of tunnels and galleries  
  • Apply the very different soil and rock behaviors defined in other modules of this Advanced Master's Degree to tunnel and gallery excavation 
  • Recognize the design constraints of the supports and revetments, and understand more deeply their relationship with rock mechanical classifications and soil typologies 
  • Adapt all these conditions to other types of deep excavation such as shafts, subway connections, interactions with other structures, etc 
  • Analyze mining excavation, with the particularities it has due to the depth of its actions 
  • Detailed knowledge of the interaction of deep excavations on the surface Performing an approach to seat calculation in different phases 
  • Establish a concrete relationship between seismic disturbances and the stress-strain behavior of tunnels and galleries, as well as to identify how this type of disturbance modifies the supports and linings 
  • Analyze the different management systems used for the management of the different assets: pavements, structures, electrical and traffic installations and other elements of the road and the most relevant indicators 
  • Deepen the contractual structure related to roads 
  • Develop business management concepts 
  • Discover the guidelines for entrepreneurship in the sector 
  • Establish how to achieve more sustainable policies by minimizing the resources used and taking advantage of new technologies 
  • Acquire in-depth knowledge in the design and layout of roads, understanding the importance of the different phases and stages for the realization of the same 
  • Acquire the necessary knowledge regarding the different operations related to earth moving Developing the different existing types, with a practical approach, which allows to know their costs, performance, etc, depending on the different terrains and typology of the works to be executed 
  • Know in detail, from a current and practical point of view, the constituent elements of bituminous pavements 
  • Develop in a comprehensive manner the different types of existing pavements, with special emphasis on which situations to use each one of them All this from an objective point of view based on experience, without forgetting to strengthen the knowledge from the point of view of the design of each of the different types of pavement 
  • Able to accurately understand the day-to-day operation of a bituminous mix manufacturing facility From the dosage and quality marking of the different mixtures, to the study of manufacturing costs and their maintenance 
  • Deepen in the day-to-day work of laying bituminous mixes, identifying the essential aspects and the most common difficulties in transport, paving and compacting operations 
  • Analyze the different tunnel construction systems and identify the most common pathologies depending on the construction system used 
  • Master the inspection methods, deepen in data collection through destructive and non-destructive techniques, and know how to perform condition assessment 
  • Make a comprehensive analysis of the different types of tunnel structural maintenance: ordinary, extraordinary, renovations, rehabilitations and reinforcements and how each is managed 
  • Understand precisely which parameters measure the safety, comfort, capacity and durability of a pavement. In-depth knowledge of pavement monitoring and inspection systems 
  • Discuss in detail the actions that can be taken to correct the different pavement parameters parameters of pavements 
  • Analyze how the life cycle of structures is managed through structure management systems of structures 
  • Understand in detail the different types of structural inspection, which players are involved, what methods are used and how the severity index is assessed 
  • Establishing the different types of structural maintenance and how they are managed 
  • Deepen in some of the unique maintenance operations 
  • Analyze the differences between opencast and tunnel lighting systems 
  • In-depth breakdown of the operation and function of the various installations involved in tunnel operation: power supply, ventilation, pumping stations, PCI systems  
  • Perform effective maintenance of the facilities based on a combination of corrective and preventive maintenance, with emphasis on predictive maintenance 
  • Establish the various systems for detecting incidents in tunnels  
  • Know precisely which systems are involved in incident signaling, as well as the systems used to communicate with the user in the event of an incident 
  • Know in detail how the communication between the Control Center and the field equipment is structured and the elements involved 
  • Perform effective maintenance of traffic facilities based on a combination of corrective and preventive maintenance, with emphasis on predictive maintenance 
  • Deepen in the existing signaling, beaconing and containment elements on the road, the existing typologies and how their inspection and maintenance is carried out 
  • Break down the different enclosure elements and their components, and how they are inspected and maintained 
  • Analyze the elements involved in road drainage, and how their inspection and maintenance is carried out 
  • Discuss in detail the different slope protection systems and how to check their condition and maintenance 
  • Establish the regulations applicable to roads and identify the different road protection zones 
  • Mastering traffic restrictions and how to manage special transport or sporting events 
  • Discuss in detail how the different administrative files are processed  
  • Understand precisely how predictive modeling is performed and how traffic data is exploited 
  • Understand what factors influence traffic accidents and how road safety audits contribute to maximizing the safety of systems and elements 
  • Analyze some of the most relevant ISO management systems in road maintenance 
  • Delve into how the winter maintenance plan is structured, the necessary means and to know the differences between preventive and corrective treatments  
  • Analyze how a tunnel control center works and how traffic and facility management is carried out Understanding the importance of action plans 
  • Know in detail the basic document in the operation of a tunnel: the operation manual and the actors involved 
  • Understand the need to establish the minimum conditions under which an infrastructure can be operated and how to plan actions in a degraded situation 
  • Delve into the concept of BIM and to distinguish it from the mere decision of which commercial software to use 
  • Delve into the different levels of BIM implementation 
  • Prepare to address BIM implementation in both projects and pre-existing infrastructure 
  • Analyze the technologies that complement the BIM philosophy 
  • Understand precisely how social equity measures increase competitiveness 
  • Preparing for the change in direction that the road professional faces in the immediate future 
  • Delve into the changes that new technologies will force on the infrastructure or the vehicle 
  • Discover how to lead environmentally responsible policies through detailed knowledge of new trends
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You want the most complete and updated contents and TECH has prepared them for you"

Advanced Master's Degree in Geotechnics and Road Construction

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Roads are one of the most important transportation routes to carry out many of the activities of our daily lives, from commuting to our places of study and work, to the transportation of food. These are indispensable aspects that, if they could not be carried out, would compromise the functioning and stability of the social, economic and cultural fabric of the different countries. In short, public roads are an absolutely necessary service that requires trained professionals for their proper construction and maintenance. Bearing in mind that this is a highly complex task, and that it depends on many factors to which a complete and specific education can contribute, at TECH Technological University we have developed the Advanced Master's Degree in Geotechnics and Road Construction. Through a complete and updated program that offers all the necessary knowledge to specialize with guarantees, you will take a definitive step to ensure a successful future in this field of engineering, an area that demands quality personnel to build the roads of the present and the future.

Specialize in geotechnics and foundations

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Hand in hand with innovative methodologies, the accompaniment of experts in the area and a curriculum designed with the highest academic rigor, you will acquire and perfect skills that will allow you to achieve your professional goals in the field of geotechnics and road construction. Thus, you will be able to identify the major differences between the dynamic and static behavior of soils and rocks, define the appropriate techniques for each building project, and learn in detail the factors that affect the safety and comfort of the road, the parameters that measure it and the possible actions for its correction. This program stands out as a novel, complete and effective opportunity to boost the growth of your professional profile, get certified now in the largest Faculty of Engineering!