What Dr. Sauer & Partners does

Dr. Sauer & Partners is a specialist tunnel and ground engineering consultancy founded in 1984 and headquartered in Salzburg, Austria, with regional offices in London, Washington D.C., Toronto, and Tel Aviv. The firm employs between 51 and 100 people and serves as Engineer of Record, designer, and independent design checker on complex underground infrastructure, with core expertise in Sprayed Concrete Lining (SCL), the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), and the Sequential Excavation Method (SEM). Its practice spans metro and railway tunnels, highway tunnels, mining access works, pumped-storage hydropower, water and desalination infrastructure, and tunnel rehabilitation projects.

The technical offering rests on advanced 2D and 3D numerical analysis of ground-structure interaction, 3D geological ground modelling to predict ground movement and groundwater behaviour, and BIM/CAD-enabled design of temporary works. The firm has developed proprietary methodologies such as mechanised sprayed concrete radial joint design and innovative pile interception load transfer structures, both of which have been adopted as industry best practice on major projects including HS2. Service delivery covers tunnel design, ground engineering, site representation, tunnel rehabilitation, waterproofing, mining support, and temporary works.

Revenue is generated entirely through project-based professional services engagements won via competitive tendering or framework appointment, with fees negotiated individually against scope, complexity, and duration. The client base mixes government transportation agencies (Transport for London, Network Rail, Metrolinx, Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel District), tier-one construction contractors (Dragados, Mobilinx, Ferrovial Laing O'Rourke JV, Hampton Roads Connector Partners), and resource-sector owners (Anglo American, IDE Technologies, Ellomay Pump Storage). The firm holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification, Achilles UVDB verification, and a place on TfL's Professional Services Framework 2.

Name

Dr. Sauer & Partners

Legal name

Dr. Sauer & Partners Ltd.

Website

https://dr-sauer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Dr. Sauer & Partners is a specialist tunnel and ground engineering consultancy providing SCL, NATM, and SEM design, checking, and site services to transport agencies, contractors, and resource-sector owners across five global offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Surbiton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Engineering Consultancy Services: Project-based professional services revenue generated through providing specialized tunnel and ground engineering design, checking, and construction support services on major infrastructure projects. Revenue is earned through fee-based engagements with contractors, government agencies, and infrastructure developers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dr. Sauer & Partners is a specialist tunnel and ground engineering consultancy providing design, design checking, and on-site construction support services for complex underground construction projects. Service delivery spans seven practice areas — Tunnel Design, Ground Engineering, Site Services, Tunnel Rehabilitation, Waterproofing, Mining Support, and Temporary Works — with deep specialization in Sprayed Concrete Lining (SCL), New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM), and Sequential Excavation Method (SEM) techniques for metro, railway, highway, mining, water, and energy infrastructure projects globally.

Product overview

Dr. Sauer & Partners is a tunnel and ground engineering consultancy providing a portfolio of specialized engineering services rather than a software product. The company's service offerings include Tunnel Design (as Engineer of Record and design checker), Ground Engineering (geotechnical analysis and support design), Site Services (on-site construction support), Tunnel Rehabilitation (assessment and refurbishment), Waterproofing (membrane systems and inspection), Mining Support (NATM/SEM underground design), and Temporary Works (temporary structures for construction). These services are delivered through seven core practice areas that work together to provide comprehensive underground construction engineering solutions for infrastructure projects worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tunnel Design Specialized tunnel engineering design services for new metro, rail, highway, and mining tunnel construction projects, including detailed design, independent CAT3 design checking, and Engineer of Record responsibilities for clients such as Transport for London, Network Rail, Metrolinx, and major contractors.
• Ground Engineering Geotechnical and ground engineering services including soil and rock analysis, 3D geological ground modeling, ground behavior assessment, and design of support systems for complex underground structures across heterogeneous ground conditions from soft soils to hard rock.
• Site Services On-site engineering representation, design support, and construction supervision services delivered during tunnel and underground construction projects, enabling real-time resolution of design and construction challenges and ensuring compliance with design intent.
• Tunnel Rehabilitation Detailed design and construction support services for upgrading, widening, or repairing existing tunnels, including structural assessment, waterproofing, lining replacement, and refurbishment of historic assets such as the Brunel Thames Tunnel and Network Rail's 170-year-old Whiteball Tunnel.
• Waterproofing Waterproofing system design and inspection services for tunnels and underground structures, including membrane systems, leak remediation, and quality installation supervision to address water ingress in demanding underground environments.
• Mining Support Design solutions and construction support services for mining projects including access tunnels, shafts, ventilation adits, mucking routes, underground welfare facilities, and ground support for caverns — delivered using NATM/SCL/SEM methods adaptable across ground conditions from soft soils to hard rock (e.g. Anglo American's Woodsmith Mine).
• Temporary Works Temporary structures design for tunnel construction projects, including trestles, TBM push frames, pile intercept / load transfer structures, and BIM implementation support for contractor needs — providing Engineer of Record responsibilities where required (e.g. Parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel Project, French Hill Tunnels, Finsbury Park).

Quantifiable outcome

• Bank Station Capacity Upgrade: 1,200+ metres of new SCL tunnels constructed over 3.5 years, boosting station capacity by 40%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Dragados with AecomcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Working for Dragados with Aecom on Transport for London's Elephant & Castle station upgrade, providing design and supervision of new passenger tunnels. Following successful tender support with innovative winning design solution.
• Mobilinx (WeBuild, BOT, Amico JV)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Provided engineering support for Mobilinx on crossing three live rail tracks at Port Credit in Mississauga. Collaboration with subcontractors Petrucco and HCM on push box excavation under live train tracks.
• ArupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 April 2022Ongoing collaboration with Arup on multiple projects including Bakerloo Line Extension feasibility study for TfL and design interface studies for Anglo American's Woodsmith project.
• Ferrovial Laing O'Rourke JVcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 July 2020Supported the Ferrovial Laing O'Rourke JV on Thames Tideway Central project, proposing construction alternatives and providing Category 3 design checking services for junctions between main TBM tunnel and connection tunnels.
• Intesca-InarsacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2016Collaborated on the Parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel Project where Dr. Sauer & Partners served as Engineer of Record for temporary works designs alongside Intesca-Inarsa. The partnership enabled delivery of complex temporary structures including multi-purpose steel trestles for TBM handling.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/dr-sauer-&-partners-ltd
• Xx.com/drsaueruk

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dr. Sauer & Partners